Eight decades ago, the world was a different place. A gallon of gas cost 10 cents, the average cost for house rent $22 per month, a loaf of bread was 8 cents and the average new car price was $625. Since then, the world has changed greatly. One thing, though, has not changed and that is Community Concerts’ commitment to deliver top-notch entertainment to Fayetteville. And the organization has done just that, every season — for 81 years. 

While there was some rescheduling after the original lineup was announced for the year due to a tour cancellation, that turned out to be a good thing. With another first-rate lineup in store, this year is set to deliver six concerts with Vince Gill opening the season. “This show is Friday, Nov. 11. It is Veterans Day. We want all active duty service members and veterans to come out. We will do a special tribute to our vets,” said Community Concerts Attractions Director Michael Fleishman. “And the last time we had Vince Gill here was for our 75th anniversary season. We had Vince and Amy and sold it out. He is an unbelievable performer.”

Vince Gills’s music career started 40 years ago in 1976 when he joined Pure Prairie League. He released Turn Me Loose in 1984, The Things That Matter in 1985 and The Way Back Home in 1987 before releasing his breakthrough hit “When I Call Your Name,” in 1990. The song won the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year in addition to a GRAMMY Award. Seventeen CMA  awards and 20  GRAMMYs later, Gill is still going strong.  He’s received eight Academy of Country Music awards, including the Home Depot Humanitarian Award and the 2011 Career Achievement Award. In 2007, Gill was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  He’s a member of the Grand Ole Opry and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He recently performed on stage at The 50th Annual CMA Awards with fellow former CMA Entertainer of the Year winners Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Charley Pride, Reba and George Strait.

On Jan. 20, The Beach Boys bring a taste of summer to break up the winter chill. “This is one of the most iconic groups of all time,” said Fleishman. “It’s a show you don’t want to miss.”

On Feb. 20, Popovich Pet Comedy takes the stage. This family-friendly show is a first for Community Concerts. “We’ve added, for the first time ever, a special attraction. It is the number one family show in Vegas,” said Fleishman. “The guy that runs it, Gregory Popovich, is considered one of the best physical comedians on the planet. He has taken rescue animals and made a circus with them. He’s been on all the late night shows and won all kinds of awards. Part of the reason we decided to do this is because this is a family show. This show starts at a different time to make it even more kid-friendly. Parents and kids will both love this show. We are just trying to keep it fresh and we have always wanted to do something special like this for the kids.”

Foreigner is next in the series and is scheduled for Feb. 25. According to Fleishman, concert-goers are in for a surprise at this show. The Music Hall of Fame inductees will be announced, but there is more. “Foreigner took a very long time to book. It is a very big show,” said Fleishman. “Foreigner is rock royalty. That is a show with a lot of surprises. Don’t be surprised if you see a choir on stage in the middle of a rock show.”

On March 18, The Ten Tenors, one of Australia’s most popular entertainment groups, takes the stage. This replaces the Four Tenors concert previously scheduled. “Things like this happen on occasion, but we got a bigger, better show and everyone will love it,” said Fleishman. “They have played for millions. This is a truly talented group.  They do everything from classical to Queen. This season we have more hits that we ever had before, if you add them all up.”

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles closes the season on April 11. “Rain is a very special show. It played Broadway and is more than a tribute concert,” said Fleishman. “It is a  note-for-note recreation of the Beatles sound and one of the best light shows you will ever see - ever. This isn’t just guys up on stage singing. We take production values very seriously when we put on a show. You won’t see people coming out and sitting on a stool and playing a guitar. We don’t put on concerts. We put on shows.”

When many people think of pasta, Italy instantly comes to mind. Noodles have a history dating back thousands of years, but according to history.com, the first written record of a tomato sauce and pasta recipe is from a French cookbook published in 1797. It wasn’t until the 1800s that Italians added tomatoes to their diet on a large scale. Pasta has a place in American history as well because farmers in the 1920s used pasta as a marketing campaign for wheat. During the Great Depression, pasta became a staple in households because it was filling and inexpensive. Here in Fayetteville, though, say the word “spaghetti” and most people think Greek because for more than half a century, the local Greek congregation has served this delicious dish as a fundraiser.Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church presents the 58th annual spaghetti dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. 

For days leading up to the spaghetti dinner, volunteers labor in the kitchen making both pasta and pastries. The recipe is the same as the one that was used for the first spaghetti dinner. “We serve about 10,000-12,000 boxes of spaghetti, and the city knows about us because we have been very consistent,” said Litsa DaRosa, secretary of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. 

 “This thing started over 50 years ago and is a fundraiser for the church,” said John Bantsolas, president of Parrish Council. “It started out small as an eat-in dinner and it evolved into carryout.” Bantsolas added that not only do they sell spaghetti, the ladies prepare homemade Greek pastries that people can purchase when they come in. 

