Starting this September, hundreds of American flags will once again rise in solemn tribute on the parade grounds of the Airborne & Special Operations Museum, part of Fayetteville’s annual Field of Honor display. Stretching from Sept. 11 to Nov. 11, the visual memorial offers a space for reflection, remembrance, and community unity.
This living exhibit, organized through the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation in partnership with Cool Spring Downtown District, allows individuals to sponsor flags in honor of military members, first responders, and loved ones past and present. Every flag includes a customized dedication tag—some noting names, others carrying brief but meaningful messages.
Renee Lane, the foundation’s executive director, believes the timing of the display is as significant as its purpose.
“We’ve built the display to begin on 9/11 and conclude on Veterans Day. Those two dates mark moments that changed lives and shaped the spirit of our country,” she said.
Fayetteville, often called the “City of Military Glory,” is home to Fort Bragg, one of the largest military installations in the world. In this city, military service isn’t distant or abstract; it’s part of daily life. Lane says the Field of Honor represents that shared history and pride.
The field itself becomes a gathering place throughout its run. Some visitors come to quietly walk among the rows, others gather in prayer or conversation. The flags, arranged with care by volunteers, ripple in the wind, creating a moving sight both day and night.
“It’s a moment of stillness,” Lane said. “When you stand there, surrounded by those flags, you feel connected to something larger than yourself.”
The flags are sponsored by people from all over the country. Lane said adoptions have come from as far away as California and Maine. Each $50 donation not only secures a flag and personalized tag but also supports the museum’s educational programs and preservation work. Though the museum never charges admission, its mission to honor and tell the stories of elite military forces requires year-round support.
“Every flag helps sustain our work. But more importantly, every flag carries a name and a memory,” Lane said.
As a Smithsonian-affiliated institution, the museum sees thousands of visitors each year. The Field of Honor helps bridge generations, offering a tactile and emotional experience that speaks to both young visitors and lifelong residents. The display will remain open to the public 24 hours a day during its two-month span. Organizers say early mornings and twilight hours are especially popular times for visitors seeking solitude and meaning. After Nov. 11, sponsors may take their flags home or donate them back for future use. Lane encourages early sponsorships, as the display tends to reach capacity.
“Some people come to see one flag,” she said. “Others come to stand among them all. Either way, they leave changed.”

(Photo: The Field of Honor at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum is a poignant reminder of those who served. Photo courtesy of Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation Facebook page)

The end of summer is in sight as school begins Monday, Aug. 25 for traditional students in the Cumberland County School System. The back-to-school season is filled with expectation, excitement and stress for kids and parents. From the school bus to the new attendance policy, here is what parents need to know:
1. CCS’ New Attendance Policy- It is imperative for each student to show up to school each day on time. The updated policy clarifies attendance expectations, outlines documentation procedures and reinforces the importance of being present every day to support student success.
2. School Bus Safety- Only authorized school personnel and students are allowed on the school bus. Unauthorized individuals may face criminal charges for trespassing or impeding the operation of a school bus.
3. Family Engagement and Volunteer Opportunities- CCS remains committed to partnerships with families and community members through expanded volunteer pathways and school-based engagement efforts.
4. Alongside Mental Health App- Middle and high school students will continue to have access to mental health wellness resources and self-guided support.
5. Infinite Campus (Student Information System)- Infinite Campus is a user-friendly platform to monitor attendance, grades and more.
6. Safety & Security- CCS continues its commitment to safe learning environments with Weapons Detection Systems in place, Raptor Security, Say Something Anonymous Reporting System and more.
7. Language Support Line- Non-English-speaking families can receive multilingual assistance through a dedicated support line designed to make communication easier.
8. Student Code of Conduct- Each student is given a student code of conduct that outlines CCS’ behaviors and consequences. The student should read and discuss the code of conduct with their parents.
9. Cell phone policy update- This new policy indicates that students are not allowed to display, use, turn on or make visible any personal devices (phones, earbuds, smartwatches, etc.) during instructional time. Devices must be turned off, put away out of sight and not easily accessible (kept in backpack or locker). Elementary students are not allowed to use their devices all day during bell-to-bell instruction. Use is only allowed when authorized by an Individualized Education Program, 504 plan, health plan, approved in advance for assistive, safety or translation needs or authorized by school staff for emergencies.
Middle and high school students can use their devices during their lunch periods, between class transitions, or with prior teacher approval for instructional purposes. Device usage is permitted on the buses before and after school. However, bus or school staff may restrict use if it creates safety concerns. Audio must be played with earbuds or headphones at a reasonable volume.
10. New clear bag policy- Beginning Friday, Aug. 22, CCS has implemented districtwide clear bag procedures for athletic events. Each person may bring one clear bag no larger than 12 by 15 by 3 inches. Small clutches, one-gallon Ziploc bags, diaper bags and medical bags will be allowed. Coats, blankets and strollers are allowed as long as storage compartments are left open and empty.
For the back-to-school guide visit www.ccs.k12.nc.us/btsg. For more information visit www.ccs.k12.nc.us.

Cumberland County
There’s a new sheriff in town! On Aug. 11, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners appointed Major Johnathan Morgan as Sheriff to complete the unexpired term of Sheriff Ennis Wright. Wright retired on June 30 after serving since 2017. Morgan will serve through December 2026.
He was one of nine candidates who submitted applications for the appointment. The majority spoke at the meeting, each declaring their qualifications and desire for the post. The other candidates included Joseph Bailer, James Barnes, James Black, former City of Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden, Brian Delrosario, Terry Ray, Ronald Starling and LaRue Windham.
Cumberland County Commissioner Chair Kirk deViere released a statement, which included the following: “Our primary goal throughout this process has been to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of operations within the Sheriff's Office. The Board of Commissioners collectively felt that Major Morgan's experience and understanding of current operations and procedures make him uniquely positioned to maintain the high standards of public safety our citizens expect and deserve.”
He also thanked all of the candidates for their commitment to public service.
The board opened the application process on July 15 with an Aug. 4 deadline. Requirements for the position included being at least 21 years old and having voted in Cumberland County without prior felony convictions.
At their Aug. 14 meeting, the County announced a North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management Grant for $500,000 for Rhodes Pond Improvement and Renovation Project. The project includes enhancing the park by improving the parking area and trail, as well as renovating the restroom facilities, to support overall park operations and improve visitor experience. Rhodes Mill Pond is adjacent to state game land where people can hunt deer, raccoons and ducks.
Another topic of discussion was an emergency management overview of the County’s flood monitoring network and public alerting capabilities in light of recent flooding events in Texas and North Carolina. Both events have “underscored the urgent need for reliable, real-time data to support decision-making around high-water events,” according to Garry Crumpler, the interim emergency services director.
The board also pulled the Request for Qualifications/Proposals for modernization and renovation of the Crown Theatre and Arena and the County Courthouse Parking Lot for future use by their September Infrastructure Committee for more discussion.

City of Fayetteville
On Aug. 11, the Fayetteville City Council voted to pull a rezoning request at the intersection of McArthur Road and Stacy Weaver Drive for a public hearing on Aug. 25. The request was for a new 7-11 convenience store with fuel sales. The request was for consent to approve based on the Zoning Commission and Professional Planning staff recommendation. Reasoning included that the property aligned with the Future Land Use Plan and the Unified Development Ordinance, that the permitted uses and development standards for the district are appropriate for the site, given surrounding zoning and land uses, and there are no anticipated negative impacts to public health, safety, morals or general welfare.
Some concerns from residents included an increase in traffic and safety issues. According to city records, the property has had commercial activity since 1995. The intersection also has a public library, a grocery store and a Circle K convenience store.
In other news, the Fayetteville Regional Airport hosted 27 local students from grades 7 through 12 to learn about careers in the aviation industry during the Aviation Career Education Academy. The two-day immersive program included interactive workshops, aircraft demonstrations and presentations from the Civil Air Patrol, NASA and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

About the Greater Fayetteville Chamber
Advocacy is a cornerstone of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. Every week, the Chamber dedicates staff to attend City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County meetings, as well as monitoring updates on the state and federal levels. We monitor legislation locally, statewide and federally to protect our community’s business interests.
With 91% of U.S. adults recognizing a Chamber of Commerce's impact on growth, membership ensures a strong voice shaping policies, driving economic success, and building a thriving business community—together. To learn more, visit www.faybiz.com or email jmclaughlin@faybiz.com.

