For years, Brad Fluke worked in construction. The hours were crazy, it involved a lot of travel and he was missing out on watching his kids grow up. So, in 2002 he quit industrial construction and started his own handyman business. “What I found was that there are a lot of people in need of a professional handyman,” he said. “My business grew. Fast. In 2008 I turned my business into a franchise. We invest in business owners and give them a model that works. And it works for the community, too, because no one cares about their customers like the business owner does.” 

Marius Mihai is in the construction business, too. When he came to America from his home in Romania, Marius was looking to put his skills to good use. He wanted something he could invest in, a way to use what he is good at and turn it into a successful business. Some of the laws are different here, though. The particulars of getting licenses and certifications are much different. The Honey Do Service, Inc. seemed like a perfect fit. 

“The first thing we did was help Marius get his certifications. He has a state contractor’s license, he passed the state test and then we helped him get other certifications including a lead certification. Many of us live in homes that were built before 1978, and these usually contain lead. Knowing how to handle that correctly is important,” said Fluke. 

Having a dependable team is key as well. “The men that work with us go through a stringent vetting process,” said Fluke. “It is a three-step process. We get to know their skills and we get to know them as individuals. They must be service-minded. Not every construction worker is a good Honey Do worker. They all must pass a background check and drug test, too.”

While some might think contractors and handymen are for the well-to-do, Fluke noted that Honey Do clients are usually working class families where mom and dad both work and just don’t have the time or tools to take care of things that need to be fixed. “Some of the jobs we do, the tools alone would cost more than just hiring us to do the job,” he said.

From small repairs to remodels to upgrades and restoration, The Honey Do Service, Inc. offers professional home improvement and repair services at fair prices. The skilled craftsmen are certified in their fields be it plumbing, electrical work, landscaping or carpentry. “Our home is the biggest investment we make for most people, and helping someone take care of their biggest asset is an amazing feeling,” said Fluke. “One of the best things about this kind of work is to complete a project in days or even hours. You can see what you have done and see how happy it makes your client. It is satisfying helping homeowners.”

The Honey Do Service Inc. is located at 505 Owen Dr. Call 484-0022 for information or to schedule an appointment.

One of the most beloved aspects of the holiday season every year is the music. People have been singing Christmas Carols for centuries. The festive songs often bring back happy memories of community and pleasant days spent amongst family. After all, that is what the holiday season is about for so many of us: family togetherness. This season, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra provides the community with the opportunity to enjoy traditional Christmas music in its best expression: performed live. On Dec. 10, the guest director Aram Demirjian leads the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra in the concert Waltzing in a Winter Wonderland.

This concert is part of the guest conductor series. The Fayetteville symphony Orchestra is searching for a new conductor. The boards of directors chose five finalists from all the applicants, and these five have been invited to engage the community through a concert. These concerts include pre-concert talks that begin at 6:45 p.m. with the FSO “Music Nerd.” These talks give in-depth and personal insight into the new conductor as well as the music itself. This month the guest conductor, Aram Demirjian, is the music director of the Knoxville Symphony.

After each concert audience members are invited to fill out a survey on what they thought of the performance. This input will be used to make the final decision about who will be the new leader of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. To make the most informed decision, community members are encouraged to attend as many concerts and preconcert talks as possible. Attending all five concerts gives audience members the opportunity to really compare the different conductors. The being said, it is not necessary to give a valuable opinion on the performance.  

Waltzing in a Winter Wonderland featurea traditional holiday music that is perfect for the entire family. While traditional Christmas carols are wonderful coming through the radio, there is really no substitute for live performances. Live music and other cultural events are especially important for children, as these experiences can shape their relationship with the arts for life.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956. It is a nonprofit organization that focuses on artistic excellence. It is truly a community organization. It began as a group of instrumentalists who shared a passion for music. They played together in local homes at first, but soon turned their passion into a professional regional orchestra. Even now, their focus remains with the community. They focus on using their instruments and tremendous talent to educate and inspire community members. They also work with a number of community partners like Methodist University, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Fayetteville State University and local school programs. 

Waltzing in a Winter Wonderland takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the Huff Concert Hall at Methodist University. It is located at 5400 Ramsey St. Cape Fear Eye Associates, P.A. is a presenting sponsor for this concert. Tickets are $25.23. Tickets and more information can be found at : http://www.fayettevillesymphony.org/2016-2017-concerts..

December brings Christmas decorations, shopping and holiday cheer.  In Fayetteville, December also brings a few local traditions like the Rotary Christmas Parade, Holiday Lights in the Garden, Ryan’s Reindeer Run and Christmas plays in our local theaters.  

For the 26th year, Cape Fear Regional Theatre presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a family-friendly show.  BCPE introduces the audience to the Herdman kids – a rowdy, misbehaving bunch feared by children and avoided by adults.  When Grace Bradley is suddenly charged with directing the local church Christmas pageant, she is ready for anything – until the Herdmans show up and collide with the Christmas story head on. 

BCPE is based on a book written by Barbara Robinson in 1971. The book was adapted into the play and made into a television movie in the 1980s. It tells the story of Imogene, Claude, Ralph, Leroy, Ollie and Gladys – the six delinquent Herdmans.  They go to church for the first time after being told that the church offers refreshments. Despite protests from church members, they are given roles in the Sunday school’s Christmas pageant, which results in telling the Christmas story in an unconventional fashion.  

This comedy has become a holiday staple in many communities including Fayetteville, with several actors returning to the stage year after year.  

“It is a wonderful thing that involves the whole community,” said Molly Malone, CFRT Director of Education and Outreach and this year’s director for BCPE.  Malone promises great performances by child and adult actors, a few favorite Christmas carols and a lot of laughs.

“It’s family-friendly, it’s fun and light,” said Malone.  “The wonderful thing about bringing your kids to see this play is they will see kids just like them onstage.”

Malone and CFRT are using three full casts for BCPE this year with 45 to 60 actors in each, for a total of about 170 participants. The red, green and yellow casts rotate shows to allow more families to be involved and to make sure the younger actors are not over-burdened with rehearsals and performances.  Children in the cast range from 6 to 16 years old.

Of the adults in the play, three of them fulfill their roles for all three casts –  Megan E. Ray as Mrs. Bradley, Bo Thorp as Mrs. Armstrong and Greta Marie Zandstra as Ms. Bradley, a new role scripted specifically for Fayetteville audiences.

Zandstra plays the aunt, Ms. Bradley, who comes to help Mrs. Bradley out because dad is deployed “like we see in many families in Fayetteville,” Malone said.

“And this year, we brought back Bo Thorpe playing Mrs. Armstrong on video, like we are Facetime-ing with her.”

For many, being a part of BCPE is “a full family experience” Malone said.  While the kids are performing roles on stage, many parents are volunteering behind the scenes.  “We get to use the parents of the kids as back stage crew – running the light board, sound, corralling baby angels.”

