Strolling through Downtown Fayetteville on any given day is an idyllic experience. Bricked sidewalks. The iconic clock tower. Numerous restaurants and venues. It’s a place that toes the impossible line between trendy and nostalgic. It knows its roots — but downtown can turn into the epicenter of cultural activity on a dime.

4th Friday is a monthly celebration downtown that showcases different events and exhibits to the public. Somewhere between a block party and a walking adventure tour, 4th Friday aims to bring a little fun and history to your day. On this 4th Friday, Aug. 25, there are several events taking place:

Your first pit stop is Cape Fear Studios, located at 148 Maxwell St. The gallery will continue its “Adornments” exhibition from 6 to 9 p.m. All things sparkly and beautiful by North Carolina jewelers Jennie Keatts, Annie Williams, Maggie Joynt and Amy Brandenburg will be on display.

Cumberland County Headquarters Library at 300 Maiden Ln. presents The Parsons. This acoustic band has been together for almost 30 years. Complete with songs, stories and light refreshments, the event runs from 7 to 9 p.m.

“Open Letters” is another exhibition happening on 4th Friday. Located at the Ellington-White Gallery, 113 Gillespie St., the show features paintings and drawings by Dwight Smith. Smith is a professor of visual arts at Fayetteville State University. The reception is from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday with an artist talk Saturday, Aug. 26, from 2 to 3 p.m.

For some local history, head over to the Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum at 325 Franklin St. One of the museum’s exhibits celebrates the 150th Anniversary of FSU. According to the museum’s website, “(Initially) named the Howard School, it would fill a deep-rooted desire for AfricanAmericans to achieve an education, and it would become a model institution of learning for North Carolina during Reconstruction.”

The transportation museum also features an educational exhibit, “Market House History,” as an addition to its permanent exhibit “A View from the Square.” Both exhibits will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. during 4th Friday.

Another museum is hosting 4th Friday activities, although for a smaller and shorter audience. The Fascinate-U Children’s Museum at 116 Green St. will have a fun bookmark-making session. Free play at the museum’s various role-playing stations will also be open from 7 to 9 p.m.

Lastly, the Arts Council plans to open its new exhibition “Fuel for the Fire” at the Arts Center on 4th Friday. A jury determined which artists’ work appears in the show. Those chosen have utilized wood and paper material in two-dimensional and sculptural forms.

According to Leslie Pearson, a member of the Arts Council board of trustees and chair of the Exhibitions Committee, artists were selected based on how they were able to incorporate as well as transcend the raw materials’ functions.

“Perhaps (the artist uses) the materials as commentary on ecology or other social concerns,” Pearson said. “Perhaps the artist chooses to push the material in a nonfunctional way that makes the viewer reconsider its purpose.”

“Fuel for the Fire” opens Aug. 25 from 7 to 9 p.m.

All 4th Friday exhibitions and events are free to the public. For more information, call (910) 222-3382.

Gina Hawkins did not have the ambition of being a police chief. “I’ve been a worker bee as a police officer for nearly 29 years,” she said. She applied for the chief’s job in Fayetteville after being tipped off that the post was available by Durham Chief C.J. Davis, who’s only been on the job a few months.

Hawkins and Davis know each other well. They served together for 18 years in the Atlanta Police Department. Hawkins, 49, most recently was Deputy Chief of the Clayton County, Georgia, P.D.

During an interview, as she unpacked her uniform in her secondfloor corner office at police headquarters, Hawkins said she expects she’ll be in uniform 95 percent of the time. It will sport four stars.

Hawkins admires the work former Chief Harold Medlock did to modernize the department and is excited to make her own contribution. “We have our own culture and history, and my job is to make the department even better,” she said.

Hawkins said she will depend on her command staff to acquaint her with the Fayetteville community. She and Assistant Chief Anthony Kelly became acquainted in 2013 when both attended the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. She’s spoken at length with Kelly, who served as interim chief for eight months following Medlock’s retirement last year.

Hawkins is well-aware, she said, of the Fayetteville Police Department’s stellar reputation. She regards recruiting and retaining African-American officers as a significant challenge. “I’ve got a few ideas,” she said. One of those ideas is for the department’s recruiters to develop relationships with local high schools. She wants to encourage seniors to consider a law enforcement career while they’re still in school.

Hawkins also wants the department to do a better job of going after young soldiers who leave the service at Fort Bragg. “Every one of us should be recruiting day to day,” said the chief. “We can train the young people, but we need to be more aware of how we can ask them, ‘What are you doing?’ Join us and be a cop.”

As for the local crime rate, Hawkins shared the concern that murders and aggravated assaults have been on the rise nationwide. “We don’t know why,” she added.

As for prevention, the chief plans to adopt Medlock’s practice of dissecting assault case files to gain a better understanding of why they happen. She said the hope is to head off homicides that could grow out of aggravated assaults by talking with the families of victims and  perpetrators.

Her oldest daughter, Italia, is 26 and just completed a four-year enlistment in the Navy and hopes to return to college. Sixteen-year-old Trinity is still in high school and decided to stay in Georgia for now.

PHOTO: Police Chief Gina Hawkins

Fayetteville’s city administration has tried and failed to improve employee diversity in the Police and Fire Departments for the last 20 years.

Councilman Chalmers McDougald took Fire Chief Ben Major to task for lack of progress at a City Council meeting last week. McDougald’s demeanor was in contrast to a meeting a month ago when he said he deliberately bit his tongue after learning that City Manager Doug Hewett pledged to make some changes.

McDougald publicly scolded the fire chief while, for the most part, Hewett stayed silent. At one point, Major glared at McDougald with both hands on his hips. “No one is more committed to hiring minorities than I am,” Major said. “Words are cheap,” McDougald replied. Both men are black. Fewer than a dozen of Fayetteville’s 300 firefighters are black. Of the City’s 433 police officers, only 80 of them, or 19 percent, are black, according to Assistant Police Chief Anthony Kelly.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission turned down the City in its request for assistance. EEOC officials pointed out that the agency responds to bias complaints, but does not offer advice to avoid complaints. Consequently, Hewett sent out a formal request for qualifications to firms interested in consulting with the City on its efforts to improve police and fire employ- ee diversity.

The most recent fire department hiring process received 693 applications. Four hundred and sixteen were from white males; 130 from black men. Only 70 of the blacks made appointments for testing, according to information provided by Chief Major. Of that number, 53 showed up to take the test. Twenty-seven of them passed and qualified for the physical exam. McDougald has been consistently critical of the hiring process and says more enlightened methods should be used to find and recruit minorities.

Major told Council that he has been talking to fire departments across North Carolina and the nation only to find that minority recruiting is a universal problem among fire departments. Councilman Bill Crisp suggested that the City expand its fire academy at E.E. Smith High School. The fire service intern program was founded 12 years ago by retired Fire Chief Benny Nichols. But his dream of a fullfledged academy in conjunction with Fayetteville State University fizzled.

Nichols’s dreams were big: Fire Station 14 was built on Langdon Street property owned by FSU. It was designed as a teaching facility and community center with classrooms and dormitories for a “real life” curriculum developed though a partnership between the City of Fayetteville and the schools. It houses two fire engines and personnel.

A 2010 FSU student recruiting paper said that its award-winning online bachelor’s degree completion program in Fire Science would provide students an opportunity to build on their fire science training and earn associate degrees from FTCC and advance to a B.S. Degree in Fire Science at FSU. The statement concluded, “Both of these components of the Fire Science Degree program came from the imagination and persistence of Chief Nichols of the Fayetteville Fire Department.” Ultimately, though, there just wasn’t enough student interest.

Currently, the curriculum is only available online, and the facilities at Fire Station 14 never were fully utilized. The space has since been converted into fire department  headquarters.

The Cumberland County Veterans Court is seeking veterans to serve as mentors for individuals going through the program. Mentors are integral to the success of the program for veterans who are alleged to have committed misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies. “They tend to open up and relate to other veterans,” said Cumberland County Assistant District Attorney Baxter Worth Paschal III.