 The funds raised this year will be used for various organizations such as the local Red Cross, Autism Society of Cumberland County, Second Harvest Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club, Vision Resource Center, The Salvation Army and others. “The money also helps our church,” said DaRosa. 

“We invite everyone to come out and enjoy a spaghetti dinner,” said Bantsolas. 

The cost of the spaghetti box is $7. For more information call 484-8925. 

Did you know?

Italy produces almost 3.5 million tons of pasta a year. The U.S. produces about 2 million tons. 

The U.S. consumes 2.7 million tons of pasta while Italy consumes about 1.5 million tons.

Pasta was first referenced in a book in 1154, but it is believed that the Chinese were eating pasta as early as 5,000 B.C.

There are more than 600 types of pasta. The three most popular are penne, spaghetti and macaroni.

Dried pasta doubles in size when it is cooked.

Many give Thomas Jefferson credit for bringing macaroni to the U.S. after he tried the dish in Naples, Italy and fell in love with it. 

The first American pasta factory was in Brooklyn, New York. It opened in 1848.

 

  Communities in Schools presents the fifth annual When Pigs Fly All-American BBQ Festival on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 11 a.m. -6 p.m. in Festival Park. 

 “When Pigs Fly is our signature fundraiser and annual BBQ competition,” said Charlie Horman, executive director for Communities in Schools for Cumberland County. “It is our sanctioned BBQ contest and we are sanctioned by the Carolina BBQ League and we follow their rules and procedures.” 

 The two-day event begins on Friday and the public is invited to attend the event on Saturday. 

“The BBQ team rolls in on Friday morning and they set up camp in Festival Park,” said Horman. 

“There is a judge’s meeting that discusses all the rules of the competition and then they head back to their individual campsites to begin cooking.” Horman added that the participants cook their barbecue through the evening and into the night. There are two divisions this year. The “Whole Hog” division features whole hogs cooked over charcoal or wood. The “Pitmaster”  division is broken down into three categories: butts, ribs and chicken. These can be cooked using any heat source.

 “This year we are doing a taster’s choice component in which the public can pay to taste the barbecue,” said Horman. “The public wanted access to what the teams were cooking so we are excited that this is the first year of adding the tasting component.” 

 Four bands will provide entertainment for the event. The Parsons hail from Grays Creek and have a repertoire that relies heavily on guitars, banjos and mandolins. Clydes Cabin, Lotus Sun and Machine Funk (Widespread Panic Tribute band) are also scheduled to perform.

Vendors will be on-site. Beer will be available for purchase.  “This festival is about good music and the celebration of barbecue in North Carolina,” said Horman.  “We welcome everyone to come out and participate in the event.” 

Proceeds benefit Communities in Schools of Cumberland County, which has been in operation for 12 years. “The fundraiser is how we pay for the folks who work in our schools,” said Horman. “We are the county’s best kept secret and we work with some of the community’s most vulnerable students.” Horman added that they work with the students to keep them on track to stay in school and be successful in life. 

In 2013/2014, Communities in Schools gave $28,000 in grants to teachers in Cumberland County. It paid $4,500 for third graders in Cumberland County to attend a Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra concert. CIS funded the $5,000 teacher of the year cash awards and teacher appreciation gifts. Programming for after school clubs and career and college access plans received $30,000 from the organization. A scholorship for $1,500 came from CIS coffers as well. For the 2013/2014 school year, CIS served 21,617 Cumberland County students.

 No outside food or beverages allowed at the event. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased at www.cisofcumberland.org. For more information call 221-8800. 

On Nov. 17, Methodist University is set to host the Second Annual Reeves School of Business Symposium and Awards Dinner at Embassy Suites Fayetteville/Fort Bragg. This event is a combination of the previous Center for Entrepreneurship’s Fall Symposium and Spring Entrepreneurial Leadership Summit. 

“I love this event,” said Methodist University Center for Entrepreneurship Assistant Director Pam Biermann. “It brings community leaders together to join with Methodist University in sharing our desire to build up our community through guest speakers to give us new ideas and foster collaboration with each other. This year we are adding an hour of networking. The event is from 6:30-8:30 p.m., but we are opening the doors at 5:30 p.m.”

Jeremy Miller, author of Sticky Brandingis the keynote speaker. His speech is titled “Sticky Branding: How to Win When the Rules Keep Changing.” Miller’s knowledge on this topic comes from firsthand experience. 

When his family’s business nearly failed, Miller took a hard look at the way they did business. He found the problem was not the people or the processes; it was the brand. Since then, Miller and his team have studied hundreds of companies to learn how businesses grow brands that people recognize and remember, or “sticky brands” in Miller’s terms. He’s spent more than a decade conducting research and helping businesses develop their own sticky brands.