Malone said she is proud of all three casts, sighting that each brings something unique to their interpretation of the story.  “They have been driven, working real hard since October,” she said. “It is fascinating to get to work with these kids … many have worked on the play multiple times.”

Some actors start as baby angels and make their way to angel choir or shepherds. With some even having a chance to play a Herdman, Malone said.

“BCPE kicks off the Christmas season so well.  We get to see the story with angels, baby Jesus and the shepherds,” Malone said.  “Every community has children like the Herdmans … the message is don’t neglect them or turn your back on them, but embrace them.  This story brings all that together.”

BCPE runs through Dec. 18.  The CFRT box office is open Monday – Saturday from 1 – 6 p.m.  Ticket are $10 for children and $15 for adults.  Visit www.cfrt.org or call 910.323.4233 for more information.

Fayetteville City Council’s Parks Bond Committee is anxious for contractors to get shovels in the ground on projects authorized by voters in last spring’s $35 million referendum. It was the first Fayetteville parks bond issue of four others held in the last 50 years to be approved. The first bond issuance of $11 million is planned for next September, but council isn’t waiting until they have the money in hand to begin building. Mayor Nat Robertson would like to see work begin on seven splash pads right away. The projection is that $10 million will be spent during the first three years, said Recreation & Parks Director Michael Gibson. 

A revised schedule has construction on the first five splash pads beginning next year. They’ll be placed at Myers Park Recreation Center, Kiwanis Recreation Center, Massey Hill and Dorothy Gilmore Rec Centers. A fifth site is in West Fayetteville at one of two locations. The last two splash pads will come on line in 2019. One of them will be on the grounds of the minor-league baseball stadium, downtown; the other in West Fayetteville. They’ll cost $7 million altogether. The city will borrow money from itself temporarily until bond proceeds begin to become available next fall. 

Other projects to be funded by the first bond sale include a west side Senior Center at Lake Rim Park, a skateboard park and land acquisition for a tennis center, plus improvements to some existing parks. A master plan for a large multi-purpose sports complex will also be funded. The sports complex and tennis center are budgeted for a combined $15 million. 

The second and final bond issuance will be in January of 2021, for $23.7 million to fund a downtown senior center adjacent to the new Rowan Street Bridge.  The $6 million Cape Fear River Park will be the final project and is slated for construction in 2022-23. The State Local Government Commission requires that all bond projects be planned and built within seven years. 

Mott McDonald Consultants projects that supplemental funding opportunities can be found in several potential grants. The consulting firm is managing the bond program for the city and reports regularly to City Council’s Parks Bond Committee. Additional funding sources include the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the Connect NC statewide bond package, the Recreational Trails Program, Clean Water Management Trust Fund, DOT’s Strategic Transportation Improvement program and National Endowment for the Arts, plus numerous private foundations. 

A Cumberland County State Trooper has been awarded the Highway Patrol’s Meritorious Service Award. Trooper S.D. Reed was honored by Col. Bill Grey, Commander of the State Highway Patrol and Frank L. Perry, Secretary of the Department of Public Safety. Reed was one of several troopers and civilians to receive awards in a ceremony on Nov. 29. 

On May 5, 2016 at 9 a.m., Reed presented “Keys for Life” at Cape Fear High School. The program showed students the consequences of drinking and driving as well as texting while driving. The presentation included a mock collision involving a fatality and an impaired driver being arrested. Reed explained that an impaired driver faces DWI and felony death by motor vehicle charges. He explained that the worst part of his job is having to tell loved ones of the death. The program has been presented to 1,400 juniors and seniors of area schools over the last two years. Reed is assigned to Highway Patrol Troop B, District 1 Headquarters in Fayetteville.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personal Weapons on Post

In mid-November, the Pentagon issued a regulation giving service members permission to carry personal firearms on military bases. The regulation “provides guidance for permitting the carrying of privately owned firearms on DoD property by DoD personnel for personal protection purposes that are not associated with the performance of official duties,” the order says. The regulation requires soldiers to conform to all federal, state and local laws. It isn’t clear whether commanders of individual installations are given authority to set local rules. “We are awaiting guidance from the Department of the Army on how this will be implemented,” Fort Bragg spokeswoman Christina Douglas told Up & Coming Weekly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Military Pay Raise Likely

Congressional budget planners say they have provided for a January 2017 pay raise for service members despite a proposed four-month budget extension through April. House Appropriations staffers say that a continuing resolution they’re drafting will provide a pay raise for troops, said The Military Times. Exactly how much that will be is being negotiated. President Barack Obama suggests a 1.6 percent increase. The House of Representatives has proposed a 2.1 percent pay raise. But they’ve got to make cuts elsewhere in the budget to pay for it.  A 1.6 percent pay increase amounts to a $400 yearly pay boost for most junior enlisted troops and up to $1,500 more in annual pay for mid-career officers. Service advocates argue that a 2.1 percent pay raise would send a significant message to soldiers that the government appreciates their family finances.

 

 

 

A small group of Cumberland County Commissioners and members of Fayetteville City Council is working toward establishing a consolidated emergency communications system. The group will meet again in January after wrapping up an organizational session late last month. Two members of each body came together, along with public safety professionals, to get organized. The combined group will be known as the Joint 911 Task Force. As many as seven elected officials comprise the committee. The group of fire, police, EMS and communications professionals will do most of the work to plan a joint emergency 911 center. 

The need for a combined facility was established several years ago, but it’s been a slow process. The city and county agreed to hire Mission Critical Partners of Raleigh to facilitate the process. The two government units have operated separate 911 centers. One is in the basement of the Cumberland County Law Enforcement Center. The city’s center is on the second floor of city hall. They do not meet current survivability standards. Since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, many jurisdictions have consolidated local 911 facilities to better serve their communities. 

A combined facility would bring unified equipment and personnel under one roof. City and county officials have agreed to a price tag of $30 million. The facility would be located on five to ten acres of land outside the immediate Fayetteville / Fort Bragg urban area, which is considered most vulnerable to attack. It would be a fortress-like hardened building capable of withstanding a category four hurricane. A storage building and 100-foot communications tower would also be located on the site. County Commissioner Jimmy Keefe stressed that it’s important for everyone to understand the need for this facility. 

Greensboro and Guilford County recently opened a combined 911 center, said consultant Philip Penny. At the group’s first two organizational meetings, officials appear to have settled on two properties they believe suitable for what would also serve as a consolidated emergency operations center. The favorite is the county-owned Cedar Creek Business Park on N.C. 210 one-and-a-half miles east of I-95. Mayor Nat Robertson, who serves on the task force, notes the 911 center would spur additional development at the park which has been vacant since its inception more than 10 years ago.   

Consultants are encouraging the group to focus first on securing available state grants. The grant application period begins in March for submission in June. Awards are usually made in September, said Penny. “This project will be attractive to the state,” he added. As the task force comes to terms with the cost and location, it will turn its attention to governance when it meets next in January. Would the two agencies be merged into one, or would they work separately side by side? Consultants hope to position the group to launch whatever they come up with this time next year.