Paschal said many of the veterans in the program have suffered from addiction. Program participants take part in counseling, drug testing and community service. Topics such as mental health, substance abuse, housing, employment, education and health care are discussed in community meetings. Veterans who complete the yearlong program may have criminal charges expunged from their records. The first veterans court was created in New York in 2008. Cumberland County’s program began in November 2014 under the tutelage of District Court Judge Lou Olivera. Information is available by phone from the district attorney’s office at (910) 475-3010. 

PWC to the Rescue

When the power went out on the Outer Banks this summer, it was no easy task getting the electricity back on. Power was lost July 27 when a contractor working on the Bonner Bridge accidentally severed the only transmission line providing electricity to Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

The Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative and the Tideland Electric Membership Corp. serve about 9,000 customers in the Outer Banks. The co-ops had been working on two fronts: attempting to splice the severed below-ground transmission line while also building an overhead line to see which one could be completed first. “We abandoned the underground fix at this point,” said Laura Ertle, the co-ops’ representative. “Water continued to seep into the trench, making the environment unsuitable for repairs.”

When they turned attention to the overhead transmission line, they needed 8,000 feet of electrical conductor. “A call went out to public power utilities with transmission lines, and PWC was able to provide the material they needed to build the line,” said Fayetteville Public Works Commission Spokeswoman Carolyn Justice Hinson. The utility contractor building the transmission line picked the cable up in Fayetteville and worked around the clock to get the power restored Aug. 3. “PWC is proud that we could help our neighbors,” Hinson added.

Cumberland County Bureaucracy Continues to Grow

Cumberland County government’s senior management team now consists of five executives. County Manager Amy Cannon hired Duane Holder as her fourth assistant manager. He’ll be in charge of community support services. Holder has been the Deputy County Manager and chief financial officer for Pitt County since 2012. His first day here is Sept. 11.

Holder earned a Master of Public Administration degree from East Carolina University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Mount Olive College.

“Duane Holder brings vast experience in county administration, finance and human services, especially the area of mental health, and we are delighted that he will be joining the Cumberland County leadership team,” Cannon said.

Several weeks ago, Cannon promoted county information officer Sally Shutt to assistant manager for strategic management and governmental affairs. The other assistant managers are Melissa Cardinali and Tracey Jackson.

Hay Street Sidewalk Finally Opened

A couple years ago, the City of Fayetteville closed the Hay Street sidewalk in front of the former Prince Charles Hotel. The building was and is in disrepair, and chunks of the facade of the eight-story building were falling to the street. Rather than fixing the problem, the City simply closed the sidewalk, forcing pedestrians into  the street.

Now that efforts are underway by the Durhambased PCH Holdings to renovate the old hotel, the firm decided the first thing it should do is reopen the sidewalk. Project Manager Jordan Jones confirmed that the company fenced off the walkway to protect pedestrians from construction as it gets underway. The firm created a two-sided fenced-in sidewalk with a cover. It will remain in place until building renovations are completed.

Cumberland Alerts Activated

The Cumberland County Emergency Services Department has launched “Cumberland Alerts,” a countywide emergency notification system. Residents are urged to sign up for the alert system. Businesses, organizations and institutions are also encouraged to subscribe.

Visit www.co.cumberland.nc.us/alerts to create an account. Users can then select the communication methods they prefer, such as email, text or phone call and enter their addresses. Several addresses may be entered. The information provided is protected and will not be used for any other purpose.

Cumberland Alerts replaces the existing emergency notification system. “Signing up for Cumberland Alerts is the first step in preparing for emergency situations... so (residents) can be in the know when an emergency happens,” said Emergency Services Director Randy Beeman.

The new system can deliver more than 2.1 million messages per hour, or 35,000 per minute, which allows Emergency Services to ensure communication with residents when it’s most important.

Domestic Violence Awareness month is October, but the sea of purple could almost make you forget it was only the end of July. On Sunday afternoon Fleet Feet Runner’s Spot hosted a 5K fun run/walk to promote Domestic Violence Awareness. I don’t know how many in all came out, but we had a 100 event T-shirts, and we ran out well before the end of the line checked-in. Sorry to the runners that didn’t get a shirt, but I know that wasn’t your motivation for coming anyway.

The Jordan Soccer Complex was the starting point for the runners, and the route was along the beautiful Cape Fear River Trail. I was amazed at the variety of people that showed up to participate. There were as many men as there were women. There were hard-core runners, others out for a brisk walk, young people, seniors and families. One young mom with a double baby-stroller came all the way from Wilmington. She mentioned the kids would sleep the two-hour ride home. I wondered how she’d be once they arrived. The kids would be refreshed and ready to make the most of the evening before bedtime, but her — probably not so much.

I also wondered what caused all of these people from different walks of life and stages of life to be there. Were there victims in the crowd? Probably so considering, statistically, in the U.S. a woman is beaten every nine seconds. As I had that sobering thought, in that instant, my heart hurt for the victims I was likely surrounded by, and then just as quickly my heart leapt realizing I was also likely surrounded by survivors, their supporters and advocates.

Aside from my speculation as to why some were present, there were others there with a clear purpose and message. The Fayetteville chapter of NOW, the National Organization for Women, set up a table and shared information. NOW combines the power of grass-roots activism with national lobbying and not by coincidence one of their official priorities is ending violence against women.  The Care Center Family Violence Program was also represented.

The Care Center is a service of Cumberland County DSS Adult Services Division. The Care Center works to eliminate domestic violence by providing services to women, men and children involved in these situations. These services include a safe house, providing legal information, counseling and education to name a few. In case someone reading this needs to know, their Crisis line is (910) 6772532 and is available 24 hours a day.

I was there for both personal and professional reasons. Personally, I think every woman should be aware and prepared to help a sister or her family when in crisis. Professionally, I was there to talk about the role of the Clerk of Court in assisting victims of domestic violence. The Clerk’s office is the portal for domestic violence victims to access the court to obtain a protective order. I’m running for Clerk of Court in 2018 and if elected, improving services provided by the Clerk’s Domestic Violence office will be a priority. Let me be clear, I’m not talking about the staff; they are wonderful. I’m talking about the process. We can and should employ technology to allow victims to apply for protective orders from a safe remote location rather than going to the courthouse where their victimizer may very well be waiting. We can all image the worst-case scenario, but more often subtle acts of intimidation occur during the walk from the parking lot to the courthouse doors, discouraging victims from seeking the help they desperately need. Through technology, victims can meet with a judge from a safe place away from the courthouse. Additionally, protective orders should be electronically transmitted to law enforcement for service on the perpetrator, a much safer and faster process than victims walking a piece of paper across an open courtyard.

The 5K run/walk was a fun event for a serious matter. Thanks again to the organizers. Thanks also to all that came out, to all that help victims find a safe place, and those that work to stop domestic violence.

My name is Quancidine Hinson-Gribble and this is why I am running for Mayor for the City of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

After many situations during Hurricane Matthew, I realized that something had gone terribly wrong in the leadership for the City of Fayetteville. Simply put, our citizens deserve more. I am going to lead by example and that is putting the power back into the hands of the people who have elected me. Starting with Transparency.

We need more than talk, we need action. I have never stopped helping people and creating the means to help people, starting with “Operation Skyfall,” where people with felonies can get a pardon from the Governor of North Carolina so they can vote. The time is now as there are deadlines for registering to vote after you get pardoned.

I am also concerned about the many business opportunities that are coming to the City of Fayetteville,  that being “sub-contracted” out before people even know the opportunity exists. We have to be prepared for the opportunities with that being said we have to certified and licensed to be able to take advantage of these opportunities. One way that the citizens of Fayetteville, N.C. cane move forward under my watch is by constantly letting them know about Fayetteville, N.C. has to offer starting right here by getting a trade at FTCC. These three trades are what we need right now, carpenters, electricians and plumbers. These gaps can be closed up, and it is up to our leadership to let the citizens of Fayetteville, N.C. know about it.

Many of our veterans are homeless because of lack of resources. This is an issue that can easy be solved. Eradicating homelessness overall is going to take our community. There is an African Proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” We have a wealth of knowledge, programs and opportunities that have not been explored yet. 

We have to ask ourselves the question are we all going in the same direction as far as prosperity is concerned or is it reserved for only a few? By me running for mayor will at least open your eyes to the possibilities. You have to empower yourself and by doing that we are empowering the City of Fayetteville, N.C.