(Photo: Cumberland County Commissioner Chair Kirk deViere, left, Commissioner Henry Tyson, new Cumberland County Sheriff Johnathan Morgan, and Commissioner Pavan Patel pose for a photo at Sheriff Morgan's swearing in ceremony. Photo courtesy of Cumberland County NC, Government's Facebook page)

Guiding Light was a 15-minute radio soap opera in 1937. In 1952, it moved to television as a fifteen-minute show, expanding to thirty minutes in 1968, becoming a one-hour show on November 7, 1977. Guiding Light aired 57 years until its cancellation in 2009.
A lot of us grew up with Guiding Light. I remember Mother watching it regularly from the early ‘50s. We knew the families. The Spauldings and the Chamberlains were prominent.
Kim Zimmer, who played Reva Shayne, was the longest-running cast member. She was on the show from 1985 until her final retirement in 2008. Reva was beautiful, naughty and nice, at the center of many of the plots.
On Guiding Light, we got a taste of the wild side. There were illicit marital relationships, stolen identities, embezzlements, out of wedlock children. Revenge out the wazoo. People came back from the dead, only to get killed again. There were corrupt businesses, a lot of grift and deceit. People were in and out of jail. Family squabbles filled the storyline. There was much back-stabbing and running around. No one went unscathed.
Guiding Light was an hour of life in another world, one with a dark underbelly, that provided entertainment in its twists and turns of beautiful people, some of whom were on very dark paths. Thankfully, it was only an hour, and we could turn it off before it swallowed us.
The television soap opera had no real-world consequences.
We are living in a soap opera world today. There is no turning it off. There are real-world, real-life consequences that a lot of us did not sign up for.
The dirty dealing, revenge, and meanness of life 24-7 is sad and wearying. The revenge policy is shocking, and the treatment of immigrants is abhorrent. Taking portraits of Obama and Clinton off the walls of the White House is just plain silly and immature. Joe Biden’s portrait will likely never see the light of day.
The soap opera plot is acted out every day in a gilded Trump world. Many of the Cabinet and other heads of state are made-for-television actors. More than a few are, in fact, television personalities. Hot off the airwaves of FOX and Newsmax. They are talking heads with zero experience in governing, making decisions for the pleasure of Trump and in the hope of getting clicks. They play to every fifteen-minute news cycle.
David Brooks recently wrote an article about how most of the world is more optimistic than Americans are today. American hope and optimism after WWII stabilized the world and the world economy for the past 75 years. All the problems were not solved, but people felt like we were on an upward trajectory of prosperity and opportunity for all Americans.
Today, we live somewhere between Alice in Wonderland and Hunger Games. We are falling down the rabbit hole into an uncertain future.
Every news cycle brings new drama. Sending National Guard troops to patrol Washington, DC is this week’s show. There is no unrest in DC requiring additional policing. There is, however, a Black Democratic woman who serves as Mayor. Reason enough.
Guiding Light had provocative sexual innuendo. The actors in the Trump soap opera were not play acting. Jeffrey Epstein’s story is dirty business, predatory porn on a grand scale. Young women exploited and abused by powerful men, possibly including the president. If he weren’t in the files, why would he protest seeing them released? Me thinks he doth protest too much!
Every day that the Epstein files are not released, another swipe of bad governance appears to attempt to distract us from the reality that the Epstein drama is bad.
We are finding it hard to change channels on this drama.
What can we do now? We cannot turn off and tune out.
Now is a time for bold braveness. Don’t wait for the other guy to take on the drama. Be the force you want to see. Be the voice you want to hear.
Who are the ones that will be our Guiding Light? We need some heroes in our search for tomorrow.

Editor’s note: Lib Campbell is a retired Methodist pastor, retreat leader, columnist and host of the blogsite www.avirtualchurch.com. She can be contacted at libcam05@gmail.com

The likely Democratic nominee for North Carolina’s Senate race next year, former Gov. Roy Cooper, led likely Republican nominee Michael Whatley by six points in the first independent poll commissioned after the two men announced their campaigns last month.
Of course he does. Cooper has been on statewide ballots for decades. Whatley, a first-time candidate who chairs the Republican National Committee, isn’t as well known.
On the other hand, Cooper’s 47% to 41% margin in the latest Emerson College poll isn’t particularly impressive. North Carolina is a closely divided state. Setting aside Josh Stein’s remarkably good fortune last year, most of our statewide races have been and will continue to be decided by small margins.
So, Cooper’s six-point edge in the poll isn’t what caught my eye. It was the partisan breakdown of the Emerson College sample: 36% Republican, 33% unaffiliated, 31% Democrat. If I got in my time machine and went back 30 years to chat with 1995 me, he’d say the sample was badly skewed and suggest I toss it aside. Democrats rank third in party affiliation, behind Republicans and independent? No way, my dark-haired, wrinkle-free doppelganger would insist.
And he’d be dead wrong.
It’s true that, with regard to voter registration, the state’s former majority party hasn’t yet fallen so far. As of last week, 30.6% of North Carolina’s 7.6 million voters were registered as Democrats. Republicans made up 30.4%. Unaffiliated voters already comprise a plurality at 38.4%.
The underlying math has an inexorable logic, however. We don’t have to go back 30 years to see it. Half that time will do it. In 2010, Democrats made up 45% of the electorate. Republicans were 32%, independents 23%. Since then, the independent category has grown by 1.5 million and the GOP by nearly 350,000, while Democratic registrations shrank by more than 450,000.
Sure, it will still take several months for the Ds to slip to third place. But the 2026 election is months away, more than a year away. By then, the streams will have crossed.
Democratic activists are right to feel trepidation about this. But Republican activists ought to restrain their glee. Despite these registration trends, GOP candidates for governor have won precisely one election in the past 30 years. Democrats currently hold half of North Carolina’s 10 statewide executive offices. Within a few years, the Republican majority on the state supreme court could disappear. In federal elections, North Carolina leans red, yes, but not by much. (I prefer a different color coding for the Tar Heel State, a reddish purple known as “flirt.”)
And, to return focus to the Senate race, Cooper starts the 2026 contest with an edge over Whatley even with Democratic registration lower than Republican registration!
That’s because unaffiliated voters aren’t necessarily, or even usually, undecided voters. Many are Democratic or Republican in all but name. In North Carolina, each party starts with a base of support north of 40%. To win, they must maximize turnout and contest the small but decisive share of swing voters truly up for grabs.
The conventional wisdom used to be that Republicans were somewhat more likely to turn out than Democrats, and thus enjoyed a structural advantage in midterm elections, when overall turnout tends to be lower.
Now the conventional wisdom is that because the rise of Donald Trump scrambled the party coalitions, with high-propensity suburban voters shifting blue and low-propensity rural voters shifting red, Republicans have lost that structural advantage. Lower overall turnout is good for Democrats, it’s posited.
I never bought the conventional wisdom in the first place, having searched for and failed to find any consistent relationship between midterm turnout and partisan outcomes in past North Carolina elections. So I’m not prepared to accept the new conventional “wisdom,” either, without more evidence.
If public sentiment turns against the party in the White House, as it often does, Roy Cooper might well win. Registration trends are hardly the only ones that matter.

Editor’s note: John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His books Mountain Folk, Forest Folk, and Water Folk combine epic fantasy with American history (FolkloreCycle.com).

“Study abroad” is a term most would associate with universities; however, that is not always the case. There are a number of North Carolina Community Colleges that offer study abroad programs, and FTCC is soon going to join those ranks.
There are many benefits to study abroad for students. For some, studying abroad may provide the first opportunity for international travel and exposure to diverse cultures, which can foster personal and professional growth. Academically, studying abroad provides a unique opportunity to observe course objectives in different settings, thereby enriching one's understanding of those topics.
We are currently in the process of developing a faculty-led STEM study abroad program. In June 2023, FTCC was awarded a grant from the IDEAS Program of the U.S. Department of State that provided funds to scout three field research stations in two countries. In June of 2024, we traveled to the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, where we participated in a workshop that explored hands-on activities and research opportunities available for students.
This involved snorkeling to identify coral and fish, microplastic sampling from a nearby beach, assisting with a plankton tow, and experiencing various cultural activities.
In July of 2024, we traveled to Belize with our first stop being the Belize Zoo Tropical Education Center in central Belize. Here, we were able to participate in birding and bird banding, have a behind-the-scenes, day-and-night tour of the Belize Zoo, visit the Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, and visit Xunantunich, a Mayan archeological site. The purpose of these trips was to get firsthand experience with each field station and make international connections to develop the study abroad program.
The first study abroad trip is planned for the summer of 2026 and will be associated with a section of Bio 112 General Biology II. For this first trip, students will be visiting both field stations in Belize and will get to participate in all the activities we trialed. Upon return, students will have the opportunity to present their findings in a campus-based symposium. In the summer of 2027, the goal will be for the class to visit Bermuda and then rotate between the two countries every year.
This program will offer a truly unique opportunity for students that may include a lot of firsts: visiting another country, flying, snorkeling, research, and much more. When students participate in studying abroad, they grow academically and personally and receive an experience with a lasting impression about their time at Fayetteville Technical Community College.
Are you ready to learn more about study abroad opportunities at FTCC?
Contact instructor Krissy Smith by email at smithkri@faytechcc.edu or by calling 910-678-8296.
Or reach out to instructor Kerri Donohue via email at donohuek@faytechcc.edu, or by calling 910-486-7393.

Nobody’s going to argue when I say that our country is in a complicated place these days. You can feel it in the news, around the dinner table, even in the grocery store line. And I don’t think anyone would argue with this either: families are complicated, too. Now, mix those two things together—a complicated country and a complicated family—and it gets even trickier. Especially when the folks around the table see the country through different lenses. That’s when things get really complicated.
Are our modern day families so torn up by political differences that gathering around the kitchen island without an argument around the daily news is more and more uncommon? Is our country now so divided and passionate that we are headed towards another civil war?
I hope not on both counts.
In Measure of Devotion, a new novel by Raleigh native Nell Joslin, these complicated, age-old family dynamics play out for the Shelburne family during the Civil War in South Carolina. At first glance, this might seem to be just another Southern novel about the war.
But Joslin is not just telling a Southern story. She weaves a universal narrative that applies to us today. The Shelburnes’ saga is rooted in the past, but echoes powerfully right now.
Susannah and Jacob Shelburne live in secessionist South Carolina but are quiet abolitionists. Their servants are no longer enslaved, and the Shelburnes consider them their friends and equals. They do not press their anti-slavery beliefs on others, but subtly oppose the widespread Southern culture. Speaking out publicly would put them in danger in their community, so they push back in subtle ways.
As I was pulled deeper into the story, a question gnawed at me. Why were the Shelburnes not more outspoken? Jacob acknowledges early in the novel, “I confess that in this way I am living a lie. But I know no help for it. Though I cannot say I love my state, I do love my home and my farm…. It is a Gordian knot.” The Shelburnes struggle to parent their teenage son Francis, a Confederate sympathizer. Francis only grows more defiant and joins the Confederate army. The metaphorical Gordian knot is tightened by Susannah’s struggle to save her son after he is wounded fighting for a cause she abhors.
How does a beloved son come to embrace a culture his parents spent their life resisting? Part of the answer lies in time and place. He grows up in a world where many voices around him lift up those very values, even glorifying slavery and war. And like adolescents in every era, he’s itching to push back against his parents.
“You think I’m a child. Christ, I cannot wait to be rid of this house and everyone in it,” he tells Susannah as he prepares to war.
Sound familiar? Maybe your child didn’t use those exact words. Maybe you didn’t. But chances are, at some point, you’ve heard something close—or said something just as sharp in your own teenage years. It’s part of the long, complicated story of growing up and breaking away.
That old metaphor of the Gordian knot still holds power today. We’re living in a time when the tangles of belief, identity, and loyalty feel impossible to sort out. And it’s not just in the headlines—it’s close to home. We’re neighbors to, and sometimes parents or grandparents of, people who see the world in ways we can’t quite understand. The bonds of family and community haven’t gone away—but they’ve gotten more complicated.
If you are struggling with the news of today’s front pages, or if you are disagreeing with a loved one, pick up Measure of Devotion. Joslin, via Susannah, reminds us that these complicated struggles—between family, identity, and belief—aren’t anything new. And, spoiler alert: there are no perfect endings to these struggles.