I finally had enough of hypocritical ideologies plaguing my usual social media haunts on Thanksgiving morn.

So, I did the next best thing to quench my morning reading habit. I picked up a book. Not an ebook or an on-line PDF version, but a real hardcover book with ‘smells-like-new’ pages. The title is From the Rough Side of the Mountain; Reflections of a Country Preacher. It’s a gem of a how-to-book on navigating the difficulties in life. And, there will be difficulties in life to be sure.

Local community activist Karl W. Merritt wrote the book back in 2009. It’s about his father, a small-town African-American preacher and entrepreneur. A man who clawed his way through life back when only winners got the trophy.

The book is part history and part biography, and it’s also about commitment to life and the human race. Karl wrote the book after collecting more than 14 years of audio-taped conversations with his father, the late Milton W. Merritt, Sr.

Karl admits that in his early years he did not enjoy a close father-son relationship. The elder Merritt was too busy mending the world around him.

Karl was already in the Navy when he and his father started their conversations on a deeper level. Karl is not sure how that relationship morphed into what it became. It seemed to take a new form when Karl finally out fished his father … during one of their outings on a serene lake in Albany, Ga. “It was the first day in my life where I caught more fish than Daddy. It (relationship) just caught on from there,” Karl said.

The story starts with Milton Merritt’s early life in the late 1930s of Miller County, Ga. It’s a rural county located in the southwest corner of Georgia where the Chattahoochee River forms the border with Alabama to the west. To the south is the Florida Panhandle.

It’s where he finished grade school. But Miller County back then didn’t have a high school for blacks. So, the African-American baptist congregation of Miller County created a school. Merritt enrolled in the First Flint River Missionary Baptist Association’s privately established high school. He refers to it as the ”Pink Shingle.”

He paid his way through high school by cooking in the cafeteria. He also provided the school with sweet potatoes and cured meat from his family’s farm.

It struck me: how many of our kids today would work to pay for their high school education?

Milton Merritt understood the value of education early on. The book chronicles his efforts to achieve an education and the extraordinary lengths he would go to reach his goal. The chapter in which this narrative occurs is aptly entitled, “Determined to Succeed.” That sense of determination resonates throughout book with Merritt’s mantra of “keep on keeping on.”

Merritt went on earn his bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in English from Savannah State College. He continued his education at Harvard and the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville. He served in Europe during World War II where he broadened his view of the world. He returned home and became a teacher and, for a time, a general contractor. His lifelong endeavor to pastor in small southwest Georgia towns defines Merritt’s character. It’s where he fought for the rights of his people during the tumultuous civil rights era of the 1960s. It’s a fight that, according to Karl, cost him both financially and socially.

But the book is more than about a black man fighting injustices in the deep South. It’s about perseverance in the face of obstacles that life throws at you. And, more importantly, how to handle them. It’s about a time when no one ever heard of safe spaces or political correctness. You just dealt with your problems.

In the last chapter, entitled “Counting the Cost,” Karl outlines his father’s sacrifices. The first among them is that family members will suffer. The second is that a lot of people will not join an effort that requires even little risk or sacrifice. Karl lists six more truisms that afflict those who want to make things better. They all hit home, especially now.

This book has value. It’s a good read and will leave you with a greater perspective of life. It’s a refreshing departure from the self-serving, post-election whining you find on FaceBook or Twitter. It’s an escape from the hundreds of blogs written by unchecked malaperts on both sides of the issues.

Contact Karl on at KarlMerritt.com and find out how to get your hands on this book. your kids. Its contents contain a valuable lesson.

Better late than never, Fidel Castro finally took the dirt nap and entered into the Seventh Circle of Hell over the Thanksgiving weekend. His passing set off massive celebrations in Miami and helped Carolina fans forget the loss of the football game to N.C. State. Fidel took over Cuba on New Year’s day 1959 just like in The Godfather II.The news was wall-to-wall coverage for days repeating that Fidel was sleeping with the fishes. How many times can you say “Fidel is dead” before it becomes repetitious? It reminded me of the old moon shots when Walter Cronkite would come on TV with hours to fill and nothing to say except that the rocket was on the way to the moon. The defunct National Lampoonmagazine had a running joke for years showing a picture of Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco leaning out a window waving to the crowd saying, “I’m still dead.” Same for Fidel now. All the talk about Fidel in 1959 got me wondering what else was going on then. 

Into the Way Back Machine with Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman. Let’s cruise down memory lane to review the wonderful world of January 1959. The country of Chad became a French republic. It is unfair that Chad became a country and its singing partner Jeremy never achieved nationhood. But as Chad and Jeremy once sang, “Yesterday’s gone,” so we just move on. Alaska became a state, vindicating Seward’s Folly. Bozo the Clown debuted on TV instilling fear of clowns in generations of children. Bozo’s appearance was the direct precursor of the plague of evil clowns who have been showing up in the woods over the course of 2016. Buddy Holly released his last hit, It Doesn’t Matter. This record came out about a month before the day the music died when Buddy crossed over the Great Divide in a plane crash. Proving that there is a positive side to almost every tragedy, Don McLean later made a boatload of money with his song about Buddy’s demise, “American Pie.” American gangster Meyer Lansky, role model for Hyman Roth in The Godfather II, lammed out of Cuba a week after Castro took over. 

French Egotist Charles DeGaulle was inaugurated as president of France, ultimately leading to the U..S Congress renaming French Fries as Freedom Fries in the Congressional lunch room. Clint Eastwood made his TV debut in the excellent western Rawhideas Rowdy Yates. A Hollywood success story, Clint went from punching cows with Gil Favor to debating an empty chair at the 2008 Republican convention. Walt Disney’s classic “women need to be rescued by their very own Prince Charming” movie, Sleeping Beautywas released teaching little girls everywhere to patiently wait for that someday when their prince will come.

Other fun facts about the rest of 1959 included the appearance of gigantic fins on the backs of enormous American cars. Hawaii also became a state leading to a run on records of Don Ho singing “Tiny Bubbles.” The federal minimum wage was $1 an hour, which wasn’t too bad because you could buy sirloin steaks for 89 cents a pound. A loaf of bread cost 20 cents. Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zonemade its first appearance of 151 episodes, which still appear on cable each week. Other notable TV series premiering in 1959 include Bonanza, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis with the immortal snob Chatsworth Osborne Jr, Dennis the Menace and The Untouchables. 

A number of famous folks managed to be born in 1959. Linda Blair, star and possessee of The Exorcist and the Barbie doll along with Jason Alexander, George, of Seinfeld, was born. George is the patron saint of all politicians for making the statement, “It’s not a lie if you believe it.” 1959 also saw the birth of Weird Al Yankovic. Campbell’s added Tomato Rice soup to its menu of canned delicacies. Tang, the drink of choice for astronauts, first tickled the taste buds of Americans. 