This is the rundown folks, we need employment opportunities, we need people with certifications and licenses for business opportunities, we need to reduce crime through education for our youth, we need to support our own businesses by having the bids made available to all people. If there is something that we need to do in the City of Fayetteville, N.C., then I am willing to listen. My door will always be open.

Who’s the role model? Those of you who know, or have gotten to know me, understand that I have a strong belief in being a leading example for not only my family, but also for the community, and my workplace. I moved to North Carolina 24 years ago after I joined the U.S. Army to serve my time in The All-American city. Although you can’t tell by looking at me, I came from an era of tough times. I know what it’s like to go without when it comes to basic needs. Growing up on the tough streets of Dayton, Ohio, I learned to fend for myself and others. There’s more to me than being the sheriff candidate.

Just walking to school, I’d see drug dealers, prostitution, gangs. I’d see the hustlers and bustlers. My sister said she knew that if a fight broke out, I was either in it or watching it in the alley.

My mom died when I was 17, and I had no father except for my grandpa. My grandparents took me in and raised me in a Christian environment, which prevented me from getting lost in the system. They taught me that material things don’t make a person. They provided a strong family structure that helped me to become empathetic toward others and their situations. For example — single moms. I have a special place in my heart toward single moms.

I watched my mom everyday do what she had to do without my father until she died. We depended on food stamps until I was in middle school, and I know how to respect the value of a dollar. My difficult past helped me to become the man I am today.

Children tug on my heart strings, also. As a kid being bussed from one side of town to the other
for school, I learned about diversity. We never had school in the same building every year like you do. One year I’d go to a school and the next year I’d go to another. Those kids, each coming from different backgrounds, soon learned that I was the “defender against the bullies.” Hence, the root of why I entered law enforcement.

I always wanted to be that shield. I saw friends in high school get shot or become addicted. Ya see, gangs start when there’s no family structure. Who’s the role model? A child yearning for a father figure or guidance seeks that family structure in another area, and most of the time it’s through gangs. Gangs are a family of their own. They look after each other. And when you have the drug dealer coming in a nice car with money and jewelry, it’s enticing to that kid who’s struggling. That’s the role model those kids notice. Poverty and crime are a bad mix, and they always go hand in hand.

I want those kids to notice a different, positive role model. I believe there’s a humble heart in everyone, but you just have to find it. As a leader, I’ve always gone by the three L’s—listen, lead and learn. I put that into work and home. My wife of 17 years and three children (two boys and one girl) make my world a better place and help me to better understand how blessed I am. I sincerely give credit to my wife as being my biggest supporter and my best friend. God really brought her into my life.

I worked hard to become who I am today. After my military stint, I decided to stay in North Carolina and currently reside in Cumberland County. With over 3,500 hours in military, law enforcement and overseas police training, I am a versatile leader who understands every situation is different. So, who’s the role model? I plan to be that role model.

PHOTO: Carlton Sallie

Rayconda residents have to pay to fix their dam, and many of them are not happy about it. That’s because across town, the City is paying $1.9 million to fix  another dam.

Both dams breached, along with several others in Fayetteville, when last October Hurricane Matthew hurled 18 inches of rain onto Fayetteville in a short time span.

The dam in question is under a portion of Siple Avenue, which takes you into the heart of Rayconda. It became a public road when the City annexed the neighborhood in 2004. It was — until recently — the only way in and out of the subdivision. When the dam breached, the road became too dangerous for vehicles to cross. For a while, people living on the far side of the dam had to walk in and out of their neighborhood.

Jump ahead nine months and we’re back in the midst of hurricane season. The City in July held a series of meetings with people who live around breached dams. Among them: VanStory Hills, Arran Lake, Devonwood, and Rayconda neighborhoods.

VanStory Hills’s Mirror Lake Drive washed out during the storm. And the dam over which Mirror Lake Drive runs also breached. But a decision by the City back in 2002 to maintain the dam is the difference between the City paying full amount for repair and the City fronting the money  for repair.

Here’s how it works. The Federal Emergency Management Administration is the federal paymaster for local disaster recovery projects. It decides what and who is eligible for their money.

In the case of breached dams, FEMA only reimburses the City for City-maintained dams. And there have to be maintenance records as proof. The City rescued Mirror Lake Dam in 2002 when the state threatened to breach the structure. Apparently it did not measure up to state dam  standards.

City maintenance puts it in a different category … a category that lets the City pay $1.9 million to repair and improve the dam under Mirror Lake Drive.

It doesn’t matter that both dams have a public road over it. In fact, the Rayconda dam has water and sewer lines going through the dam. The City and FEMA still considered it privately-owned. Out of 55 dams in Fayetteville, the City maintains six, the Fayetteville Public Works Commission maintains four, and the remaining 45 dams are considered private property.

And there’s no public money to fix private dams, City Manager Doug Hewett told Rayconda and Arran Lakes residents attending the meetings. That’s according to City Council policy and state law.

But City Council did come up with a way to pay for dam repairs. It’s the special assessment. The City pays for upfront costs of repairing the dam and then charges lake area property owners a monthly fee. Taxpayers can pay back the upfront money over a 10-year period at maybe an 8 percent interest rate.

They figure out who pays by figuring out who benefits from having a lake. Just because you live near a lake doesn’t necessarily mean you have a propertyenhancing view or that water from your property drains into the lake.

And the dam the City rebuilds won’t create what Hewett referred to as an amenity lake. Instead, it will be a functional stormwater holding facility (their words) where the City can raise or lower the water level depending on the weather.

Rayconda’s and Arran Lake’s homeowner’s associations have until the end of August to let the City know if their neighborhoods are interested in the deal.

After that, the City decides who benefits from having a lake in their neighborhood. Those who benefit fill out another petition. To participate in the special assessment requires a super majority or 60 percent of the benefitting property owners agreeing to the deal.

It will keep the property values up of those homes now adjoining a drained lake, but who is going to buy a house with a 10-year, 8 percent lien on the property?

Rev. Richard Wagner, a Rayconda resident, noted, “Before annexation, Rayconda had a deal with the state and county to repair the dam. When the City annexed us, that all went away, and we’ve been struggling for years to get it fixed.”

In the meantime, until the dam is fixed, the neighborhood will have a swamp.

My first clue that Southern funeral customs differ from those elsewhere came years ago when someone near and dear — I no longer remember who — left us. Family and friends gathered. Casseroles, cakes, fried chicken and deviled eggs, all on dishes with the owners’s names written in Sharpie ink and taped to the bottom, arrived by the dozen, and everyone went for his or her adult beverage of choice.

Fred, the then-new hubby of a close cousin and a native Belgian, was scandalized. Why, he wailed, were we all camped out at the home of the deceased and chatting with his family? “These people need their privacy to grieve!” he cried.

Fred’s opinion notwithstanding, Tar Heels born and bred and Southerners from elsewhere say farewell to our loved ones and the ones we did not love at all just like Frank Sinatra — we do it our way. We can have as many weddings as we want, but we all get only one funeral and associated gatherings, and some of them are truly memorable.

Let’s continue with food, which begins arriving the moment word gets out about a family’s loss. So important is this custom that I have friends who keep casseroles frozen for this very purpose. My personal favorite in this area is a turkey breast, which can be yanked from the freezer in short order and roasted without many other ingredients. Thawing takes time, though, so I am rarely the first person at the door.

The bible of funeral food is the hilarious “Being Dead is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral.” This is a laughout-loud account by Gayden Metcalfe of our funeral customs complete with analysis of who brings the best funeral food — Baptists, Methodists or Episcopalians. It offers recipes for funeral staples, including tomato aspic, coconut cake and pickled shrimp. The best friends of the lady of the house run the funeral kitchen, keep lists of who brought what on which dish and make sure “the family” is sated not only during their immediate bereavement but for  weeks afterward.

Once it is clear that no one, not counting the deceased, is going to starve, it’s time to plan the funeral. Religious traditions vary, but there are a few general rules. In direct contrast to Fred’s call for privacy, in the South it is generally OK to attend funerals of people you might have known only slightly. After all, families appreciate a good crowd and consider it a mark of the dearly departed’s standing in the community. Southern decorum seems to demand a euphemism — passed away — for what has occurred, although I prefer the factual “died.”