The bar will be loaded, the music will be loud, and the energy will be electric as Girls Gone Rx celebrates 13 years of Competing for a Cure — and this year, the event is coming to town Saturday, Aug. 23 at Tarheel Crossfit on 1530 N. Bragg Blvd in Spring Lake.
Founded in 2012, Girls Gone Rx has become more than just a fitness competition. It’s a movement built on empowerment, community, and philanthropy, with women across the country lifting each other up, literally and figuratively, in the fight against breast cancer.
This year’s anniversary event will feature all-female teams of three, competing in four workouts across two divisions. While the workouts promise to challenge even the fittest athletes, the real goal is connection and competing for a cause.
“This isn’t just about the leaderboard,” organizers said. “It’s about celebrating strength, pushing limits, and supporting a community that uplifts women in and out of the gym.”
Two Divisions, One Cause
Teams can register under one of two divisions:
• RX Division: For seasoned athletes who tackle daily work out of the days without scaling and are confident with advanced movements like pull-ups, double-unders, handstand pushups, and Olympic lifts (squat snatches or cleans at 95 lbs or more).
• BAM Division (Badass in the Making): Designed for newer athletes who are just entering the competition scene, may still be learning Olympic lifts, and typically scale workouts.
No matter the division, every team competes for the same reason: to raise funds for Compete for a Cure, a nonprofit organization benefiting breast cancer research and support services.
As part of the event, each team will create a fundraising page, and the amount raised will contribute to the team’s overall event score, adding a charitable twist to the competitive spirit.
Inspiring a Community
From personal records to high-fives, Girls Gone Rx has built a reputation for being one of the most inclusive and inspiring competitions in the fitness world. The events focus on camaraderie over comparison and a goal to create a safe, empowering space where women can test their limits and grow together.
Teams that register will receive a unique referral link, and if four teams sign up using that link, the original team’s registration fee is waived.
“Bring all your friends,” organizers encouraged. “The more, the mightier.”
Registration is now open. For more information, visit Instagram.com/GirlsGoneRx. Follow and watch the competition on Instagram @GirlsGoneRX

Joseph Kabbes calls himself an “unconventional academic.” He serves as an instructor and manager at the Fayetteville State University Planetarium and Observatory, a career he pursued following a surprising pivot.
Working as a software developer during the beginning of his career, Kabbes felt something was missing. He sensed a latent desire to delve into the world of astronomy - a field that had fascinated him since his youth. So, he went back to school where graduate work in astronomy eventually landed him in a teaching role and the realization that this was what he loved.
Now he spends his days teaching, grading, managing tours and renovations, and sharing his passion for astronomy with students and adults of all ages.
With 5,000 students visiting the location annually for tours and summer camps, there's always something going on and always something that needs to be updated. Current renovations center on the observatory, which will now bring the whole facility up to date, since planetarium renovations were completed several years ago.
The planetarium and observatory first opened in 1980. At that time, Kabbes says they didn’t have computers and everything in the facility was completely manual. The first major renovations to the facility began with the planetarium in 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project’s completion, and the planetarium didn’t reopen until 2022. But the work was a success and according to Kabbes, “that renovation allowed us to go from an old, old mechanical star ball to a fully digital projection system.”
Now, their focus has turned to updating the observatory, a task that Kabbes says is necessary because of mechanical and structural failures at the facility. These updates entail replacing the observatory dome and tearing out the entire original telescope and mount.
Funding for these changes came from a variety of sources, and Kabbes says that his business experience with startups from his software engineering days equipped him with a resourceful angle on renovations.
“That’s just kind of the mentality you get into,” he shared, “Other than occasional grants for big ticket things, we really do try to be self-sufficient in our revenues.”
The dome replacement was covered by Title 3 grant funds and previous grant funding had already equipped them with a new telescope. Everything else, he said, is funded by revenue that the planetarium generates. The updated observatory will be computer-controlled, unlike the original manual controls, and will have the capacity for remote operation.
Kabbes said many in the community don’t even realize the planetarium and observatory exist, but when they step inside, reactions range from “wow!” to “that felt like a trip!” especially when viewing the planetarium demonstration. He said this visual display is incredibly high resolution, partly because of a mistake.
When renovating the planetarium, they’d ordered digital projectors that were typical for the 30-foot dome the space featured. But, when the order was fulfilled and delivered, their chosen projectors weren’t available, and they ended up receiving 10, 4k digital projectors; the kind that would typically be used on 60 or 70-foot domes. The result? The high-resolution projectors in the comparatively small dome project exceptionally crisp imagery.
“As best as I can tell, we’ve got more pixels per square inch on our dome than any other planetarium in the world right now,” Kabbes shared, “It just yields a really wonderful sky viewing experience.”
The projection resolution, along with their 6,500-watt sound system, makes the facility especially conducive to engaging tours; tours which Kabbes laughingly explains are, "basically me explaining science with bad jokes.”
Planetarium tour topics for elementary and middle-school students typically include an overview of the solar system with time for questions and discussions. For adults, topics cover a wide range, including black holes, the NASA Artemis Program, exoplanets, dark energies, dark matter, and other “obscure” topics if Kabbes senses there’s interest.
Both the planetarium and the observatory serve as places where young students with an interest in STEM subjects can broaden their understanding of the fields.
“They realize they like STEM, but they don’t realize all the different things that are out there in terms of different engineering fields and science fields,” said Kabbes.
For FSU students, once the observatory reopens, they can attend summer internships and gain first-hand experience in research projects.
“It's a really important tool in helping STEM students stay in college,” Kabbes explained, sharing that freshman and sophomores sometimes lack experience-building opportunities. “There are some things we can do in observational astronomy with the observatory that will allow them to participate in some research programs, and get some experience with that. I'm looking forward to getting that spun up as well.”
Kabbes says he also hopes to launch an astronomy club that will provide members with regular opportunities to experience what the observatory has to offer.
“They'll actually be able to come to the observatory and see it in action, and see the images that come from that. So they’ll be able to get a feel for how that whole process works.”
He’s looking forward to introducing visitors to the improved viewing experience and educational opportunities.
“I try to make space and complex concepts understandable to just about everybody. So, if you want to come learn about space, this is the place to come in the area.”

A new school year presents a wealth of opportunities for students. At the dawn of a new school year, students have a chance to further their academic careers, student-athletes may be given a shot at making a team or moving up to varsity, and extracurriculars provide a chance for personal growth outside the classroom.
Despite all that a new school year represents, students may need a little extra motivation to get excited about going back to campus once summer winds down.
A relaxing and largely obligation-free summer vacation can be tough to give up, as can mornings without alarm clocks. Parents recognize that kids might not be enthusiastic about the return of early mornings and sessions in the classroom. In such instances, parents can try the following strategies to get kids excited about a new school year.
• Make the first day special. The first days can be challenging, regardless of a person's age. Professionals with years of experience in their field still feel first-day jitters when they begin a new job, so youngsters can be excused if what seems like a lack of excitement is really just nervousness about a new school year.
Parents can calm those nerves by doing something to make the first day special. Skip the standard cereal and prepare a home-cooked breakfast or let kids buy lunch at the school cafeteria instead of packing a PB&J in their lunchbox. A little something special on the first day can go a long way toward getting kids excited about going back to school.
• Emphasize new subjects. As children advance through school, they are typically exposed to more engaging subjects or challenged in ways that help them build on previous years' work. Emphasizing new subjects or opportunities can increase kids' excitement to get back in the school year swing of things.
If a youngster likes playing an instrument, emphasize how the new school year is an opportunity to get better, play alongside other students and take a talent to new heights. If students are old enough to take subjects they've long been interested in, such as a foreign language, make a point to emphasize how that opportunity has finally arrived.
• Create a school calendar. Schools typically make their yearly schedules available prior to the first day of school. Parents can peruse those schedules alongside their children and make a calendar noting special days.
Mark down field trips, special events involving parents and students, school performances where kids get to act or sing on stage, and other notable moments during the school year. Kids are bound to grow more excited about a new year when they see a year's worth of fun events marked down on a calendar.
• Host a late summer get-together with friends. A late-summer pool party or play date with various friends can remind youngsters that they're about to see their friends every day. That might be enough to make young students jump out of bed on the first day of school.
Students might be less than excited about the end of summer vacation and the dawn of a new school year. But there are many things parents can do to get kids excited about going back to school