Unfortunately, a number of deaths occurred in 1959. Cecil B. DeMille had a spectacular heart attack. Max Baer, Sr. also checked in through the cardiac hotel. Max Sr. was the father of Max Baer, Jr who starred as Jethro Bodine of the Beverly Hillbillies. Jethro was famous for sitting by the cement pond pondering his multiple career options of being a double naught spy, a fry cook or a brain surgeon. The wheatback penny disappeared from circulation being replaced on the reverse side of Honest Abe with the Lincoln Memorial. 

Other than the appearance of tomato rice soup and fins on cars, there were a lot of things that happened in 1959, and not all of them were good.

No doubt about it! This has been, and continues to be, one crazy year. Whether you were thrilled or devastated by the outcome of the 2016 elections, almost all of us can agree that it was a year — and more — replete with twists and turns and a grand finale that took even pollsters by surprise. And, a la Al Franken’s first U.S. Senate race in Minnesota, some races are still too close to call, leaving everyone from candidates to voters in governmental limbo.

Elections were not the only weird situations this year, though.

Take the concept of global warming. It matters not whether one is fur it or agin it, global warming is a fact. Average temperatures are heading up, ice is melting and oceans are rising. Scientific numbers are indisputable in that regard. What is at issue is why this is happening — whether warming temperatures are caused by human activities or whether they are just part of some natural weather cycle that has not been seen in so many thousands or millions of years that we really do not know about it. It is also possible that both are factors.

We persist, however, in talking about global warming as if it were up for debate. We have turned it into a political issue as if any of our elected officials of any partisan stripe can do a darn thing about it. All we can do about it is react to it, and some of us continue to pretend it is not happening when it clearly is. It reminds me of the Precious Jewel who repeatedly denied eating contraband cookies when he had chocolate crumbs all over this face.

If the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys, then Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel could be thought of as large boys. On Veteran’s Day weekend, a group of bikers, vets themselves, found The Boss alongside a New Jersey roadway, a broken down motorcycle by his side. It was a no go getting the downed bike going again, so The Boss hopped on the back of one of his rescuers’ bikes and rode off to a local watering hole until his ride arrived to take him home. Elsewhere, Springsteen’s friend Billy Joel heard the news and thought, “Oh, dear!” or something along that line. He called The Boss to ask whether the offending bike was the one Joel, also a biker, had built and given to his great chum. Indeed it was, though that particular motorcycle was obviously not born to run.

Thanksgiving weekend found The Boss and Joel performing together at Madison Square Garden, where Joel told the audience “no good deed goes unpunished.”

And, finally, did you hear about the Jacksonville, N.C. holiday parade? 

Like countless such parades across the nation, local businesses fielded floats populated by beauty queens, cute as bugs-in-rugs children and waving Santas. Jacksonville’s parade had an unusual entry from Studio 360 Pole Fitness, Dance and Gym. No adorable tots or jolly Santas on that float, though. Instead there were — you guessed it! — pole dancers. Studio 360 owner, Brianna Jones, says the float did exactly what she wanted it to do — got folks talking about pole fitness.

Owens says she has lost over 100 pounds through pole fitness, and while that may be true, not everyone found the float family friendly. The News and Observer quoted a church youth minister as saying he had to avert his little ones’ eyes lest they spot something they should not. 

Meanwhile, Owens informed N&O columnist Barry Sanders that the float was educational, introducing parade watchers to pole fitness. She is even planning a “mommy and me” pole fitness class, though I am relieved I never had to confront that particular option. She concedes that some of her students are exotic dancers honing their skills and reminds us that that many dancers have other titles, like “wife” and “mom.” Owens told Saunders pole fitness can benefit anyone, including the Pole Dance American 2013 champion, a guy, whom she coached to the top prize.

Saunders, one of my favorite columnists with a wry and clever sense of humor, penned this little ditty after his interview with Owens.

“T’was the night before Christmas and Grampa was feeling quite chipper

“He was in the next room entertaining some strippers

“I crept as quiet as a mouse and peered through the keyhole

“And to my surprise they were all on a pole.

“They were pirouetting and twerking, they were shaking and such

“Too bad I didn’t have any pearls I could clutch.

“I ran down the hall yelling for grandma to come see

“But when I told on Grampa she just laughed at me

“Your grampa may be old, she said, and he’s sowed his last oat

“At least I thought he had until he saw that darned float.”

Remember, there are Marines of all ages in Jacksonville.

Forward Ho!!  No doubt about it, this community has much to look forward to. The groundwork has been laid for a myriad of projects that will make a real difference in the quality of life for local citizens. However, we must be prepared and capable of mobilizing and utilizing our resources, time and talent in the most positive and productive way to bring these to fruition. This means assessing our options and opportunities countywide to achieve a better community and getting into the proper mindset and achieving these objectives in a timely manner. Sure, it will take hard work, a forward-thinking group of leaders and, most of all, cooperation between our city and county elected officials who will need to focus on the opportunities at hand. Both would be well advised to stop playing “old school” politics where important leadership positions are concerned. Currently, many observers are scratching their heads at the county’s recent assignments and appointments, perceiving them as gratuitous “go along to get along” entitlements. Not good. To move Fayetteville and Cumberland County forward, both entities must come to grips with 21st century realities that will directly impact this community’s future. 

There is so much to do and so many needs that should be addressed. And, we need to do it –  NOW! It begs the question: What are they waiting for? They, of course, being our city and county elected officials and staff. Does anyone in local government realize that at the snail’s pace we are operating at to address local issues that a child born in January 2017 will be in high school before the completion of projects already approved or deemed vital for the success and betterment of the community: i.e. splash pads, tennis courts, athletic fields, senior centers, swimming pools, river parks, a baseball stadium, a downtown performing arts center (or new Crown Theatre), the  Civil War History Center, a 911 consolidated call center,  storm water-sewer extensions and, in view of the sheriff’s recent retirement,  consideration and feasibility of countywide policing? Whew! 

Again, what are they waiting for? My final point: We need jobs! We need business and industry. We need to reverse Cumberland County’s declining population trend. We desperately need to attract economic development, and we need to set priorities. Now. Does anyone really think splash pads will attract businesses and economic development to our community? Or, that industry will locate here on the “if we build it, they will come” promise of a performing arts center? The answer is no! 

We need new energy and a strategy from our leadership. We need new ideas. We need people with vision who are focused on doing things and getting things done. And, we need to replace those elected officials whose definition of success is making sure we maintain status quo, meaning everything stays the same. Well, that’s pretty poor foresight and neglective pathetic management. We deserve better and should demand better. Vision 2026 is a movement in the making. Its purpose is to accelerate these essential projects, to recognize and acknowledged true leadership and to hold the rest accountable. Vision 2026: The time is now. Stay tuned. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. 