Thoughtful Southerners plan our own funerals, sparing our loved ones the ordeal of figuring out what we would have liked. This includes who might speak, scriptures to be read, hymns to be sung, what flowers in what vases, who sits where, limousines or not and other matters deemed critical to a proper send-off. I have even heard of one woman who froze casseroles for her own funeral, apparently believing that no one could make them better than she could.

When it’s time for the service, other motorists will pull off the road in deference to the deceased and the grieving family as the funeral cavalcade passes, a custom people from elsewhere consider a traffic hazard. Sometimes friends and family members share memories during the service, but this custom makes me nervous because sometimes they share too much — the good, the bad and the truly ugly. In my view, such memories are best talked about at home with a beverage and a plate of fried chicken. A great deal of talking also risks cringe-worthy comments like “Pearl was a real pearl,” which I heard at a Charlotte funeral years ago and which convinced me that less is more when it comes to speaking publicly about  the deceased.

Then there are the flowers. Some families like them big and bold, some more restrained, but whatever they are, they should be real, not artificial and certainly not plastic. Also on my no-no list are “theme” funerals, which I learned about from Southern Living magazine. It seems that some families have taken to memorializing the departed by highlighting his or her favorite pastime — camouflage caskets for hunters, fishermen buried in their boats, sports fans memorialized by team colors. Yikes!

Over the nearly half-century of his marriage, Fred has come around to the Southern way of saying goodbye, a sort of “bon voyage for a life well-lived” — or not. I think he agrees that funerals bring out the best in Southerners, our reverence for family and friends and a deeply felt caring for the needs of others. The time for grieving in private will come to all of us, but in the immediate aftermath of a death there is nothing like the distraction of the loving comfort of those who know us well. Coming next week: Southern Obituaries Greatest Hits.

Oh, America. What are we doing? The news coming out of Charlottesville, Virginia, this weekend was heartbreaking. One dead and 19 injured. Fistfights. Screaming matches. Hatred. Violence. Why?

This past May, the Charlottesville City Council voted to sell a statue of Robert E. Lee. A judge issued an injunction preventing the city from moving it for six months. In another vote, the city also chose to rename Lee and Jackson parks.

People showed up to protest while others showed up to protest the protests. It was not a peaceable assembly. Not even close. Lesson learned: Trying to adapt American history to align with 21st-century political correctness will always be an irresponsible and explosive undertaking with catastrophic consequences.

There is no outrunning our past, and with all the critical issues facing our nation, this is what we keep coming back to? Apparently, moving forward is not something we’ve figured out, either. There is so much work to do, so many issues to be resolved and so many ways we could come together as a nation to move our country forward in a positive way. In an American way.

According to pewresearch.org, the most recent (2015) Program for International Student Assessment, one of the largest cross-national tests, placed the U.S. at 38th out of 71 countries in math and 24th in science. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development placed us 30th in math and 19th in science.

America used to lead the world academically. In a competitive worldwide job market, this does not bode well for the future of our youth as they enter the workforce.

At the end of fiscal year 2017, our nation’s debt is estimated to be $20.4 trillion. That is the how much the U.S. will owe its creditors on Sept. 30. This number doesn’t include state or local debt. Individually, we aren’t much better. Check out these statistics based on data from the U.S. Census bureau and the Federal Reserve:

• Average American household debt: $5,700. Average for balance-carrying households: $16,048.

• Total outstanding U.S. consumer  debt: $3.4 trillion. Total revolving debt:  $929 billion.

• More than 38 percent of all households carry some sort of credit card debt.

• Households with the lowest net worth (zero or negative) hold an average of $10,308 in credit card debt.

• The Northeast and west coast hold the highest average credit card debt — both averaging over $8,000.

Add to these statistics the fact that Americans owe more than $1.4 trillion in student loan debt (across 44 million borrowers), and our financial outlook is grim.

Then there is health care. Why, as one of the richest and most technologically advanced countries in the world, are we still trying to figure out how to provide high-quality, affordable health care to all our citizens? Add to this list food deserts (areas where it is difficult to buy affordable, fresh, healthy food), which the USDA says “have become a big problem because while food deserts are often short on whole food providers, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, instead, they are heavy on local quickie marts that provide a wealth of processed, sugar- and fat-laden foods that are known contributors to our nation’s obesity epidemic.”

Add America’s opioid epidemic and the affected families. Add the immigration crisis we face. And all this is within  our borders.

Put all these things together and the sheer total number of our country’s  misplaced priorities will have your  head spinning.

Our leaders in Washington aren’t helping. Case in point: Mitch McConnell, the U.S. Senate Majority Leader from Kentucky. Recently, McConnell and President Donald Trump clashed over critical remarks McConnel made at a local Rotary Club concerning the ill-fated health care bill. McConnell said the president had “excessive expectations” on how things are accomplished in Washington, D.C.

In other words, career politicians like McConnell, who has been in Congress since 1984, have lost all sense of urgency, priority and loyalty to the president, their party and the American people. All they care about is looking out for themselves, and McConnell is typical of the self-serving bureaucrats that make up Congress on both sides of the aisle.

Until the American people say, “enough is enough,” we can only expect more of the same. You don’t have to be of any specific political persuasion to want America to be great again. It is great. We need to keep it that way.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Terry Sanford’s Karl Molnar said soccer coaches always worry this time of year how ready their teams are for the season.

Molnar is giving some of the better ones even more reason to worry as he’s put together the first Battle for the Bell soccer tournament at Terry Sanford Aug. 15-19.

The three-day tournament will feature some of the top programs in Cumberland County and the Cape Fear region and possibly provide a rare encounter between Terry Sanford and Fayetteville Academy.

“Thanks to this tournament, everybody’s first game is sooner than it would have been, and it gets competitive real quick’’ Molnar said. “There are some top-level teams in this  tournament.’’

The field includes county powerhouses Terry Sanford and Pine Forest, along with the Academy. Traditionally strong region entries are Southern Lee, Pinecrest and Lee County.

Molnar rates Lee County, with a number of veterans back, the  early favorite.

Regardless of who’s favored and who isn’t, Pine Forest coach Isaac Rancour said the tournament is great for soccer and a great chance to play some teams that his Trojans don’t usually see.

The tournament will also benefit Miller’s Crew, a charity named after Molnar’s son and established by him and his wife Kim. Its purpose is to raise money to provide vocational training, materials and equipment to help disabled people learn job schools and eventually become employed.

There is a donations page at gofundme.com called Miller’s Crew Classroom Crash for those who would like to contribute.

“We’re working together to achieve a goal, not only for soccer but to help out the community,’’ Rancour said. “I think that’s a great concept it’s all planned around.’’

Fayetteville Academy coach Andrew McCarthy agreed with Rancour and said the Eagles are honored to be part of the event.

“I hope the community comes out to watch some great games,’’ McCarthy said. “The tournament most importantly helps a great charity.’’ Molnar said tickets to each day’s play at the tournament will be $7.

The expanded version of the Cumberland County Football Jamboree begins a two-day run Wednesday and continues Thursday with Cape Fear and South View High Schools hosting the event.

Vernon Aldridge, student activities director of Cumberland County Schools, has been working overtime the past few months, expanding the field for the jamboree and contacting sponsors to seek financial support and donations of various services to make the jamboree a bigger event for the fans and  competing teams.

“I’ve been really happy with the way the business community has supported the jamboree,’’ he said. “Next year, I’d like to amp it up a little more and get to a point where we’re giving a $500 scholarship to each participating school.’’

This year’s jamboree will include all 10 Cumberland County Schools as usual, joined by an assortment of Cape Fear region teams including East Columbus, Overhills, Triton, Union Pines, Hoke County and Lee County.

Eight teams from outside the region, headed by traditional 4-A power Richmond Senior coached by former Terry Sanford and Cape Fear head coach Bryan Till, will also be taking part.

Tickets are $8 each night and can be purchased in advance at  ncprepsports.net. Aldridge said fans who buy tickets prior to the jamboree can enter through the pass gate at each location and won’t have to wait in line to buy a ticket.

A total of 18 businesses have either provided money or services to the jamboree this year, Aldridge said. One addition was a small meal for each player and coach consisting of a hot dog, chips and bottled water for them to have following their scrimmage.