Great golf supporting even greater causes arrives in Fayetteville Saturday, Aug. 23, with the 38th Annual Fayetteville Rotary Club-hosted Walker Family Golf Classic. Registration at the host course, King's Grant Golf & Country Club at 347 Shawcroft Rd., Fayetteville, is from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., with the tee-off at 8:30 a.m.
Since 1986, the Fayetteville Rotary has hosted the annual Walker tournament, originally the Fayetteville Rotary Father-Son Golf Championship of Cumberland County. Over the years, the Classic has expanded to include fathers and daughters, grandfathers and grandsons, mothers and daughters, mothers and sons, brothers, nephews and uncles, and other family duos. Today, the Walker, renamed in 2015 for the event's founder, former Rotary Club President Joe Walker, welcomes a wider variety of players.
FRC Director and Chair of the Tournament Committee Tim Richardson explained the tournament’s foundation.
“It originally started as a true father-son golf tournament, almost identical to the tournament (now the Carolinas Parent Child Championship) held annually by the Carolinas Golf Association, the CGA, in Pinehurst. They use many courses because it's such a big event. And Joe Walker played in it with his sons. He loved it so much, and he thought it would be a great thing for us to have here in Cumberland County, and that the Rotary Club could do it. So that's how it started,” he said. “And even before Joe's death, we said, you know, there are so many people that have loved playing in this tournament and golf in general, we're going to change the format and make this a family golf championship. So, if your team (of two) is of a family relation, you can play.”
The links are also open to all ages. Younger players and well-seasoned players are eligible for the oldest and youngest team awards, determined by the combined age of the team. The furthest-traveled team receives another prize. Even though entries must be amateur golfers who are legal residents of Cumberland County, non-residents can play with a qualifying teammate. According to Richardson, players come from across North and South Carolina, and sometimes even further, to join.
A trophy and prize presentation and a cookout catered by ScrubOaks Restaurant are slated after the 18-hole, alternate-stroke tournament. Winners and runners-up in each of five flights will be recognized. While teams in the lowest handicap division will compete for the championship, higher divisions will compete for flight prizes.
Last year, the father-son team of Chuck and Chad Mohn took first place overall, and the team of David and Anthony Knight placed second overall. The tournament raised over $26,000 to support annual service projects. The 2023 Walker Family Golf Classic saw the father-son team of Brian and Sutton Drier achieve a three-peat as they earned their third straight tournament title. The team of Johnny Taylor and Timmy Parker placed second overall. The 2023 tournament raised over $23,000 for the Fayetteville Rotary Club’s annual service projects.
As for this year, Richardson floated some big names in area amateur golf who plan to take to the greens on Aug. 23.
“Thomas Owen is going to be playing this year with his dad. Thomas has won the Cumberland County Golf Championship and the Highlands Country Club Golf Championship,” Richardson shared. “Billy West is going to be playing with his son. And of course, Billy has been the Cumberland County Golf Champion many times, and also the Highland Country Club Champion. So, we have several really good players playing in the field.”
Other special players who turn out year after year are members of the tournament's namesake family. Mark, Todd and Brian Walker, sons of the late Joe Walker, and their children carry on the tournament tradition their dad and granddad started. Last year, Joe’s wife, Melba, was among the spectators who cheered them on.
Richardson’s son-in-law, Greg Whitley, joins him in the round and enjoys the camaraderie of the day.
He said, “I have been on boards for and played in a lot of the charity tournaments in Cumberland County. What sets the Walker apart is the fact that it’s family-oriented. Unlike most other tournaments, the Walker pairs family members and allows you to spend some time with family on the golf course. I appreciate that they’ve expanded beyond the initial father-son format to allow and encourage family members--blood, marriage or otherwise--to spend some great time together!”
Whitley said a joke or two with family is par for the course.
“The pairings with other family teams are very enjoyable, and a little good-natured family ribbing after a bad shot is always good for a lighthearted laugh,” he quipped.
Whatever the score is at the end of the day, and no matter who takes the trophy, Cumberland County is the real winner.
“This is the major way that we raise the funds that we put back into the community. The Walker Classic is our largest fundraiser,” Richardson said.
The Fayetteville Rotary Club supports many local nonprofits and service organizations, including Rick's Place, Better Health of Cumberland County and Habitat for Humanity. The circa 1920 club also champions children and youth through many different initiatives. From coordinating the Fayetteville Christmas Parade and bringing the traveling Morehead Planetarium to schools to funding scholarships, achievement programs and quality of life projects, Rotary members fulfill the club’s service mission with pride.
Highlights from 2024-25 included celebrating the Fayetteville Christmas Parade’s 25th anniversary, delivering $16,000 in cash and tuition credits to four Methodist University students for the Lowdermilk Achievement Awards and selecting 15 local high school students for Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) program participation. The Fayetteville Rotary invested over $50,000 in this community last year alone.
And Rotary’s reach extends to both the region and the world. Examples of global goodwill include the club’s support of a Rotary Peace Fellow from Gaza beginning his fellowship at the Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center and donations to communities in the Bahamas. Closer to home yet across the state, the Fayetteville Rotary supported Hurricane Helene recovery and the Boys and Girls Home of Lake Waccamaw, and much more.
The Fayetteville Rotary Club is part of Rotary International’s District 7730. Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians, members of more than 29,000 Rotary clubs in 161 countries.
To get into the swing of things and enter the Walker Family Golf Championship, visit the Fayetteville Rotary Club website at https://fayettevillerotaryclub.org/walker-family-golf-classic.php and download the entry form. The form plus the $150 per team fee is due by Aug. 15. Entries will be limited to 44 teams, and the fee includes the greens fees and cart for both players and all festivities. Game on!

(Photos: Above: The Fayetteville Rotary Club has put on the Walker Family Tournament since 1986. Pictured are Fayetteville Rotarians Maureen Running, Magda Baggett, Bonnie Dawdy and Shawn Johnson.
Bottom: Rotarian and tournament Chair Tim Richardson teamed up with son-in-law Greg Whitley, along with Sean Aul from Tile, Inc. Photos courtesy of Carolyn Justice-Hinson)

On the corner of Hay and Hillsboro Streets in downtown Fayetteville stands a quiet witness to history. Rooted in the soil for over two and a half centuries, the sprawling Virginia live oak known as the Liberty Tree has withstood storms, progress, and time. But on Aug. 16, 2025, the tree will do more than stand, it will speak.
That Saturday, the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation will host a public commemoration honoring the 250th anniversary of the Liberty Tree, an event deeply tied to one of North Carolina’s earliest acts of defiance against British rule. The day also marks the 85th National Airborne Day, a tribute to the first U.S. Army parachute jump in 1940, and celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Airborne & Special Operations Museum, a fixture in Fayetteville’s cultural and military identity.
While each of these milestones could command its own spotlight, together they form a powerful triad of remembrance—connecting revolutionary ideals, modern military innovation, and the enduring strength of community.
A Tree with a Story
In June of 1775, fifty-five local patriots signed the Liberty Point Resolves, pledging their lives and fortunes in support of the Continental Congress. As local lore holds, they nailed their resolution to the oak tree now known as the Liberty Tree, a bold declaration made more than a year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Though the exact tree from 1775 cannot be confirmed, this live oak standing strong in the Museum’s Garden is a designated symbol of that era.
“The Liberty Tree is a symbol of liberty and defiance,” said Renee Lane, Executive Director of the ASOMF. “Its strength over the past 250 years mirrors the strength we see today in the U.S. Army and in the soldiers we honor here every day.”
This year, the Foundation will place a permanent historical marker at the Liberty Tree to ensure its story is not lost in the noise of urban life.
“I’m not sure many visitors even know the tree’s significance,” Lane added. “That’s why we’re putting the marker in place so that the public can understand what it stands for, and what it meant then and now.”
Honoring Heritage Through Innovation
The day’s significance extends beyond the colonial era. Aug. 16 also marks National Airborne Day, a day proclaimed by President George W. Bush in 2002 to commemorate the first official U.S. Army parachute jump in 1940. The 85th observance will be felt keenly at the museum, especially after recent years saw commemorations paused due to the pandemic.
“This day represents both innovation and legacy,” said Maj. Ryan Bryson, a key figure in organizing the event. “Airborne tactics transformed how we fight. That spirit of adaptation still defines the paratroopers serving today.”
Bryson noted that Fayetteville, home to Fort Bragg, houses the largest population of paratroopers in the world.
“It’s only fitting that we celebrate this day here,” he said. “And not just as soldiers but alongside the community that has always supported us.”
This year’s celebration aims to reintroduce the community to the airborne world in unforgettable fashion, with interactive displays on the museum grounds that include Black Hawk helicopters, new military vehicles, and gear demonstrations. Attendees will engage directly with soldiers, try on parachutes, explore modern equipment, and even climb aboard aircraft.
“We want the public to see what our soldiers use, how they train, and who they are,” Bryson added. “It’s a rare opportunity for civilians to not just observe, but participate.”
Capt. Mistrangeol, another key contributor to the event planning, emphasized that “these interactions humanize the force. People see a uniform and forget the individual inside it. This day lets us bridge that gap with curiosity, conversation, and shared pride.”
The Museum at 25
The Airborne & Special Operations Museum opened in 2000 through efforts led by Gen. (Ret.) James Lindsay and the ASOMF. In 2005, the U.S. Army assumed official oversight of the museum, and today it serves not only as a repository of military history but as a dynamic community hub for education, reflection, and commemoration.
Inside, the museum houses immersive exhibits detailing the history of airborne and special operations from World War II to today. Jim Bartlinski, museum curator, shared that several new and rare artifacts will be unveiled in conjunction with the celebration.
Among them: a never-before-displayed balloon suit belonging to Gen. William C. Lee, widely regarded as the father of the airborne.
“It’s a significant addition,” Bartlinski explained. “It helps visitors connect to the origins of airborne training, where we came from, and how far we’ve gone.”
The museum will also feature a temporary exhibit on Special Forces and the Montagnards in Vietnam, a project curated in collaboration with the JFK Museum on Fort Bragg and six students from Jack Britt High School. “It’s a moving story of partnership and resilience,” Bartlinski said. “We’re proud to bring it to light.”
Another key highlight includes wreckage from Mogadishu’s Black Hawk Down mission, one of the museum’s most powerful displays.
“These artifacts tell the story not just of conflict,” Bartlinski said, “but of sacrifice, survival, and strength.”
Liberty Then and Now
As the morning ceremony begins at 8 a.m., the Liberty Tree will become more than a backdrop; it will be a central figure in the day’s narrative. With the marker dedication, its story will finally be shared in an enduring way, inviting reflection on liberty not just as an 18th-century ideal, but as a living, breathing call to action.
In today’s divided climate, the Liberty Tree offers a symbol of unity grounded in shared values.
“The patriots who signed the Liberty Point Resolves didn’t have all the answers,” Lane said. “But they stood together when it mattered. That’s a lesson for any era.”
This theme is reflected in Camp Flintlock, a colonial living history experience hosted on the museum’s grounds from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Children and adults alike will be able to try quill-and-ink writing, tomahawk throwing, musket demonstrations, and marching drills, offering a hands-on glimpse into the world of early American revolutionaries.
“Out the back door, you’ll see 1775,” Lane said. “Out the front, it’s 2025. The contrast is powerful and it’s intentional.”
A Day for the Public
Organizers are clear on one point: every event is free and open to the public.
“This isn’t just for the military,” Capt. Mistrangeol said. “It’s for families, students, history buffs, anyone who wants to learn, remember, or just be part of something meaningful.”
Maj. Bryson echoed that sentiment: “We see this day as a chance to pass the torch. Today’s paratroopers are writing the next chapter, and we’re inviting the community to be part of that story.”
He added, “Events like this are how we honor the past, but also how we build the future. High standards, enduring values, and an unwavering commitment to service that is the airborne spirit.”
A Day to Remember
The Aug. 16 commemoration blends historical reverence with immersive experience, creating a celebration that spans generations. Whether you come to hear the boom of a musket, tour the interior of a Black Hawk, or learn about a little-known tree that helped birth a nation, you’ll find something that speaks to your sense of place and purpose.
For a city like Fayetteville, shaped by military roots and civic pride, it is a day that reminds us not only of where we’ve been, but of where we’re going.