For many families, the Christmas season is not complete without attending a performance of the North Carolina State Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Without fail, for 40 years, Charlotte Blume produced the show — and to exacting standards, making each performance a joy for the audience and a point of well-deserved pride for the performers. Blume died this past spring, but her legacy lives on. The curtain rises at 3 p.m. on Dec. 10 and 11 at the Crown for this year’s production of The Nutcracker.

Dina Lewis, vice president of the North Carolina State Ballet, has watched countless dancers (including her own daughters) rise through the ranks at the Charlotte Blume School of Dance. She watched Blume train the dancers and work them to near exhaustion. She has seen the students push through mental and physical barriers under Blume’s tutelage to achieve more than they ever thought they could onstage and in life. While Blume accepted nothing but perfection, her love for her students and her passion for ballet inspired many. When Blume fell ill, there was never any question about the future of The Nutcracker in Fayetteville.

“Even though our matriarch of our company has passed, it was her last wish that the show must go on,” said Lewis.  “Those were her own words, and we are continuing as she wished. This production is a tribute to Miss Blume and all she gave to this community and to the ballet world. Before she passed, she left a long list of expectations and how she wanted things to go. Now, we are all trying to fulfill her wishes. She was a remarkable woman and her students are determined to honor her memory with a performance that would make her proud.”

While audiences come to enjoy a couple of hours of ballet, the dancers have trained for months. “The tryouts were in August and we started training in September,” said Lewis. “It is the same level of performance as previous years.”  The girls are excited, but being the first performance since Miss Blume passed, it will be a struggle in some ways, too. We will have a private tribute onstage, though. There is always a portrait above the fireplace on stage. We are hanging a portrait of Miss Blume over the mantel. It is one way to remind the girls that even though she is not here, she is still here with them and watching them.” 

For many of her students, Blume was an inspiration. She was the adult who invested in them and held them to a higher standard than anyone else. She was the person they wanted to impress. “Charlotte was awesome. You can tell the girls miss her,” said Lewis. “I think the first performance will be tough. She was rigid and only accepted the best. She was a tough instructor. That is how they learned. And she always performed with them. That will be the other part of the link. We will have hidden things in each set for the girls, so they will know she is there. It is very bittersweet, but we are excited to do it … for her.”

There are two casts for the show. Ella Lewis and Marissa Morris play grown Clara. Sophia Lewis and Kendal Draughon are cast as young Clara. Tiffany Alexander performs as the Sugar Plum for the student show with Alyssa Pilger from the Carolina Ballet performing the part for other showings. Daniel Rivera dances as the Cavalier along with ballet professional Oliver Beres. Sarah Middleton and Emmalee Smith share the role of Snow Queen and Andrea Flores-Morales and Hannah Reeder play the Snow Princess.

The Nutcracker Ballet is based on the story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, which was written in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffman. In 1892 Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov turned it into a ballet.

The story opens at the Stahlbaum house on Christmas Eve. Marie’s godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, brings her a beautiful nutcracker. Clara falls asleep thinking about her precious nutcracker. The toys around the Christmas tree come to life and Clara has an amazing adventure filled with toy soldiers who battle an army of mice, a journey to the Land of Snow with dancing snowflakes and an enchanted forest, a visit to the land of sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy resides. 

For four decades, Blume partnered with the N.C. State Ballet to bring this holiday tradition to Fayetteville. Her standards were high, and her love of ballet and commitment to her students were unwavering. Now, in a tribute to their beloved teacher and mentor, the Charlotte Blume School of Dance and N.C. State Ballet bring this production to the community that has supported them for so long. “She was larger than life,” said Lewis. “I don’t think we realized her impact on her kids … on us until she left us. I still expect to turn the corner and see her.”

Performances are Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11. The curtain rises at 3 p.m. Tickets range from $7-$20 and are available at http://www.crowncomplexnc.com/events/detail/nc-state-ballet-the-nutcracker

The Woman’s Club of Fayetteville N.C., Inc., was founded in 1906. In 1947, the group changed its name to Woman’s Club of Fayetteville, N.C. Just recently, the organization rebranded itself as the Heritage Square Historical Society. From the very beginning, the mission of the group has been “to promote civic, cultural, educational and social welfare of the city; to preserve Heritage Square and to promote the historical preservation of the community.” On Sunday, Dec. 4, the club is set to host its signature fundraiser: A Christmas Tour of Homes. The proceeds raised from this event go to support the preservation and restoration of the three properties at Heritage Square. The Oval Ballroom, the Sandford House and the Baker-Haigh-Nimocks House make up the Heritage Square property, which is located at 225 Dick Street.

The tour features five properties decorated for the holidays, plus a bonus stop. Gwen Bell and Vickie Richardson co-chair this event. “For the Woman’s Club, in the past, this was the only fundraiser,” said Bell. “It is still our main fundraiser. We also have a silent auction, which was moved to the spring this year because of Hurricane Matthew. The tour has five gorgeous Fayetteville homes this year. Two are historical properties. We have two mid-century homes, one from the 50s and one from probably the 70s. And a brand-new home, too, Ralph and Linda Huff’s house. It is a gorgeous new home.”

And that extra stop on the tour? It is the Sandford House, which is part of the Heritage Square property. This gives the tour participants an opportunity to see the structures that benefit from the event and to learn about the property’s place in local history. “Refreshments will be served there and the home will be shown in period-appropriate decorations,” said Bell. “Some of the Fayetteville Garden Clubs each took a room and decorated it. We also decorated the Oval Ballroom. It was built by a prominent businessman for his daughter’s wedding. It has been moved and restored and it is gorgeous. People that enjoy history or interesting things about Fayetteville will love this. It is a great way to get into the mood for Christmas and see how others decorate.”

For some, the tour of homes is as much a part of Christmas as presents under the tree or Christmas dinner. If you’ve never been, Bell says this a great time to start. “I always tell people, grab a girlfriend, go to lunch and hit the trail,” said Bell. “You can buy tickets the day of the event at any of the homes. The Sandford house is a great place to start or finish the tour because there will be refreshments and a lot to see on the property.”

The tour of homes lasts from 1-6 p.m., but Bell noted that it doesn’t necessarily take the entire time to see all the properties. Tickets are available at Bell’s Seed Store, Burney’s Sweets & More, Betty Kelly’s Gift Shop, High Cotton Consignment, Talbot’s, The Pilgrim and Heritage Square. Each ticket contains a map and the addresses of the homes on the tour. A $15 donation is suggested for the tickets. For more information, call 483-6009, or visit wwwheritagesquarefay.org.

Gospel music lovers in the area likely know Larry Chason. He’s been singing old Southern gospel in the Carolinas since 1996. On Dec. 3 Chason is set to host a Southern Gospel Christmas Sing at Eureka Baptist Church. Chason will perform, as will Triumphant Quartet. Come ready to embrace the true meaning of Christmas and leave blessed.

“It will be all Christmas music,” said Chason. “We want to get people in the Christmas spirit. We really need to know real meaning of Christmas and that is just what this music does — it shares the meaning of Christmas.”