Aside from the larger field of teams and two days of play, the biggest change for the jamboree is a return to local high school fields after a few years at Fayetteville State.

Fayetteville State did a good job hosting the event, Aldridge said, but the principals, athletic directors and coaches voted unanimously to return the jamboree to a high school campus in order to keep more of the gate receipts with the schools.

“All of the money will be used to offset athletic expenses at the middle and high schools,’’ Aldridge said of the jamboree ticket sales. “We use this money to help offset large purchases and send our coaches to the clinic in the summer and to provide training courses for coaches and  athletic directors.’’ 

Cumberland County Football Jamboree 2017 Schedule

Tickets: $8 both days. 

• WEDNESDAY at Cape Fear

6:30 p.m. – East Columbus vs. Farmville Central; Pfafftown Reagan vs. Overhills

7:30 p.m. – Triton vs. E.E. Smith; Union Pines vs. Douglas Byrd

8:30 p.m. – Richmond Senior vs. Cape Fear; West Johnston vs. Terry Sanford

• THURSDAY at South View

6:30 p.m. – Hoke County vs. Gray’s Creek; East Montgomery vs. Westover

7:30 p.m. – Northern Nash vs. Pine Forest; Eastern Wayne vs. Jack Britt

8:30 p.m. – Lee County vs. South View; Southeast Raleigh vs. Seventy-First

PHOTO: Vernon Aldridge, Cumberland County Schools Student activities director.

 2016 record: 7-5   |    Coach: Bill Sochovka

Top returners: Malik Daniels, 5-10, 290, Jr., DT; Tyrquie Williams, 5-11, 210, Jr., LB; Luis Rivera, 5-11, 225, Jr., DL; T.J. McKinnon, 6-2, 185, Sr., LB/DE; Dominic Roberto, 5-11, 210, Jr., LB; Lavonte Carter, 5-10, 180, Sr., WR/QB/RB; Jikeese Hernandez, 5-10, 280, Sr., OT; Fred Potts, 5-10, 250, Sr., OL; Rowdell Robinson, 5-11, 170, Sr., WR; Deon Buchanan, 5-11, 240, Jr., OL.

Top newcomers: Jordan Ferguson, 5-10, 165, Sr., DB; Isaiah Potts, 6-2, 250, Fr., DL; Ethan Ward, 5-9, 170, So., RB; Jamal Hill, 6-2, 250, So, DL.

Team strengths: Skill positions on the offensive side as well as returning offensive line. On defense, it’s the defensive line.

Team concerns: Inexperience in the secondary. Replacing two linebackers. Filling the quarterback spot as veteran Julian Hill recovers from a  knee injury.

Coach’s comment: The key to our success will be relying on talent in our returning offensive players and the quick maturity of our secondary (players).

PHOTO: Top Returner Lavonte Carter

Top returners: Christian Jayne, 6-3, 190, Sr., QB; Andrew Jayne, 6-4, 196, Sr., WR/FS; Leonard Mosley, 5-9, 170, Jr., RB; Giovan Pomales Escalara, 6-5, 334, Sr., OL; Dean Pantelakos, 5-10, 170, Sr., HB; Devon Mitchell, 5-11, 163, Sr., DB; Dante Bowlding, 5-11, 178, Jr., DB; Gavin Chavis, 6-1, 226, Sr., DE; Lance Santos, 5-6, 214, Sr., DL; Jackson Deaver, 5-10, 172,  So., LB.

Top newcomers: Jacob Knight, 5-11, 160, So., QB/DB; Jamir Moore, 6-0, 172, Jr., WR; Rico Hopson, 5-10, 154, Jr., WR; Ezemdi Udoh, 6-5, 220, So., DE; Elijah Morris, 6-0, 181, DE.

Team strengths: Quarterback-receiver combination and speed in the passing game. Strong senior leadership. Healthy competition within the team. Close-knit group on and off the field. Excellent coaching staff with many years of experience in successful programs. Staff is tight on and off field. Team has playoff experience. Recent alumni like Mark Gilbert, Isaiah Stallings, Paris Black and Jonathan Blackmon have set the standard and showed these young men how to practice and be a leader and accept responsibility.

Team concerns: Depth. Staying healthy will be a major key, as we have to replace eight starters on offense and seven starters on defense. We are thin in young reserves and size on the defensive line.

Coach’s comment: We are excited to start play(ing) in a new conference (Patriot Athletic) and look forward to the rivalries of old being renewed. The 2017 Terry Sanford Bulldog football team looks forward to a challenging schedule with six new opponents.

PHOTO: Top Returner Christian Jayne

It’s the time of year when we all want to go to the beach and just take it easy. It’s also the time of year for many to prepare to start college.

Fayetteville Technical Community College is open for Fall 2017 registration right now, and the sooner you get started, the sooner you can get to the beach. Do the free FTCC application and the free financial aid application now, and when fall classes begin on Aug. 21, everything will be ready. It is smart to do everything as early as possible to get the best choices for classes. Earlier is better for financial aid, too. Sometimes it takes a while to process financial aid, so getting started now ensures that aid will be in place.

Go to www.faytechcc.edu and click on the “Get Started” link on the front page. The link goes directly to the free College Foundation of North Carolina  application used by FTCC. Once the application is complete, an email is immediately sent to the email address used in the application. We also send a hard-copy letter to the physical address the student records on the CFNC application.

The email outlines the steps for admissions and provides links to forms to request a transcript from high school or other colleges, links to financial aid and the assessment and placement office. There is also a link to connect with an admissions counselor. The email also contains links to Veteran’s Services and military websites, a health programs admissions counselor and counselors at the Spring Lake Campus and Fort Bragg Training and Education Center. 

The letter we mail provides logon and password setup information for student email and WebAdvisor accounts. All applicants receive a student email account and a WebAdvisor account even before they are registered for classes. This is important because FTCC is going green, and after sending the first letter through the postal system to a home address, we primarily communicate with students via student email. 

Additionally, WebAdvisor is an excellent tool for applicants and students. With WebAdvisor, applicants and students can manage financial aid, register for classes, contact an advisor, view their grades, request transcripts and set up an interest-free payment plan (for students who are paying out of pocket).

Once the FTCC application is complete, students should visit www.FAFSA.gov. Please note that services provided through FAFSA.gov are provided free of charge. Any website that charges fees for services related to financial aid assistance for education is not the right website. Apply for the academic year 2017/2018. Be prepared with tax documents.  Most students who live at home will use their parents’ income information, but extenuating circumstances may change that. Please visit the Tony Rand Student Center Room 2 at the Fayetteville campus for help.

Even in this high-tech world, it is still important to receive face-to-face assistance, and FTCC is proud to offer the personal touch. FTCC provides assistance with everything, including the application, financial aid, assessment preparation, transcript evaluation and registration. 

Visit the Tony Rand Student Center information desk to begin the admissions and financial aid process today.

Fayetteville Roots

On July 24, 23-year-old Victoria Huggins won the 80th annual Miss North Carolina pageant. It was her fifth time competing for the crown and her last year of eligibility. She had come close before; in 2015 she was second runner-up, and in 2016 she was third runner-up.

Huggins grew up in St. Pauls, North Carolina, a small town about 30 minutes from Fayetteville. Her dad, who plans to retire this December after 41 years of service, worked as a full-time National Guard service member on Fort Bragg. “Fayetteville was always the place we gathered,” Huggins said. “Whether it was to meet Dad when he got off of work to grab a bite to eat or whether we were doing things at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, it was always kind of our center.”

Huggins won Miss Fayetteville in 2013. “I took a lot of pride in that because that was the only preliminary in our Miss North Carolina organization that included my hometown,” she said. Huggins said representing Fayetteville was a “dream come true” and the “perfect boot camp” in preparing her for Miss North Carolina and — now — the Miss America competition in September.

One of the first competitions Huggins remembers entering was the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club Talent Night as a 5 or 6-year-old girl. She wore a blue pantsuit and sang “I Got Saved in the Old Time Way.” She won. Around that same time, she sang on the Crown Coliseum stage. Family friend Pastor Wesley Pritchard of Fayetteville Community Church knew it was her dream to perform with gospel singer Bill Gaither. Pritchard introduced young Huggins to Gaither before a show at the Crown. During the show, Gaither called her up onstage to sing. “He said, ‘Where is Victoria Huggins?’ I went running up the aisle,” Huggins said.