(Top Photo: The Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Natalie Pantalos.  Bottom Photo: U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Robbins, U.S. Army Parachute Team, makes a parachute landing at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina, 14 Aug. 2021. The event was held in celebration of National Airborne Day. U.S. Army photo by Megan Hackett)

Fayetteville Millennials and Fayetteville Next Advisory Commission are hosting the Second Annual Fayetteville Next Field Day at the Rick Herrema Foundation “Rick’s Place,” located at 5572 Shenandoah Drive. The festivities kick off on Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. and last until 2 p.m.
This is a playground for grown-ups. Potato sack races, inflatable games, vendors, tug of war, yoga, water relay races and team competitions will be held. Music, food trucks, prizes, and refreshments will be shared and enjoyed by all. General admission is free. Advanced registration is required, and can be done by visiting https://www.fayettevillenc.gov/City-Council/Boards-and-Commissions/Fayetteville-Next-Advisory-Commission. Team registration check-in is from 8 a.m. to 9:45 am. The games start at 10 a.m. Each team must have at least five members of the minimum age of eighteen and share the same color shirt.
The partners of the Second Annual Fayetteville Next Field Day are The Drip Bar, Fayetteville Next Advisory Commission, Fayetteville Woodpeckers, Hottest D.J. Ricoveli, and RHF Rick’s Place.
The Fayetteville Next Advisory Commission was established to attract, retain and engage Fayetteville residents between the ages of 19 and 39. The Commission is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the young adults through targeted event programming and community outreach, making Fayetteville a “desirable place to live, work, and recreate for this generation,” according to the City of Fayetteville, Boards and Commissions.
Mario Benavente was the first chairperson and founding member of the Fayetteville NEXT Advisory Commission.
“I am always conscious of the fact I owe my hometown my talents and simply contributing my time, talents and more to the greater good for my community I call home,” he said.
The Fayetteville NEXT Advisory Commission holds monthly meetings. The next meeting will be held Aug. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Fayetteville Cumberland Youth Council Building, located at 725 W. Rowan Street.
The millennial presence of Fayetteville is a factor in the partnership with Fayetteville Next. The millennials are more than a handprint on the future of Fayetteville; this population is a full-body engagement group.
The Second Annual Fayetteville Next Adult Field Day will be held Aug. 23, Rick’s Place,. Get ready for a day of games, food, music and friendship. This is the day to let loose, laugh loud, and play hard. Be there with grown-ups at play.

Runners, veterans, and history enthusiasts will lace up on Saturday, Aug. 30, for the Triple Nickle Remembrance Run, a 5.55-mile race held on the Liberty Trail at Fort Bragg to honor the enduring legacy of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, America’s first all-Black airborne unit.
Organized by the Tau Gamma Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the run begins at 8 a.m. near the Fort Bragg Fairgrounds off Watson Street. Registration is open to the public through RunSignUp.com, and participants can choose between an in-person experience or a virtual run that allows them to honor the Triple Nickles from any location. Race timing will be provided by Run the East, LLC, and participants will receive official bibs, finisher medals, and race shirts.
The symbolic 5.55-mile distance pays homage to the numerical designation of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, nicknamed the “Triple Nickles.” Their groundbreaking role in military history has gained renewed attention on social media in recent years, with military heritage organizations and veteran influencers sharing stories of the battalion under hashtags like #TripleNickles, #555PIB, and #LegacyRun.
Established in 1943, the Triple Nickles trained at Fort Benning and Fort Bragg, breaking barriers at a time when segregation was still enforced across the U.S. military. Although they were never deployed overseas during World War II, the battalion played a vital role in a lesser-known domestic mission: Operation Firefly, which saw them deployed as “smokejumpers” to combat wildfires in the Pacific Northwest caused by Japanese balloon bombs. With over 1,200 jumps, the 555th contributed both to national defense and wildfire containment efforts.
In 1947, the unit was officially integrated into the 82nd Airborne Division. Their example of professionalism and excellence contributed to the momentum behind President Truman’s desegregation of the armed forces in 1948, making the battalion’s legacy a cornerstone of military civil rights history.
The 2025 Remembrance Run is one of several initiatives promoted by Omega Psi Phi to highlight the contributions of African American service members. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Tau Gamma Gamma Scholarship Fund, which provides financial support to high school seniors in the Fort Bragg and Fayetteville area.
On the official RunSignUp event page, organizers encourage families, community members, and service members from all branches to participate. Participants without base access must obtain a visitor pass from the All-American Gate Visitor Center, which is free but required to enter the installation.
Virtual participants can register through Aug. 30 and complete the 5.55-mile run from anywhere in the world. Organizers have emphasized inclusivity and accessibility across their event postings, including shared updates on Omega Psi Phi’s local chapter Facebook page and other fraternity channels.
Registered runners can expect to receive their race packets, medals, and shirts by mail. The run adds to a growing calendar of commemorative athletic events at Fort Bragg, such as the “Run, Honor, Remember” 5K held earlier in May.
These events are part of a larger cultural movement that fuses fitness with historical remembrance and community service.
In recent months, the Triple Nickle Remembrance Run has also been spotlighted on veteran-centric event platforms such as AllEvents, which lists the run among key commemorations of military heritage in North Carolina. Promotional materials call the run a “ceremony in motion,” designed to keep the memory of the 555th Battalion alive through movement, reflection, and unity. While the event has drawn attention from across the Southeast, it carries particular significance at Fort Bragg, one of the original training sites for the battalion.
By retracing some of the physical ground walked and run by the Triple Nickles more than 80 years ago, participants form a living tribute to their courage and service.
Those interested in joining the run, donating, or learning more about the battalion’s history are encouraged to visit runsignup.com and follow @TGGOmegaPsiPhi on social media for updates. Event-day announcements, commemorative moments, and participant highlights are expected to be shared across Facebook and Instagram throughout race weekend.
As Aug. 30 approaches, the Triple Nickle Remembrance Run stands as more than a race; it is a call to remember, honor, and continue the work of those who paved the way for equality in uniform.
Every mile run is a step forward in carrying their story into the future. For more information on the Remembrance Run, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/FortBragg/TripleNickleRemembranceRun.