Chason started singing in church when he was just five years old. He’s been singing quartet music since he was 16. He performed with the Lighthouse Boys for several years and has recorded five projects with Milton Smith and Wesley Pritchard of Millwest Studios in Fayetteville. Chason has sung and promoted with many well-known Southern gospel performers including Anchormen, Dove Brothers, Dixie Melody Boys, Steele Family, Quinton Mills, and local groups Jay Stone Singers, the Tylers, Pierce Family, Rapture-Road Quartet and Lucy Hemingway. 

Chason’s website, lighthousemusicministry.com, explains his love of music and his “passion for lost souls and desire to minister through song and testimony.”

Triumphant Quartet has 19 albums, including a 2009 Grammy Award nominee — Everyday. Their first album was released in 2003. The group started in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., where the four friends performed at the Louise Mandrell Theater daily from 2003 to 2008. That’s when they started touring. 

A consistent fan favorite in the gospel music industry, Triumphant not only delivers great music, the group is lively and engaging on stage.

“This is a national quartet that travels cross the U.S.” said Chason. “A couple of the members have been involved with singing groups in Dollywood and other well-known groups. Something people may not know is that one of the members is from North Carolina. David Sutton — he is from Raleigh.”

Admission to the Southern Gospel Christmas Sing is free, although there will be a love offering to assist the singers with their ministries. “These guys are professionals,” said Chason. “This is how they make their living.”

The event starts at 6 p.m. and is at Eureka Baptist Church, which is located at 1591 Eureka Drive. For more information, call 818-9769. Find out more at about Chason at lighthousemusicministry.com. Find out more about Triumphant Quartet at http://www.triumphantquartet.com.

Tim Altman is the Chair of the music department at UNC Pembroke. He not only teaches classes and participates in community events, he also oversees the production and planning of the Givens Performing Arts Center Holiday Extravaganza. On Dec. 2, the concert combines the talents of the university’s faculty, staff and students to bring a lively combination of well-loved holiday songs to the audience.

“The audience will hear their favorite holiday tunes from numerous large and small ensembles: the saxophone ensemble, the university chorale, the jazz combo, a vocal jazz ensemble, a percussion ensemble, a trumpet ensemble, a flute Ensemble, a clarinet ensemble, steel drums and more,” said Altman. “The faculty in the UNC Pembroke Music Department are seasoned professionals.  Many have performed all over the world. The students in the UNCP music department are constantly improving.  Our students compete in state, regional and national competitions.  So, the quality of performances usually exceeds expectations.”

From start to finish, the Holiday Extravaganza features more than 200 performers. From small groups to large ensembles that include the Concert Band and University Chorale, there is no shortage of variety in the performance. “I like showing so many different facets of our department in one production.  This is one of our only opportunities to show off such a variety of ensembles in one performance,” said Altman. “The UNCP Music Department gave more than 150 performances last year.”

For Altman, while every part of the show is a lot of fun, it is the end of the show that he really enjoys. “My favorite part of the show is the sing-along at the end. Everyone in the audience joins in to sing holiday favorites (with the 65 people in the concert band accompanying). So, we have a choir of around 1,000 with the audience.”  

The performance starts at 8 p.m. However, there is a TubaChristmas performance in front of GPAC at 7:30 p.m. 

TubaChristmas is a concert held in various cities around the world. It celebrates those who play, teach and compose music for instruments in the tuba family. This includes the tuba, sousaphone, baritone and euphonium. There are also rarer instruments of the tube family such as the helicon, ophicleide, serpent and double bell euphonium.

Harvey G. Phillips had the first TubaChristmas in 1974 to honor his tuba teacher William Bell, who was born on Christmas Day 1902. The first TubaChristmas was held Dec. 22, 1974, in the ice skating rink at New York City’s Rockefeller Center;  More than 300 musicians participated that day. Little did they know it was the beginning a holiday tradition. 

Proceeds from the Holiday Extravaganza concert will go to support music scholarships.  General Admission costs $12. It costs $2 per child or Non-UNCP Student and $2 for UNCP Students. For tickets and information, visit  http://www.uncp.edu/giving/advancement/givens-performing-arts-center/broadway-and-more-series.

Celebrating the holiday season with friends and family is one of the best things about this time of the year. The days are full of friendship, beautiful decorations and happiness. There are opportunities all over Fayetteville and the surrounding area to share this joy and excitement with the community and loved ones.

On Dec. 10, the Rotary club hosts its annual Christmas parade. From 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., floats of all kinds will drive through downtown Fayetteville. The route goes from Person Street to the Market House to Hay Street to the train station. The Rotary Club began hosting these Christmas Parades in 1999. It stepped things up when it looked like the tradition was going to end. The very first parade had 50 entries, but with the support of community members and local businesses it has grown to more than 100 floats. This parade is not a fundraiser; instead, it is a community service project with the goal of spreading joy for the holiday season. For more information, visit http://www.rotarychristmasparade.com/history.php. 

Another fun Christmas event is the Fort Bragg Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. On Dec. 1, from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m., the Main Post Parade field will be full of holiday spirit. The giant Christmas tree is lit and the parade field filled with fun Christmas activities. This is a family-friendly event that includes a Kidz Corner and the opportunity to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Light refreshments will be available as well as holiday entertainment. For more information, visit www.bragg.armymwr.com.

On Dec. 2, Santa Claus will make an appearance at the family-friendly Christmas in the Mill Village event. From 6:30 until 9 p.m. on Trade Street in Hope Mills the shops will be open late and full of Christmas spirit. This is a perfect time to get some holiday shopping done or to enjoy some free entertainment with friends and family. There is an entire line up for entertainment and street vendors will be available as well. Don’t forget to participate in the special contest.

On Dec. 16, there will also be some Christmas fun at Milton E. Mazarick Park. From 5 until 6:30 p.m. the public is invited to participate in Nature Christmas Ornaments. This event is intended for all ages and it allows everyone to unlock their Christmas creativity. Event admission is $3, but participants make a unique Christmas ornament using objects found in nature. Reservations are required and the designated meeting place is the Mazarick building. Snacks are provided. For more information visit www.fcpr.us. 

On Dec. 3, the Town of Hope Mills will host its Christmas parade. It begins at 3 p.m. The route is from Hope Mills Middle School to South Main Street  to Main Street and then ends at Rockfish Elementary School. This parade represents small-town Christmas celebrations at their finest. They are full of community spirit and joy. The parade is open to the public and this is a family friendly event.  For more information visit http://www.townofhopemills.com/350/Christmas-in-Hope-Mills.

Mac Healy is a successful Fayetteville businessman who has a passion for whatever civic venture he’s involved in. For the last five years or so, he has headed up efforts to bring The North Carolina Civil War History Center to fruition. It would be located on the site of the Fayetteville Arsenal and would be the first history center of its kind in the nation. It would examine the impact of the War Between the States, its lead-up and its aftermath, on all the people of North Carolina.