Huggins’s transition to a serious focus on pageants, she said, happened when she was ready to start college at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. “I wanted to graduate college debt-free, so that was going to be through scholarships,” she said. “And the Miss America organization is actually the number one provider of scholarships for young women in the world.”

Huggins gave a few examples: For winning Miss Fayetteville in 2013, she received a $1,000 college scholarship. She was guaranteed an additional scholarship for competing in Miss North Carolina, and since she won this year, she earned a $25,000 scholarship. She also earned an extra $2,500 in scholarships for smaller awards, such as the Quality of Life and preliminary talent awards within that competition.

Though college funding was her initial motivation, Huggins said that once she got started in pageants, she realized they were complementary to everything she already enjoyed. “I thought to myself, I already love to speak to people, I love community service — I was already active in that before I started pageants — and I love singing,’” Huggins said. “Now the only part I needed to work on was how to walk in an evening gown and a swimsuit without falling flat on my face.”

She did learn, even while working and going through school — she graduated from UNC-Pembroke in 2015 — and it earned her the crown. She said she felt the major factor in her win this year was a shift in her mentality. “I didn’t focus so much on this being my last year for eligibility,” she said. “I just kind of let it go. … Before, I was so focused on strategy … and this year, I didn’t worry about that. I think that helped me to have more fun and be so relaxed, … and I think that’s what made the difference for me.” 

Big Dreams

Though winning Miss North Carolina was the fulfillment of one of her biggest dreams, it wasn’t just the crown that Huggins desired. She wanted the platform to do work in the areas she’s passionate about. As Miss North Carolina, Huggins will take the year off from her job as a producer and morning reporter for television station WECT and from her graduate coursework at John  Hopkins University.

One of her primary advocacy projects this year will be The ALZ Project. This is a project she’s been building, and she won the Quality of Life Award for her Alzheimer’s-focused community service platform in this year’s preliminaries. She said she’s been invested in Alzheimer’s awareness and research since 2008, when she first volunteered for the Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Through The ALZ Project, Huggins advocates for music therapy for Alzheimer’s patients. She’d like to see every care facility in North Carolina incorporate music therapy. Huggins said this could include amenities like a music library with iPods for nurses to program for patients or a pianist who would play at a care facility for an hour every day.

Huggins won the talent award for her performance of “Unchained Melody” in the pageant. Her song choice was influenced by her experience in care facilities. “One thing I’ve found... is if you sing a familiar song like ‘Unchained Melody,’ … Alzheimer’s patients more than likely will sing along with you,” she said. “That can bridge the gap between the disease and the memories.... They’re able to remember.”

She’s making plans to meet with Governor Cooper in the next few weeks and has already spoken with several local dignitaries about her ideas. She said being Miss North Carolina will open many more doors for her in this area, “and that’s what I’ve always wanted, is to have that platform.

“Nothing would thrill me more than to win Miss America, because I would be the first Miss America to advocate for Alzheimer’s in the 93-year history of the organization,” Huggins said. “And,... we have four scientists in North Carolina who have (treatment research) proposals on the table ready to go, they just need the funding and the approval.” She’ll visit the Alzheimer’s Center at Duke University next week to speak with one of those four scientisits, Dr. Kathleen Anne Welsh-Bohmer. She’ll see a presentation of the clinical trial that researchers there are hoping will be approved by the FDA. “It would be amazing if we could collaborate and together find a cure or treatment for Alzheimer’s,” Huggins said. 

Huggins will also work with North Carolina’s three Children’s Miracle Network hospitals this year. In two weeks, Huggins will meet the current Miss America, Savvy Shields, and bring her to Duke Children’s Hospital as well as Fort Bragg. “I’m so excited to show her a little piece of me but also the best in the nation,” Huggins said.

As she prepares for the Miss America competition that’s only a month away, Huggins said anyone would be crazy to not feel at least a little nervous.

“But the way I see it, I’m at home when I’m on a stage,” she said. “I hope I can show the judges in September that I am the best woman for the job. … I see it as my greatest performance; my greatest opportunity.” She added that she believes North Carolina is “ready to have a positive national spotlight shone on it. We haven’t had a Miss America since 1962, and it’s time.”

On Aug. 25, Operation Ceasefire is set to host a free movie night. Operation Ceasefire is a program with a clear and central goal: to reduce violent crime in Fayetteville and Cumberland County by reducing gun and gang violence. 

While this issue is immediately and viscerally important, it is also complicated. Operation Ceasefire employs a three-tiered strategy focused on intervention, suppression and prevention. Each tier focuses on a different aspect of the community so that everyone affected can be fully engaged in creating a solution.

The intervention tier is about being proactive and stopping violent crime before it happens. Operation Ceasefire identifies probationers with histories that suggest they could become involved with violent crime. Then they use tools like “call-ins” to help connect the probationers with resources and programs that offer training, counseling and treatment.

According to Operation Ceasefire, statistics show that without any help, most offenders will be imprisoned again within three years of their last conviction. Connecting ex-offenders with these resources helps both the individuals involved and the wider community. Having the support of these programs can help people make the difficult transition away from a life of drugs and violence, which makes for a safer city for everyone. For this to happen, for the program to be successful and for the cycle to be broken, the entire community needs to be involved. Operation Ceasefire calls specifically for businesses willing to hire ex-felons and organizations that can assist with daily needs and challenges.

The suppression tier involves teamwork. Operation Ceasefire and Violent Crimes Taskforce work together to identify repeat violent offenders to ensure that they face prosecution. While there are
many programs available to help people turn away from violence, it’s impossible to force people to take advantage of them. In these instances, the community still needs to be protected. The Taskforce focuses specifically on cases where firearms were recovered in Cumberland County. In a year, they have submitted over 50 cases to the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution so that dangerous individuals can be removed from the area to serve their sentences in federal prison.

The third and final tier is prevention and outreach. Operation Ceasefire has a series of programs that are designed to engage the community, particularly the youth. It focuses on teaching gun safety and building positive relationships with law enforcement. Officers get involved with afterschool activities and work to educate the youth on gun safety and the consequences of gun violence. The aim is not to reduce the legal possession of firearms. The goal is to create a safe, well-prepared and informed community.

The outdoor movies shown on movie nights are entirely free. The next movie night is at Hope Mills Recreation Center at 5776 Rockfish Rd. The event will last from 7 to 10 p.m. All the movies in the series are family-friendly. The only goal here is to build a healthy community relationship between neighbors and local law enforcement. Participants are encouraged to make the viewing experience more comfortable by bringing chairs and blankets to enjoy the outdoor venue. Find out more at http://operationceasefire.com/.

This summer has been the first season of Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s Third Thursday series. Every Third Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m., the Garden stays open late and hosts a special event.

“We have been able to bring in different groups of people who have never been to the Garden before, and that was our goal. So in that way, yes, it’s been successful,” said Taryn Hughes, marketing manager. “We are hoping to continue our attendance growth and have the community know where to go on every Third Thursday of  the month!” 

This month’s Third Thursday is on Aug. 17 and is Latin Soiree-themed. Anna Fiore of A la Fiore Arts will lead Rueda de Casino, which is an energetic Cuban group dance.

“Our first Third Thursday was Tango unTapped, where Anna showcased the evolution of tango and also taught them how to do the traditional tango steps,” Hughes said. “However, this Third Thursday
is not so much a showcase, but a get up and dance event.” Admission is free with entrance into the garden. 

Anna Fiore is the founder of A la Fiore Arts. She has a background in fitness, movement and the arts. She specializes in yoga, Latin dance, acro yoga and aerial acrobatics. “Through her mission as a local artist and educator, she strives to inspire people to understand the connections between various movement styles and, ideally, explore these ideas through personal engagement and participation,” Hughes said. “Through intentional movement, we increase our body’s awareness, and from this awareness grows greater respect for our bodies and ourselves. Inevitably, this respect inspires us to make decisions that lead to healthier, happier and more balanced lives.”

My Boricau Kitchen will provide delicious Puerto Rican and Caribbean cuisine for the night. There will also be a cash bar. “The cash bar has a variety of beer and wine selections,” Hughes said. “We do carry local brews from Dirtbag Ales, their IPA, Mocha and Kolsh. My Boricua Kitchen will provide the nonalcoholic beverages such as water and tea.”