(Photo courtesy of Triple Nickle Remembrance Run Facebook Page)

North Carolina State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes is setting off on a mission to correct 103,000 North Carolinians’ voting records from which some information is missing.
He maintains that the process, dubbed the Registration Repair Project, will not remove any eligible voters from the state’s voter rolls.
According to the state elections board, 103,270 North Carolina registered voters have records that lack either their driver’s license number, the last four digits of their Social Security number or an indication that they have neither.
Last year, this missing information became the stuff of headlines, lawsuits and the high-profile election protest of Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin, who lost his bid for state Supreme Court to the incumbent justice, Democrat Allison Riggs, by 734 votes.
In April, the North Carolina Supreme Court declined to remove ballots from the count based on missing identification numbers; they said the state elections board, not voters, was responsible for a faulty voter registration form that didn’t make it abundantly clear that this information was required.
While Griffin lost, the issue he raised remains salient for a newly Republican elections board and the U.S. Department of Justice, which promptly sued the state board over alleged violations of the federal Help America Vote Act’s voter registration provisions.
Thursday, Hayes told reporters that a process he unveiled in late June to gather these missing identification numbers had begun in earnest.
“We must put this issue behind us so we can focus our attention squarely on preparations for accurate and secure municipal elections this fall,” he said.
The plan to collect missing information
There are two groups of voters under Hayes’ plan.
The first group includes registered voters who have never provided a driver’s license, the last four digits of their Social Security number or an affirmation that they lack both. The state elections board has asked county election boards to check their records for these numbers, in case they were provided but not correctly entered into the voting system.
In early August, the state elections board will send letters to the remaining voters in this group requesting the missing information. If affected voters do not comply, they will vote provisionally in future elections. The elections board will create a flag on these voters’ records for poll workers.
The second group includes registered voters whose records do not show that they’ve provided an identification number, but have shown additional documentation at the polls proving their identity and eligibility under HAVA. These voters may vote a regular ballot.
However, the elections board will still send them a letter in a second mailing asking for the missing identification number to bolster the state’s voter records. Even so, if they do not oblige, they still will not be at risk of being disenfranchised, NCSBE General Counsel Paul Cox said.
County election boards have already made progress, and their work will continue as the mailings go out, Hayes said.
Voters can check to see whether they’re on the list of those with missing information by using the Registration Repair Search Tool. If voters don’t want to wait for the August mailing, they can submit an updated voter registration form using their driver’s license through the online DMV portal or visit their county elections board in person with their driver’s license or Social Security card.
“We anticipate the number of voters on the list will decrease quickly as word spreads about this important effort,” Hayes said.
The State Board of Elections unanimously approved the plan last month, despite some concerns from Democrat Jeff Carmon about putting up an extra obstacle for voters because of a problem with missing information that the voters didn’t cause.
“It’s hard to understand starvation if you’ve never felt the pangs of hunger,” Carmon said. “It’s the same situation with voting obstacles. Your perspective of an obstacle may not be the same as someone who’s consistently had their identity and their validity questioned.”
Nonetheless, Carmon and fellow Democrat board member Siobhan Millen ultimately voted in support of the plan.
Same ballot, different rules
Normally, when a voter casts a provisional ballot, the county elections board determines whether their ballot counts by the post-election canvass, held nine days after an election.
Voters may have to provide documentation or information to prove their eligibility to vote in order to be accepted.
The same process applies to the 103,000 affected voters, with a catch. Their vote may be accepted for federal contests, but not state contests, due to a difference in law.
According to the DOJ’s interpretation, the National Voter Registration Act requires all provisional votes of “duly registered voters” to count, Cox said.
But the state elections board has interpreted the state Supreme Court and North Carolina Court of Appeals’ decisions in the Griffin case as requiring a driver’s license, the last four digits of a Social Security number or an affirmation that a voter has neither before accepting their votes in state and local contests.
Under a recent election law change, county election boards have three days to validate and count or reject provisional ballots.
But sometimes, mismatches happen during validation due to database trouble with reading hyphenated names or connecting maiden and married names, for example, Cox said. The board has designed a “fail safe” in case this comes up.
When there’s a mismatch during the validation process, state law allows voters to provide additional documentation — like a driver’s license, bank statement or government document with a voter’s name and address — to prove their eligibility.
“A big chunk of these voters will have already shown HAVA ID, and that’s because in the past, when this information was not supplied, the county boards would still require these voters to show that alternative form of HAVA ID when they voted for the first time,” Cox said.
Poll workers will ask provisional voters to provide this additional documentation so that they can mark it down for later, if validation doesn’t work, he added.
Democrats threaten countersuit
Last week, the Democratic National Committee threatened the state board with litigation if they went ahead with their plan regarding those with missing information.
The letter claimed that the plan would remove eligible voters from the rolls illegally.
Hayes disagrees. In his view, he’s just following the law.
“It’s not the fault of the voters,” he said. “But at the same time, we’re required by the law to go back and collect this information, which should have been done at the time, and it certainly should have been done in the intervening time.”
He also clarified that North Carolina’s photo voter ID requirement won’t suffice for the impacted voters. They still have to vote provisionally so that their identification numbers can go through the validation process, he said.
As for whether his fully fleshed out plan will appease the DNC?
“We hope so,” Hayes said.

Wes Jones, MD, remembers the day in 1983 when he decided where his medical career would unfold. As he was finishing a gastroenterology fellowship at Duke University and considering a number of places where he might begin his practice, a colleague told him he might want to check out Fayetteville. He added it to his list of cities to explore and set out for a drive with his wife, Lucy.
“We saw a sign for Fayetteville to the right, but I missed the exit,” he said. “And then a short while later, I saw another sign for Fayetteville, and this one pointed to the left.”
With all signs literally pointing to Fayetteville, they had a look around and soon felt right at home.
“And we just knew that's where God wants us to be,” he said. “So I've been here since ‘83.”
After nearly four decades of practice at Cape Fear Valley, Dr. Jones retired in 2020. And late last year, despite a very active lifestyle, the doctor became a patient.
“It began with some numbness on the top of my foot,” he said. “I thought my shoe wasn’t on correctly, so I adjusted that and did fine the rest of the day.”
But the next day, the numbness was back. Over the next few days, it spread to his ankle and up to his mid-calf. This was not a good sign.
“The MRI showed lumbar stenosis with severe compression in the lower spinal canal,” Jones said. “Given my symptom progression, I was concerned about becoming paraplegic.”
Soon, Jones was evaluated by Charles Haworth, MD, at Cape Fear Valley Neurosurgery. The two were already well acquainted.
“He’s a good guy,” Dr. Haworth said. “He’s a go-getter and just a real optimist. He’s not a complainer. I was alarmed that he was in this condition and still trying to carry on.”
Three days later, Dr. Jones was in surgery. Dr. Haworth spent hours carefully clearing the overgrowth that had compressed the nerves, fusing the affected vertebrae to return sensation and function to Dr. Jones’ legs.
“That was the Monday before Thanksgiving,” Dr. Jones said. “And I was out of the hospital on Wednesday, which is pretty remarkable for a five-hour procedure. The next day, I was outside with a walker. I used that for a week, and a month later I was walking four or five miles.”
This was his usual routine before the surgery, and he was glad to be back at it. But as the weeks went by, Dr. Haworth worried he might be overdoing it.
“We always tell patients we want them to do some walking,” Dr. Haworth said. “And I knew he was doing a mile or two at the beginning, but then another friend told me he was doing three miles a day, and then he’s up to five or six or seven. And it’s like, how many people his age do anything near that?”
Dr. Jones felt fine but agreed to scale back to three or four miles a day, at least until they could confirm at a three-month follow-up that all was well.
“And the X-rays were completely unchanged from the ones right after surgery,” he said. “Dr. Haworth was very pleased with that, so I could keep walking as far as I liked.”
As his remarkable recovery continued, Dr. Jones was surprised by how many people assumed he’d gone out of town for his surgery.
“People have this mindset that you have to go to Duke or UNC for the best,” he said. “But as a doctor and now a patient, I can tell you I don’t think I would have gotten better care there than what I got at Cape Fear Valley. There’s just not a lot of reason to go so far away.”
Dr. Haworth agreed and said Dr. Jones has been a large part of Cape Fear Valley’s evolution into a robust, thriving health system.
“He's given so much back to the hospital and now to the medical school,” Dr. Haworth said. “He's just a very special, unique person in the community.”
Dr. Jones said he wants people to know that symptoms like his are not to be ignored. He had powered through many years of back trouble, keeping the discomfort at bay with plenty of walking, swimming and yoga.
“It’s one thing to have back discomfort that comes and goes,” he said. “But once you have a neurological symptom like numbness, and it’s spreading, that is a big red flag, and you need to get it checked out.”

(Dr. Wes Jones had a remarkable surgery and recovery at Cape Fear Valley Health. Learn more at capefearvalley.com Photo courtesy of Cape Fear Valley Health)