As envisioned, the Center will deal honestly and factually with much of the 19th Century and will examine the events and impacts of this tragic time in history on all who lived through it. The project will require $65 million in private, local government and state funding. “We have already secured $6.5 million in private donations from the people of Fayetteville and Cumberland County,” Healy said. “We need to secure $7.5 million each from the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.” With commitments from local governments and the private money already raised, Healy believes the state legislature will seriously consider a $30 million match. But time is running out. The deadline for pledges from the city and county is Jan. 31, a time when the general assembly will be going into session. So far, neither city council nor county commissioners have made a commitment.

The History Center is estimated to draw upwards of 130,000 visitors to Cumberland County each year. Healy says studies show that cultural tourists stay twice as long and spend twice as much as other tourists. The History Center will produce more than 150 service industry jobs for the community. The center is projected to generate $12 million a year in economic impact for the region. Good economic development, such as the History Center, will grow the tax base rather than being a constant financial drain on the community. Healy tells Up & Coming Weeklyhe was motivated to get involved in the project out of a concern for economic development in a community that has seen a depressed economy in recent years. “Something like this is needed so badly,” he said. 

Cumberland County has seen an unprecedented downturn in population and loss of property values. “Although other communities in our state have seen significant growth since the recession, Cumberland County’s economy has seen a pattern of weak growth,” said County Manager Amy Cannon in her budget message to county commissioners. “A reduction in the rate of growth since 2008 has resulted in a five-year revenue loss of more than $3.5 million,” she added. 

Once built, the center will become a state-owned branch of the North Carolina Division of History. Neither city or county taxpayers will pay to operate it. Experts believe other venues will also benefit from visitors attracted to the Civil War History Center, particularly the Airborne & Special Operations Museum, the North Carolina Veterans Park and the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. “As a businessman, I remain convinced that once the county and city elected leaders look at the overall benefits, they will agree that this shows the best return for our hard-earned tax dollars and is more than worthy of their support,” Healy concluded.

Curbside storm debris is being collected in unincorporated areas of Cumberland County. It took until last week for county commissioners to adopt a contract with a private hauler to pick up debris from the Oct. 8 storm in areas outside the city and towns. The Solid Waste Management Department advises residents to place storm debris curbside without blocking the roadway. Residents should separate materials into three categories: vegetative (leaves, logs, branches), construction and demolition (building materials, carpet, furniture) and appliances and other white goods. Household hazardous waste should be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center at 923 Wilkes Road on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safer Driving in Woods Fires

The North Carolina Highway Patrol cautions motorists that wildfires in the western part of the state continue to interfere with normal traffic. Although some roadways may not be directly in the fire’s path, the smoke that is produced can cause hazardous driving conditions. “We will continue to provide assistance to those directly battling the fires until the mission is accomplished,” said Colonel Bill Grey, commander of the State Patrol. Troopers suggest that motorists plan ahead to ensure enough time has been allotted to reach an intended destination safely. Increase following distances and closely monitor speed limits. Use low beam headlights and fog lights. Motorists can obtain updated traffic information by visiting www.NCDOT.gov or by calling 511 from a mobile device.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snyder Singing Christmas Tree a Longstanding Tradition

Since 1980, Snyder Memorial Baptist Church has put on a Singing Christmas Tree for the community. The tree includes 250 singers, a handbell choir and a 40-piece orchestra. Performances are Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 3 at 4 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday Dec. 4 at 4 and 7:40 p.m. Doors open one hour before each performance. For tickets and information, call 484-3191.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Police Foundation Fund Raiser

The Fayetteville Police Foundation is sponsoring its first Back the Blue Night fundraiser. Back the Blue Night is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 8 from 5 to 9 p.m. wherein area restaurants will demonstrate their commitment to helping the Fayetteville Police Department by raising money for the Chief’s Public Safety Campaign. A news release from the foundation says the project also promotes continuing efforts to unite the community with the police. Participating restaurants will donate 10 percent of their sales to the Fayetteville Police Foundation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fayetteville’s Mac’s Speed Shop Places at When Pigs Fly Barbecue Festival and All-American Barbecue special fundraiser that was staged earlier this month in support of Cumberland County’s Communities in Schools, a project that empowers students to stay in school and achieve their goals in life.

“We are fortunate to have such a strong voice advocating for the students in Cumberland County,” said Dr. Frank Till, Superintendent of Cumberland County Schools. There were five categories of pig pickin’ competition at Festival Park Nov. 12. Twenty-five competitors won prizes. Mac’s Speed Shop, which has a restaurant located at 482 N. McPherson Church Road,  won third in the Whole Hog Division. The win was especially good news for Fayetteville residents because Mac’s serves its award-winning barbecue with new twists on Southern sides throughout the year at their restaurant here in town.

“The festival was a great way to spend time with great people. That’s exactly what we strive to do around the tables at Mac’s Speed Shop too.

Like most good cooks, we make our own sauce and use fresh ingredients,” Mac’s Grillmaster Kevin Kuruc said, “and that’s made all the difference in our restaurants’ success in the Carolinas.”

    In addition to its location in Fayetteville, Mac’s has three Charlotte restaurants, in South End, Steele Creek and Lake Norman, plus locations in Greenville, S.C. and Greensboro, N.C.

 

 

 

Public Art

Christmas has come early in Downtown Fayetteville with the installation of 10 temporary pieces of public art. Placing the outdoor sculptures began earlier this month and will conclude by early December. The art will remain until October 2017. The artists and artwork are varied. Phil Hathcock’s piece “Windstone,” made with aluminum, copper and brass, will echo the sounds of clacking bamboo when a good breeze blows near the Fayetteville Area Transportation & Local History Museum. Additional locations of the temporary pieces include Cross Creek Park, City Hall and the Arts Council headquarters. Support for the temporary public art project is provided by private donors with matching funding from the Arts Council. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red Cross volunteers 

The American Red Cross serves the community in many ways every day. The Red Cross needs volunteers at Fort Bragg to work with military members and veterans. On post at Fort Bragg, the Red Cross is recruiting volunteers to work at Womack Army Medical Center to assist with greeting patients, managing phone calls and emails, driving a shuttle for patients and serving in clinical positions. Red Cross volunteer opportunities allow the military to make a positive difference and help soldiers and their families in need. They make up to 90 percent of the Red Cross work force and provide more than 2,000 volunteer hours per month at Fort Bragg. To become a volunteer, apply online at www.redcross.org or Linda.Daney2@Redcross.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This column shares my thinking regarding a recent issue related to the Dogwood Festival. The festival is a major Fayetteville, weekend event held in the spring of each year. It brings together vendors who sell a multitude of items ranging from food to birdhouses. Beyond vendors are some 25 musical offerings, carnival-type rides and games and information helpful to the public.  