All audience members, regardless of experience, are invited to take part in dancing and learning Rueda de Casino. “While dancing can be intimidating, it’s a whole lot of fun,” Hughes said. “Don’t worry about your dance level, Anna is a phenomenal teacher and will make sure you enjoy yourself! We welcome all dance levels and hope to see everyone out there dancing. If you don’t feel comfortable dancing, no worries, you’re welcome to walk the grounds or just sit and relax and watch everyone else dance.”

The last Third Thursday of this summer takes place on Sept. 21. The theme is Foodscaping 101. Brie Arthur, an author and horticulturalist, will explain how to turn your yard into edible landscaping that can provide you and your family with produce.

Find out more at www.capefearbg.org.

It’s a rarity to find an area, like Fayetteville and Fort Bragg, so utterly defined by the presence of the United States Army. The community understands both serving and respecting the armed forces, as though “Airborne” were written in its very DNA.

Hundreds of men and women are brought into Fort Bragg’s fold every year. The base also seeks to honor the veterans who have made personal sacrifices while creating history here at home and abroad. On Aug. 19, the Airborne and Special Operations Museum celebrates National Airborne Day from 9 a.m. to noon.

The event will coincide not only with the 77th anniversary of the U.S. Army’s airborne forces, but also the 17th anniversary of the museum itself. It officially commemorates the first jump of the Army Parachute Test Platoon in 1940.

Following an opening ceremony, the event promises several special displays for attendees.

Scott Pelletier, curator for ASOM, said Fort Bragg’s Garrison Operations Team began planning the event in April. “They have been working closely with the 18th Airborne Corps, 82nd Airborne Division and (Special Operations Command) units as well as the city (of Fayetteville) to ensure a great event,” Pelletier said.

Along with an array of food vendors and a performance by the 82nd Airborne Division “All-American Chorus,” a high-altitude lowopening jump demonstration by the Golden Knights and Black Daggers will be sure to delight spectators. The Golden Knights and Black Daggers personify the old phrase “flying with style.”

In addition, modern-day equipment and vehicles will be showcased on the museum’s parade field, including a special forces “A-Team,” infantry squads with all assigned weapons and an improvised explosive device display. An ambulance, as well as vehicles mounted with missile, grenade and machine guns will be on display.

The “mock door” demonstration and parachute donning station will also allow citizens to see and feel the demands of jumping out of airplanes for a living.

But National Airborne Day isn’t reserved for just the present. It’s an ode to the past, too. Both American and German World War II re-enactors in full uniform and equipment will be in attendance at ASOM.

“Soldiers and veterans are proud of their airborne heritage,” Pelletier said. “It gives them an opportunity to remember and reflect with their families and friends.”

Anyone who has walked the winding labyrinth at ASOM will tell you what an immersive experience it truly is. Every major wartime event in the last century is shown in full scope, with documents, artifacts and videos. Actual aircraft is mounted from the ceiling. You will hear the sounds of gunfire. History itself comes alive.

“I’m proud of the ASOM and everything it represents,” Pelletier said. “I’m honored and humbled to be a part of such a proud tradition.”

National Airborne Day is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.asomf.org.

Greater Fayetteville United, a local nonprofit group, wanted to know how people are giving and volunteering in faith-based organizations, politics and national affairs, and how they are participating in civic groups. The group wanted to know if residents trust each other. The agency commissioned a survey to measure trust, communication, interest and engagement in various areas. The idea was to determine the level of social capital in the community.

Darl Champion, president of Greater Fayetteville United, disclosed results of the survey to group leaders last week.

Most Cumberland County residents have a positive perception of law enforcement. They have a less favorable perception of streets and roads, public health and mental health services and the availability of affordable housing.

And most people don’t believe all of Cumberland County schools have the same resources available to them. As for trustworthiness, the survey of the more than 600 people who responded indicated it is a matter of community engagement. “One of the key factors is the trust people have in each other,” Champion said.

He noted a remarkable outcome was the relationship of trustworthiness to religious involvement and community engagement. “The most engaged residents are more trusting in general and more trusting of people of other races and ethnicities,” he said. The survey was mailed, emailed and phoned to randomly selected households in Cumberland County by market research firm ETC Institute, which conducted the poll. It has a +/- error rate of 3.9 percent. Champion said that where social capital is low, involved community members will look at how to build relationships and trust. That will begin at a community forum on Sept. 19 at Fayetteville State University’s Shaw Auditorium.

Officials consider it important that they delve into the details of the survey. For instance, daily work schedules, lack of information and inadequate financial resources were cited as obstacles or barriers making it difficult for respondents to be more involved in their community. Seventy-seven percent of respondents said they have some obstacle that makes it difficult for them to be engaged. “An objective of the public forum next month is to raise the level of trust of residents have in each other and government in hopes of improving the quality of life for everyone,” Champion said.

Interestingly, one’s level of trust in his or her community members has little to do with that person’s happiness. One of the questions making this survey unique was the question, “All things considered, how happy would you say you are?” Seventy-two percent said they were happy or very happy.

Six years ago, Cumberland County created Heroes Homecoming as a way of showing recognition and appreciation to all veterans for their courage, their sacrifice and everything they do to defend this country’s freedom.

“The Fayetteville area has always had a unique bond with veterans, as the point of departure and return for hundreds of thousands of soldiers,” said John Meroski, CEO of the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This year, the communities of Cumberland County will again host veterans and families from across the region to participate in a weeklong celebration honoring the brave men and women who served our country in Vietnam,” he continued.

The 2017 Heroes Homecoming Committee is seeking to set the Guinness World Record for most Missing Man Tables in one community. The committee is asking all Cumberland County businesses to participate by setting up a Missing Man Table at their place  of business. The committee will provide all materials needed and protocol for the table. Each business is asked to rope off or indicate their table is for display only. The table should be on display from Nov. 1 through 12.

“We’ll provide the commemorative kits of items to be displayed on each table,” Meroski said. Businesses that may not be able to set up tables are asked to drape American flags over single chairs. “These simple memorials will reflect the real patriotic pride that exists in our community,” he said.

Business owners interested in being a part of this record-setting commemoration of those Missing in Action should contact Angie Brady at the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors  Bureau by Aug. 13. Contact Angie by calling (910) 4835311 or emailing abrady@visitfayettevillenc.com.

Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring Lake and Eastover are planning events for the week of Nov. 4. They include the annual downtown Fayetteville Veterans Day Parade and a bike rally. The Moving Wall, a commemorative half-scale replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C., will be displayed again this year on the Airborne and Special Operations Museum parade field in the week before Veterans Day. “All of the events at Heroes Homecoming recognize and honor the service and sacrifice of our brave Vietnam veterans,” Meroski said.

The FACVB took the lead in organizing the first Heroes Homecoming and the four annual observances since then. The “welcome home” veterans never received at the conclusion of the war 35 years earlier was the idea of then-Fayetteville Mayor Tony Chavonne.

“No city felt any more of the prolonged association with that unpopular war than this one,” Chavonne said. “That was all the more reason for Vietnam veterans to be the first group recognized during Heroes Homecoming.” The Greater Fayetteville community made Heroes Homecoming the largest commemoration and reunion of its kind in the nation, Meroski said.

“On a personal note, as the son of a soldier and relative and friend of many Vietnam veterans, it was one of the highlights of my eight years as mayor,” Chavonne said of Heroes Homecoming. He has shared many stories of that week in 2011 as he met people who had come from far and wide to be part of the commemoration. “On the day we erected the Moving Wall at the ASOM, I met a young lady who was standing alone watching the panels being erected,” he recalled.

“When I approached her, she told me the story of being in grade school at Fort Bragg when a military car pulled up in front and officers came in to tell her that her father had been killed. I stood with her that morning and was allowed to share the emotional moments of seeing the panel with her dad’s name.” Visit www.heroeshomecoming.com to learn more.

Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Schroeder couldn’t make it when U.S. Army senior leaders gathered at Army Forces Command Headquarters at Fort Bragg last week. The meeting was held to enhance a shared understanding of FORSCOM’s roles, priorities and key initiatives.