Commissioner Glenn Adams has been named Chairman of the Fayetteville State University Board of Trustees. Adams is the immediate past vice chair of the board.
Adams previously served as chair of the FSU Board of Trustees for the 2022-2023 term. Adams has served on the 13-member Board of Trustees since 2019, when he was first appointed. Adams was appointed by the Board of Governors to serve as an FSU Trustee through 2027.
“I am honored to be appointed chair of the FSU Board of Trustees and take seriously the roles and responsibilities that come with confidence in my leadership. Bronco Pride is community pride,” said Commissioner Adams.
“I am excited to continue working with my fellow Trustees and Chancellor Allison to ensure Fayetteville State University remains a world-class university that will help students exceed their potential, attain their dreams and enter an increasingly competitive world with the tools to succeed.”
Adams was first elected to the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners as a District 1 representative in 2014 and has been re-elected twice. He has served as chairman in 2017 and 2024, and vice chairman in 2016 and 2020.
Adams also served on the North Carolina Central University Board of Trustees from 2003 – 2011 and was chairman of the NCCU Trustees from 2009 – 2011. Adams was also appointed to the N.C. Central University Law School Commission in January 2025.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra announced that the 2025-2026 season will mark the end of Stefan Sanders’ nine-year tenure as the orchestra’s music director.
His time at the symphony continues a legacy of artistic excellence and expansion of the FSO’s offerings to the greater Fayetteville and Fort Bragg communities. Sanders is stepping down from the FSO to assume more work as the Central Texas Philharmonic’s music director, a position he has held since 2018.
“As I prepare for the 2025–26 season to be my final one as Music Director of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, I reflect with deep gratitude on a truly meaningful chapter,” Sanders commented. “It has been an honor to work alongside the incredibly dedicated board, passionate and hard-working staff, and the exceptionally talented musicians who bring this orchestra to life. Together, we’ve built programs that inspired, expanded our audience, and deepened our connection to the community. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together and am excited for what lies ahead for this remarkable organization.”
Stefan Sanders joined the FSO for his first full season in 2017. His accomplishments with the organization include expanding the diversity of orchestral programming and placing a larger emphasis on collaboration and education throughout all ensembles, bringing in myriad guests including bluegrass legends, Broadway stars, and virtuosos from the largest orchestras in the country.
Last season, collaboration for Stefan and the symphony reached new heights with the world premiere of Fantasy in 4 Moods, a concerto commissioned for FSO oboist Ronnal Ford by Ahmed Al Abaca.
“Stefan has broadened the orchestra's repertoire, building on the excellence of our traditional classical concerts with innovative concepts to better serve our community,” reflected symphony board chair Mark Regensburger. “He has pushed the FSO far beyond what most organizations this size are doing. In the last season he combined live music with silent films, integrated Broadway vocals, percussion ensemble, and community choral groups with the orchestra, and led the premiere of several newly commissioned compositions by diverse composers. Music education and culture in Fayetteville have been enriched by his tenure here. More than this, Stefan was the face of the orchestra to audiences, engaging in conversations both onstage and in the community.”
Sanders’ presence will be missed by musicians and community members alike, due to his deep involvement with the arts in Fayetteville. FSO Operations Manager and bassist Stuart McLemore reminisced on Sanders’ time at the podium: “As a conductor, he's very intense and passionate. He's knowledgeable and cares very deeply about the music we make. Beethoven V comes to mind as an especially energized performance. I remember looking up as the third movement transitions into the fourth, seeing him with this huge grin on his face. Stefan was completely in the moment and relishing every second of it.”
Concertmaster Fabian Lopez shared similarly fond memories, saying “I have had the pleasure of performing with Stefan for many years. It has always been a pleasure to make music with him, as a conductor, musician and human being. He will be missed at all levels!”
The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956 and is a professional orchestra whose mission is to educate, entertain, and inspire the citizens of Fayetteville, NC, and surrounding counties. There are still plenty of opportunities to see the maestro this season before he passes the baton, beginning on September 20th with Total Eclipse of the Chart. The FSO also has many educational programs, free events, and community performances. Learn more at www.fayettevillesymphony.org.

(Photo courtesy of FSO)

In the past decade, Fayetteville has established itself as a "black-majority city," with African Americans constituting a clear majority of the population. According to 2020 U.S. Census data, approximately 42% of the city's residents are African American, while 38% are White.
Additionally, African Americans have a higher number of registered voters. Fayetteville becomes part of a growing number of 1,262 black-majority cities, which have increased by more than 100 in the last decade. What factors are driving this significant shift in population? There are various factors to consider.
For example, Black Americans have been relocating from Northern and Western cities to smaller Southern towns, reversing the trend of the Great Migration from the 20th Century.
However, none may be as striking as the phenomenon known as white flight. While the term "white flight" specifically refers to the movement of White residents from neighborhoods that are becoming more racially diverse, it is essential to recognize that middle-class Black families are also relocating in search of better housing, schools, and amenities.
The emergence of a new Black majority is bringing about a significant change in the political landscape. Fayetteville's African American mayor, Mitch Colvin, who is seeking re-election to a fifth term and is the only member of the Council elected at-large, enjoys a solid majority Black voter base. Furthermore, a significant number of African Americans believe that the mayor's office should represent and empower Black voices within the community.
It will be interesting to see how voters respond to Colvin's re-election bid, as three African American women are challenging him for the position.
The significance of the Black vote in Fayetteville is crucial and cannot be overlooked. Winning a city-wide election will be nearly impossible without securing a majority of this voter bloc.
Younger Black voters are more likely to register as unaffiliated and are less inclined to view the Democratic party as having sole ownership of the African American community. Black youth often vote at lower rates than other young people, making them less of a reliable voting bloc. The relationship between the established Black voters and newcomers is complex.
The younger generation seeks solutions to real-world issues and is less focused on racial politics. This type of diverse thinking is likely to benefit Fayetteville City Councilman Mario Benavente as he makes his first attempt at running for mayor. Benavente is young and has concentrated on issues such as fair policing and racial equity, which resonate with a younger demographic.
With a majority of Black voters, one might question the necessity of majority-minority representative districts.
They were created over forty years ago, when the majority of Fayetteville's population was white, and the political representation reflected this demographic. Will Fayetteville consider making adjustments to allow other forms of at-large representation besides the mayor, given the changing demographics of elected officeholders?

Tired of good news? You have come to the right place. Like Creedence Clearwater, I see bad news rising. I see troubles on the way. There’s a bad moon on the rise. We have it all.
Swarms of Earthquakes. Tsunamis. Wars. Rumors of wars. Fires. Floods. Sidney Sweeney’s jeans. Nuclear reactors on the moon. Danish Zoos feeding used up pets to lions. Volcanoes waking up. Still not enough for you? How about a giant alien spacecraft heading for Earth in late November just in time for Black Friday? If you think regular human illegal aliens are bad, wait until the illegal Space Aliens arrive.
That’s right, saddle pals. Cosmic troubles are heading right at us. No less an authority than the legendary blind Bulgarian psychic Baba Vanga predicted aliens would contact the Earth in 2025.
If you don’t believe in blind Bulgarian psychics (and you should), consider Harvard Astrophysicist, the esteemed Professor Avi Loeb. Dr Loeb reports that Interstellar Object 31/ATLAS is coming for our neighborhood at the rate of 130,000 miles per hour. That’s faster than Buffalo wings disappear at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
31/ATLAS is a big boy, 15 miles across, larger than Manhattan. Even bigger than Andre the Giant. ATLAS is coming from outside the galaxy with a speed and trajectory, Dr. Loeb says indicates it could be an alien Mothership.
ATLAS will fly by Jupiter, Mars, and Venus, allowing it to send probes into each of those planets on its way to Earth. When ATLAS gets closest to the Sun (Bonus science word of the day: Perihelion), it will be on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth, where it can’t be seen by our telescopes.
Dr. Loeb reports this position could be a deliberate strategy by the alien Mothership to deploy weapons or probes to either invade or zap the Earth. If you think Cartman had a bad time when he was probed by aliens, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Ever heard of the “dark forest hypothesis”? This is the theory that advanced alien civilizations are intentionally concealing their existence from Earth because we are dangerous lunatics. The dark forest may be about to rip open a giant clear-cutting of the Earth by ATLAS. If Dr. Loeb is right, instead of a boring comet, ATLAS could be a cosmic Trojan Horse. Remember the Twilight Zone episode To Serve Man?
Seemingly friendly space aliens come to Earth to offer rides back to their home planet, where life is beautiful, the space girls are beautiful, and even the orchestra is beautiful. Unfortunately, their guidebook “To Serve Man” turns out to be a cookbook.
Dr. Loeb warns that if ATLAS is a Mothership, “It may come to save us or to destroy us. We better be ready for both options and determine if all interstellar objects are just rocks.” The perihelion date of 29 October is no coincidence.
It coincides with the anniversary of the collapse of the stock market on Black Tuesday 1929. If the aliens have a sick sense of humor, they may have intentionally picked that date to deploy the probes from behind the sun to attack the Earth. Like Congresspersons, the aliens may be manipulating the stock market by selling it short right before launching the probes to collapse your 401K.
Before you panic, not every astrophysicist agrees with Dr. Loeb. Some soreheads at the University of Regina in Canada contend ATLAS is just a plain old comet. But we can’t trust Canada, can we?
Those Maple Leaf Clusters are probably in league with ATLAS to hit the good old USA by scooping up all red-blooded Americans into some cosmic stew pot. The Canadians will just walk across the border to take all our stuff. The horror. The horror. Science misinformation about ATLAS gets even worse. Professor Chris Lintott of Oxford University is quoted as saying that Dr. Loeb’s theory is “nonsense on stilts,” that ATLAS is just a comet.
Other than UNC’s Bill Belichick’s relationship with the beautiful Jordon, I personally have never seen nonsense on stilts, so I am looking forward to it.
So, what’s it gonna be? A boring comet or the Mother of all Motherships? Baba Vanga and Dr. Loeb have their answer. Apply Blaise Paschal’s wager on the existence of God. Blaise said: “It is smarter to believe in God because the benefits are much greater than the losses if you are wrong.”
Watch what the Congresspersons do in late October. If they are selling stocks short, the interstellar poop is about to hit the fan.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

(Illustration by Pitt Dickey)