The situation in question is summarized in an article by Andrew Barksdale titled, “Fayetteville City Council wants more diversity in music at Dogwood Festival:

“Some members of the Fayetteville City Council say the Dogwood Festival’s headlining acts and other bands aren’t racially or ethnically diverse enough. Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin brought up the issue at Monday night’s work session, noting the city donates more than $100,000 in-kind services, such as police and park crews, for the popular event held each April at Festival Park downtown. The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival is a private, nonprofit group that organizes the event, which drew an estimated 225,000 people over the three-day weekend this year.”

The article goes on to report that there was a meeting of Council in which Carrie King, executive director of the Dogwood Festival organization, addressed the music diversity concern. She was accompanied by several Dogwood Festival board members. Every indication from Barksdale’s article is that the meeting did not chart a productive way forward. My sense is that, in a city already racially divided and racially tense, as is our nation, this is another issue that has the potential for unnecessarily feeding the beast of division and tension. However, it also offers an opportunity for Council to exercise leadership. Doing so starts with that group fully examining the situation and having the wherewithal to act fairly. I say “fairly” because we live in a society where any mention of race, and certainly racism, very often clouds judgment and produces decisions that disregard fairness toward some parties.

This suggested examination starts with determining the authority of Council in matters such as this one. Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin’s position is that this authority derives from the city providing some $100,000 of in-kind services to the festival. If this argument is legitimate, is that approach taken with other non-profits and entities that receive similar support? If not, why not? If this financial support, even in-kind, thinking is carried forward, Council must apply to every supported effort the same scrutiny being brought to bear on the Dogwood organization. If Council is not prepared to take this step, then there is the appearance of disparate treatment of certain entities. In this case, the Dogwood Festival organization.

Consideration should also be given to the goals of this and other efforts. The statements below, from the Dogwood Festival website, speak to aims of the organization:

“The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival was founded in 1982 by Bill Hurley, John Malzone and other city leaders who had a vision to improve the image of Fayetteville and create a uniting force for various events in our community... Festivals and special events help define our great city, attract new business, and stimulate local economic growth.”

Beyond putting on a superb weekend of entertainment in pursuit of the aims above, the organization has, across the years, donated thousands of dollars to various non-profits that also do work, which is of value to all of Fayetteville. This means there is a fundraising component to the Dogwood Festival. Consequently, Council insisting on greater diversity in music offerings could adversely impact the fundraising effort. Given that nobody is prohibited due to skin color from attending events or treated any differently, I find it unfair to demand changes that might adversely impact event attendance. From the beginning to now, country music has been the primary draw of this festival. Other genres have been offered, but with the overall goals in mind. What Council is doing precludes consideration of goals and forces changes that might not otherwise be implemented. I suppose this kind of thinking would lead Council to tell an Italian restaurant they must diversify their menu because police services are provided.

The response to my “Italian restaurant” comment will be that the restaurant pays property taxes and generates sales tax. The festival’s website states: “In an economic study performed during the 2011 festival, The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival’s estimated economic impact is over  4.5 million dollars.” That $4.5 million would not change hands, except for Dogwood efforts. Because vendors are required to collect and deposit sales tax with the state, the City of Fayetteville receives what must be a substantial sales tax benefit. 

Further, this festival clearly helps make Fayetteville a more attractive place to live and do business. When my wife retired from the Army and we could have moved anywhere, we chose to stay in Fayetteville. My positive view of this city was, in part, influenced by attending the Dogwood Festival. I was amazed at all that was offered by way of vendors, food, entertainment, information and the feeling of community. My wife and I pay property tax, sales tax and various fees that feed city government. We would not be here except for, those years ago, seeing Fayetteville in a positive light. The point is that this festival contributes to a positive image for Fayetteville and that has tremendous value. 

The spring festival is not the only event sponsored by the Dogwood organization. They also put on Cumberland County’s largest pageant, Historic Hauntings and Fayetteville After 5. These events also benefit Fayetteville. It is my understanding that the city does not provide financial or in-kind support for these other endeavors. However, as with the spring festival, benefits accrue to Fayetteville.

The following quote from Barksdale’s article indicates at least one council member also wants to influence make-up of the Dogwood board. “Councilman Chalmers McDougald swung around in his chair, saying he wanted to see how diverse her board members were. ‘And it’s really lacking a little bit,’ McDougald said.”

I have seen nothing indicating that Councilman McDougald sought information regarding how Dogwood board members are selected. The organization has two paid employees. All the great work of the Dogwood group is done by just two employees and dedicated volunteers. Board members must first volunteer with the organization and then be recommended by a board member for membership on the board. It appears to me this approach is reasonable and definitely effective. To volunteer, all a person has to do is go to the organization’s website.

In an attempt to provide music genres desired by festival attendees, there is a survey available on the organization’s website at http://www.faydogwoodfestival.com/. It lists the following genres: country, rock, jazz, Christian, blues, hip hop, reggae, Latin, R & B, urban, gospel, oldies, and metal.  Individuals who want to voice preferences in music should go to the website and complete the survey. 

In my opinion, here is what must be understood. How to respond to survey results must be left to the Dogwood board because there are considerations beyond those results. As already explained, one of these is festival goals. The other is that this is a family-friendly event. Consequently, survey results, or demands for music diversity, must not be allowed to override the aim of keeping this a family-friendly event. 

All of what is presented above provides opportunity for Council to exercise leadership. Doing so requires that those Council members who are pursuing music diversity at the Dogwood Festival think through the matter, as I have done here. I expect their following this approach will result in the realization that this is a matter requiring no further attention from Council. The leadership challenge comes in those Council members mustering the courage to explain this “no further action” conclusion to constituents and stand by this fair decision.

I’m glad we live in a city that respects its residents enough to allow us to voice our opinions on major issues affecting the community. Unfortunately, these opportunities sometimes appear ceremonial and gratuitous. I hope that was not the case at last Monday’s public hearing at City Hall.

Three minutes is not a long time, but in most cases, it is long enough to make one’s point. This being said, I want to share with you my three minutes before the City Council. I’m trying hard to debunk that haunting adage that “Fayetteville never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” Here’s what I shared with the city:

“Good evening, Mayor, City Council. Thank you for this opportunity. I want to go on record in support of our new baseball team and the downtown baseball stadium as well as the Vision 2026 project that supports several quality-of-life venues such as the Civil War History Center and a downtown Performing Arts Center. I am here to go on record requesting that the city seriously consider naming the new stadium the Babe Ruth Memorial Stadium, securing Fayetteville’s unique station in baseball history. In addition, I urge the city and the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to collaborate on establishing The Babe Ruth Museum and Visitors Center. This facility would attract 50,000 -75,000 visitors a year to our community, serving as an economic stimulus for downtown Fayetteville and the surrounding area. 

These suggestions are rather simplistic in nature, but simple ideas sometimes reap the biggest returns. It is said that “Fayetteville and Cumberland County never miss an opportunity to misses an opportunity.” These ideas are simple yet exclusively unique to our community. Please take them under serious consideration.”

That’s it. Short and sweet. Now, let’s wait and see if anyone was listening. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.