The FORSCOM Senior Leader Orientation focused on being “Ready Now” and included leaders and representatives of FORSCOM’s subordinate units as well as FORSCOM Headquarters staff. Schroeder had turned in his rucksack in preparation for his retirement. He retired at Fort Bragg Aug. 1, after 34 years of service.

“The Army owes me nothing,” he said. “I owe the Army a debt that will never be paid back in full.” Gen. Robert B. “Abe” Abrams, commanding general of FORSCOM, said Schroeder leaves behind a lasting legacy marked by commitment, dedication and service to the Army. Schroeder relinquished responsibility as FORSCOM’S senior enlisted leader to Command Sgt. Maj. Michael  A. Grinston.

Beloved Fayetteville Retired Officer Dies

Retired Lt. Col. Alfred A. “Smilin’ Al” Alvarez passed away at home on Monday, July 31, at the age of 93.

He joined the Army in 1941. On D-Day, he went ashore on Omaha Beach, Normandy, and fought his way inshore. Following the Normandy landing, he participated in numerous battles, including the Battle of the Bulge. Following his commission from OCS in 1949, he served two combat tours in the Korean War. In 1965, he served 18 months in the Dominican Republic conflict. From 1968-69 as a Lt. Col. in the 7th Special Forces, Alvarez served a combat tour in Vietnam where, shortly after arriving in-country, the helicopter he was riding in was hit by enemy fire and forced to make an emergency landing. He returned stateside and served in the 18th Airborne Corps until retiring in 1974 after 32 years in the Army.

Alvarez became widely known locally as a charter member of the Airborne & Special Operations Museum, where he served as a docent. He is survived by his sister Mary (97), his wife Florence (married 68 years), a son and daughter-in-law, a daughter and her husband, 10 grandchildren and two  great-grandchildren. 

A memorial service was held Aug. 5 at JerniganWarren Funeral Home. Burial with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation or to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

State Grants Still Available to Hurricane Matthew Victims

The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency provides funding to participating local organizations for the rehabilitation of owner-occupied homes damaged during Hurricane Matthew. Homeowners can apply directly to their local partner organizations designated by the Housing Finance Agency.

Help from HFA comes in the form of an unsecured, 0 percent interest, forgivable loan covering the hard and soft costs of home rehabilitation to be forgiven at the rate of $5,000 per year. The program can cover damages up to $40,000. So long as the survivor lives in the home, the borrower will not need to make any payments on the loan.

The Housing Finance Agency was awarded $20 million. The balance in the fund is $14 million. Consideration will be given on a first come, first served basis. Contact Kingdom Community Development Corporation, 129 N. Main St., Spring Lake, NC, at (910) 484-2722 or North Carolina Indian Housing Authority, P.O. Box 2343, Fayetteville, NC at  (910) 483-5073 for more information.

PHOTO: Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Schroeder

Leadership development is an essential ingredient in effective businesses, organizations and ministries. When a company falters, often it can be marked up to an issue within the leadership. Churches are no different. While pastors often point the finger at the congregation, there is at least a 5050 chance the issue is in  the leadership.

Leadership Defined

Leadership is the action of leading a group of people or organization. Leadership exists at all levels. Parents serve as the leaders of their families. Teachers lead their classrooms. A governor leads a state. In the local church, the pastor is  the leader.

Aubrey Malphurs is nationally recognized as an expert on leadership issues. His organization, the Malphurs Group, trains and consults with various organizations in the area of leadership. In his book “Being a Leader,” Malphurs defines a Christian leader this way: “A Christian leader is a servant with the credibility and capabilities to influence people in a particular context to pursue their God-given direction.” Two components stand out.

Credibility Is Key

A key to leadership development is credibility. In their classic book “The Leadership Challenge,” James Kouzes and Barry Posner develop two “laws of leadership.” The first is “If you don’t believe in the messenger, you won’t believe the message.”

When it comes down to it, people long for a credible leader. Just look at the state of our government as a prime example. If you believe in your leader, you believe in what they stand for. The question becomes, how can I improve my credibility?

The answer to that question is much easier than you think. Kouzes and Posner’s research suggests that people first listen to the words, then they watch the actions. So, make sure you do what you say you’re going to do. That’s true in your family, in your business and in your church. Your credibility  is essential.

Lead by Serving

The other key to leadership development is to lead by serving. If you’re serious about developing your leadership, then become a servant. If you want the people in your organization or family to take out the trash, then you take out the trash. Be willing to do what you ask others to do. Dad, don’t ask your children to put their clothes away if you don’t. Coach, don’t ask your parents to be on time if you’re not going to be on time. Pastor, don’t ask your people to obey the Ten Commandments if you don’t.

If you walk around the campus of Carolina College of Biblical Studies, you’ll see that our president is a servant. At any point in the day, you might see him carrying a bag of garbage to the dumpster. Sure, he could ask any one of the faculty members or students or simply wait for the cleaning crew to do it. But that’s not him. He is a servant. The result? Now you see students who notice the trash can overflowing... they grab it up and take it to the dumpster. Why? They’ve learned to become a servant by watching their leader serve.

Servant leadership is a calling to be like Jesus. Jesus told his disciples, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be servant of all” (Mark 10:43). If you want to develop your leadership potential, start with learning to serve others with credibility that speaks louder than words.

Opioid Addiction: a legal criminal justice problem or a mental health problem? For years, we have treated drug addiction in this country as a criminal justice problem. We’ve declared war on drugs and lost miserably. Our courts are overloaded with otherwise law-abiding citizens who are imprisoned for time ordinarily reserved for violent offenders who are addicted to heroin, crack or cocaine. Previous laws have taken drugs away from prescribing doctors and placed them in the hands of high risk/high reward street dealers and drug cartels who’ve used violence, intimidation, children and sex to induce innocent men and women to try their goods.

According to mental health professionals, one in 12 people who try alcohol become alcoholics; one in six who try cocaine become addicted; one in four who try crack cocaine become addicted; and one in three who try opioids become addicted.

Today, we face another drug/alcohol crisis, which in many respects exceeds all other addiction issues because these addicts are our neighbors, friends, colleagues and most cruel of all, our grandparents. Yes, most of those now dependent on opioids are our elderly. When they wore out joints and suffered injuries that created chronic pain, their doctor compassionately prescribed opioids. Unfortunately, with opioids comes narcotic creep, leading to increased dosages needed to obtain the same relief. Addiction follows.

Now, we are faced with an addiction crisis with pills so available that street dealers can obtain them from almost anyone who was over-prescribed this medicine, such as nurses, PAs and patients. The White House commission on opioid addiction has requested that President Trump declare opioid abuse a  national emergency.

When the prescription drugs dry up, which they will, our neighbors will fight withdrawal. Many will head to the streets, and when they do, they will take heroin, crack cocaine and methadone, placing their lives in danger. Do we imprison our neighbors for addiction, or do we help them?

Resources are scarce. We have one treatment bed for every 20 people addicted. Mayors are reduced to applying for competitive grants that only touch the problem, while the Veterans Affairs is cutting drug treatment by 40 percent.

Our state legislature is complacent in raising grant monies for the problem and refuses to invest in its citizens who need help the most. While we have a rainy-day fund of $1.8 billion, we give none of it to this crisis, which is a national emergency. Not one dime to halfway houses, treatment,  law enforcement, emergency rooms or education.

Statistics show we are about to cut off millions of dependent souls who will begin withdrawal, which causes tremors, uncontrolled sweating, feelings of anxiety, nausea, vomiting and cravings. Life savings will be lost and families destroyed. People will continue to die unnecessarily. Emergency rooms will  be flooded.

The $10 million cut out of Attorney General Josh Stein’s budget demonstrates that our state legislature remains ignorant of this problem. Stein has attempted to get the state to recognize the crisis it will face when prescriptions are cut off this fall. North Carolina has four cities in the top 20 in addiction in the nation: Fayetteville; Wilmington; Jacksonville; and Hickory. Many of these addicts are veterans.

For once, let’s try not to jail our way out of a crisis. Let’s also not stick our heads in the sand. Let’s face this crisis, which calls for all of us to use our resources, intelligence and compassion, and for once, do a service to our communities, state and nation. The law, justice and mercy demand nothing less.