While the North Carolina House and Senate continue to discuss how — or whether — to resolve their budget dispute and enact a new fiscal framework for the next two fiscal years, now is an excellent time for tax reformers in both chambers to spell out precisely what they hope to accomplish.
Some conservatives in the state capital and elsewhere want North Carolina to stop taxing personal income altogether. They point to the economic success of Florida, Texas, and other states that have never levied taxes on personal income. Since income taxes make up half of state revenues, how should North Carolina make up the difference? This faction advocates some combination of higher sales or excise taxes, greater local responsibility for education and other services (financed by higher property taxes), and lower state expenditures.
As I have previously argued, I don’t think it is realistic or necessary for North Carolina to abolish its personal-income tax altogether, although I strongly favor eliminating our much smaller but counterproductive tax on corporate income (it only generates about 5% of General Fund revenue, and does so rather inefficiently).
I agree that income taxes as currently structured are unfair and economically destructive. By taxing resources invested in productive capital multiple times — as personal income, as corporate income, and as dividends or capital gains received on investment principal that has already been taxed — the current system basically encourages us to eat our seed corn rather than planting it for a larger return in the future.
We should be taxing consumption, not total income. So, why don’t I favor replacing most or all of North Carolina’s income-tax revenue with sales-tax revenue? Because that’s not really going to happen, at least not with the tools available. State taxes on retail sales don’t actually apply to all consumption, to every good and service sold at retail. Large swaths of the services households purchase are not and will never be subject to sales tax. That’s borne out by decades of experience with sales-tax systems in other states.
Here’s another way to explain my point: our income-tax base is too broad, yes, but our sales-tax base is too narrow.
When households receive income, they can do one of three things with it: spend it, donate it, or save it for later (which funds investment in physical, financial, or human capital to produce future earnings for consumption or donation).
In 2023, total personal income in North Carolina was about $670 billion. Total spending on personal consumption was roughly $554 billion, of which $204 billion was spent on goods and $350 billion on services. Some of those services are, indeed, taxable. But purchases of medical care ($88 billion) and financial services ($40 billion) are mostly exempt from the sales tax, as are legal and other professional services that make up lots of spending but aren’t separately reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
On the other hand, some business-to-business purchases are subject to North Carolina tax — and they shouldn’t be! A retail sales tax should be just that, a retail tax. Otherwise, you create market distortions and, on the margin, encourage horizontal and vertical integration of business enterprises that could function more efficiently as separate entities.
If I could be persuaded that the North Carolina General Assembly will do something no other state legislature has managed to do — expand its sales tax to encompass all goods and services sold at retail — I might well embrace an end to the income tax. Given the practical and political realities of the situation, however, I favor a different strategy.
Its underlying formula is a simple one: income equals consumption plus charitable giving plus net savings. To tax consumption, then, we can start with total income, subtract charitable giving and net savings, apply a standard deduction adjusted for family size, then tax what’s left — which is, by definition, consumption.
I recognize that’s easier said than done. But it’s still more realistic than taxing hospital bills, I promise.

Editor’s note: John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His books Mountain Folk, Forest Folk, and Water Folk combine epic fantasy with American history (FolkloreCycle.com).

Hobby Town is hosting the Gunpla Builder World Cup Tournament on Aug. 16, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 935 Bragg Boulevard. General admission is free. Builders can share their models and register in the store. The winner of the tournament will receive a trophy and will be submitted to Bandai, a Japanese toy manufacturer with their headquarters in Tokyo.
Gunpla or Gundam plastic models are popular due to the combination of factors such as the enduring appeal of the Gundam franchise, the community aspect of model building, and the low cost and accessibility of entry-level kits. The Gundam series has complex storylines, diverse mobile suit designs, and exploration of real-world themes. Gunpla allows fans to connect with the universe by building and customizing their own models, creating a sense of community among the builders.
Gunpla is a portmanteau of Gundam plastic models. The models consist of pre-colored parts that are assembled without the need for glue, making them accessible to a wide range of enthusiasts from beginners to seasoned modelers. It offers multiple options for customization, such as simple panel lining to intricate painting and weathering techniques.
Gundam is a franchise created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, and features a variety of mobile suits with unique designs and capabilities. These mobile suits are the focal point of Gunpla.
Gundam is a highly influential and expansive franchise in the realm of anime known for its “real robot” genre and exploration of war, politics, human relationships through the lens of giant, piloted robots (mobile suits). The themes are representative of different timelines, universes, and flawed and imperfect choices.
Classic anime that influences Gunpla are Witch of Mercury, Iron-Blooded Orphans, Gundam, Requiem for Vengeance, The Endless Waltz, Mobile Suits Gundam 00, and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin.
Model building can be excellent for the brain, and Gunpla models are no exception.
Build and submit a model in the Gumpla Builders World Cup Tournament. Attend the event and view the creativity of the model builders. Judges will choose the model for submission to Bandai, and the winner will receive a trophy. All participants take home swag from Bandai and meet like-minded builders.

Summer may be winding down, but Rock’n on the River is still going strong with another great lineup for Friday, Aug. 15 starting at 6 p.m.
Dalton Davis is set to kick off the evening with his unique blend of soulful and outlaw country music. Originally from North Carolina, Dalton has been making waves in the country music scene with his evocative storytelling and rich musical background. His songs, inspired by his upbringing in rural America and experiences with gospel musicians, offer a fresh take on traditional country, infused with elements of '90s country, gospel, and R&B.
Having opened for notable acts like Midland, Dwight Yoakam, and Roger Allen Wade, Dalton has honed his craft and built a solid reputation. He recently signed an exclusive global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Nashville and secured a record deal with Version 3. Some of his notable releases include the EP “Where Has My Country Been” and singles like “Wild Child” and “Phone Number to Heaven”.
Following Dalton Davis, ZZ Top Notch will take the stage to deliver an authentic ZZ Top experience. Formed out of a deep admiration for the legendary 'little ol' band from Texas,' ZZ Top Notch has made a name for themselves with their faithful recreations of ZZ Top's iconic sound and stage presence.
The band, consisting of The Reverend Willie Gibson (Chuck Sirko) on guitar, Dusty Thrills (John Hubacheck) on bass, and Frank Beardless (Joe Snyder) on drums, brings over 100 years of collective professional experience to their performances. Their setlists include beloved hits like “La Grange” and “Sharp Dressed Man,” as well as fan-favorite deep cuts. Audiences praise their high-energy shows and engaging stage presence, making them a must-see act for any ZZ Top fan.
Rock'n on the River promises an evening that beautifully blends country and rock music. With Dalton Davis's soulful country tunes and ZZ Top Notch's rock anthems, attendees are in for a treat that spans genres and generations. It's a night that celebrates musical diversity, bringing together fans of both country and rock under one roof.
This unique combination has something for everyone, from fans of heartfelt country ballads to electrifying rock riffs. The seamless transition from Dalton Davis’s country melodies to ZZ Top Notch’s rock classics will keep the energy high and the audience engaged throughout the night.
Held at Campbellton Landing on the beautiful east bank of the Cape Fear River, this free event brings top-notch live performances in a picturesque outdoor setting. All guests need is $10 for parking and a comfortable seat—a chair or blanket will do. Once settled in, a variety of food and drink options are available for purchase to complete the evening. It’s everything for a night out, minus the usual hassles.
And here’s the best part: when you choose to indulge in a beer, you’re not just enjoying yourself—you’re helping others. Half of the beer proceeds go directly to the Karen Chandler Trust Cancer Charity, providing vital support to families affected by cancer. So, if you’re looking for an event that checks every box—relaxation, entertainment, and purpose—this is it.
Don’t miss the last Rock’n on the River concert:
September 19: Heart Breaker (Heart/Led Zeppelin tribute) and Fear State (rock)

The Fayetteville Metro Alumni Chapter and the Fayetteville Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. are inviting the community to gather once again for a one-of-a-kind celebration of unity, music, and flavor. Beats & Eats Vol. 2, the city's premier food and music festival, will return to Festival Park on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Designed to bring together families, neighbors, small businesses, and music lovers, this end-of-summer event offers a day of rhythm, culture, and connection in downtown Fayetteville. With expanded entertainment, diverse food vendors, and activities for all ages, Beats & Eats is more than just a festival; it’s an intentional effort to build community and uplift the next generation.
“Beats & Eats isn’t just about good food and great music,” said James Wilson, Chairman of the event and Keeper of Exchequer of the Fayetteville Alumni Chapter. “It’s about who we are as a city, diverse, creative, and committed to one another. We want people to leave this event feeling full, not just from the food, but from the experience.”
This year’s event focuses on family-friendly fun, featuring live DJs, line dancing, and a dedicated kids’ zone called Frank Summer Lanes. This space was named in honor of Brother Frank Summers, a devoted member of the fraternity who left a legacy of serving youth with compassion and joy. The children’s area will include hands-on games, inflatables, learning stations, and space for families to relax and enjoy the festivities together.
“Our goal was to make this event safe, inclusive, and welcoming to everyone,” said Lionel Taylor, Social Committee Chairman. “We expanded the event footprint to involve not only the local Greek-letter community but also neighborhood clubs, auxiliaries, and grassroots organizations.”
Taylor, who has overseen many of the advertising elements, says the social planning committee emphasized accessibility, safety, and family connection throughout the process.
“We want people to know they’re not just attending an event, they’re helping us shape the cultural heartbeat of this city,” he said.
Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a diverse range of food options throughout the park, featuring everything from comfort food classics to sweet treats and innovative cuisine. Local vendors and food trucks will serve up dishes that represent the diverse palate of Fayetteville’s population, giving guests plenty of options to explore.
In addition to food and entertainment, the festival also serves a greater purpose: giving back. Proceeds from Beats & Eats Vol. 2 will directly support the Fayetteville Alumni Chapter’s Kappa League/Guide Right program, which provides mentorship, leadership training, college prep, and scholarships to young men in the Fayetteville area.
“We see this festival as a tool to invest in the future of our youth,” said Dr. Rodney McCrowre, Vice Polemarch of the chapter. “The energy of the day carries forward in the form of educational access, personal growth, and lifelong mentorship for our Kappa League participants.”
Reddick Mack, who helped organize the entertainment lineup, emphasized the spirit of celebration that defines the day.
“We’ve created an atmosphere where every generation can enjoy themselves. From the dance floor to the food tents to the kids' zone, it’s a space where people feel they belong.”
While the event is free to the public, sponsorship and VIP tent packages are available through Eventbrite, offering enhanced experiences for families and organizations who wish to support the event at a deeper level. The festival grounds at Festival Park will be set up with hydration stations, shaded seating areas, and plenty of space for dancing, dining, and connection.
As the summer winds down and the back-to-school season begins, Beats & Eats Vol. 2 offers the perfect moment to come together, reflect, and move forward—stronger as a community.
“This is how we close summer with joy, intention, and unity,” said Wilson. “Grab a plate, bring your loved ones, and help us celebrate everything that makes Fayetteville home.”