 “Our keynote speech is on a topic I don’t think we have ever covered — and that is branding. Marketing has changed so much over the past 20 years. A lot of businesses are struggling with how to have a brand that people will remember long term and seek when they need your service,” said Biermann. “The traditional sales staff idea doesn’t work like it used to — even social media is limited in what it can do for a business. Jeremy Miller offers interesting insights. He asked to be in contact with some business leaders in town that he could interview. He called and talked to them about advantages and challenges of the local business community and is customizing his talk to that.”

The keynote speech is just one part of the evening’s programming though. Seven people will be honored. The event website explains the awards to be presented that evening, which include: the Alumni Business Person of the Year, which goes to a Methodist University graduate; Entrepreneur of the Year, which goes to a risk-taker in the free enterprise system: a person who sees an opportunity and then devises strategies to achieve specific objectives; the Business Person of the Year, which goes to an executive for their contributions to the local business community as well as the civic and cultural community. The Greater Good Award is given to a professional who has shown kindness, charity, humanity, love, and friendship to his/her associates The Small Business Excellence Award will go to a business with fewer than 300 people that generates less than $15 million a year. Other things considered for this award include the creativity of the business, the uniqueness of the product, the employees’ welfare and the contributions of the business to its community. The Silver Spoon honoree is someone who has originated and built a successful business recognized for its uniqueness in planning, production, or some other aspect of its operation. The Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur must be a North Carolina resident who owns, has established, or manages a small business. The Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award committee will also consider the individual’s creativity, innovativeness and personal contributions to and involvement with the community.

To find out more about the event or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.methodist.edu/rsb-symposium.

The 2016 Community Homeless & Hunger Stand Down Planning Committee presents the annual Homeless & Hunger Stand Down on Friday, Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. -1 p.m. at the VFW Post 6018 located at 116 Chance St. in downtown Fayetteville.   

 “This event was established about 15 years ago by the Human Relations Commission,” said Crystal Moore-McNair, coordinator of the 2016 Community Homeless & Hunger Stand Down. “At that time, things were going on in our community, such as study circles, and they were trying to plan an event in which all different faiths could plan together as one to give back to the community.” Moore-McNair added that this is the 16th annual year with a couple of name changes during the past few years.  

The stand down will include free haircuts, clothing, lunch, flu shots by Walgreens’ Skibo Pharmacy, personal hygiene kits, prescription assistance, job placement assistance, health and dental screenings, veteran assistance from the VA Medical Center, housing assistance, educational assistance, affordable health care and much more.  A prayer tent has been added this year for prayer and counseling. Better Health will conduct blood pressure screenings. The Salvation Army will provide the hot meal. Second Harvest Food Bank will be on hand to provide bags of groceries for individuals in need. Cape Fear Regional Bureau will perform HIV/AIDS testing. Different agencies will be on hand to share their knowledge and services to participants. “There is a whole lot going on and many things will be happening on that day,” said Moore-McNair. “We need volunteers to help us with the event this year.”          

The mission of this project entails an organized effort of community representatives working together to provide health and human service access to Cumberland County residents in need. There are 35 agencies that participate annually with the Stand Down. Last year the event served over 350 veterans and 300 Cumberland County residents. This year’s goal is to serve over 1,100 Cumberland County residents. “We are expecting more people this year due to the disaster of Hurricane Matthew,” said Moore-McNair. “There will be more people in need of these services.”     

 “I look forward to doing this event every year,” said Moore-McNair. “It is a joy to assist people in need.” 

To donate nonperishable food, deliver it to the Second Harvest Food Bank. Free bus transportation will be provided by Fast Transit to and from the event. Checks can be made payable to Community Homeless & Hunger Stand Down at P.O. Box 303, Fayetteville, NC 28302. For more information, how to donate or to volunteer, email Crystal at crystalmcnair@unitedway-cc.org or call 483-1179.    

The City of Fayetteville has a new tool it can use to rein in loitering. City Police Attorney Michael Parker came across a state statute that’s been on the books for more than 30 years. G.S.14-275.1 governs disorderly conduct at bus or railroad stations and airports. 

Until recently, City Attorney Karen McDonald believed the city could not enforce loitering laws because of long standing Supreme Court decisions. The statute says in part that “Any person shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor if such person while at or upon the premises of any bus station, depot or terminal shall engage in disorderly conduct, or … without having necessary business there loiter and loaf after being requested to leave by any peace officer or by any person lawfully in charge of such premises.” 

Officials say discovery of this state law is significant. The Center for Problem-Solving Policing notes courts have held that laws that specify places where panhandling is not allowed are constitutional. This statute is being added to the police blue book of enforceable city ordinances and state statutes, said Deputy City Manager Kristoff Bauer. It should be a “helpful tool in combatting loitering should problems develop at the new downtown FAST bus terminal now under construction,” he said. A city ordinance prohibits panhandling in the downtown area. Officials believe it should help prevent street people from begging at or near the new transit center. 

“Officers have zero tolerance for the violation” in the downtown area, said police spokesman, Lt. Todd Joyce. “Officers assigned to downtown patrol will include the new bus terminal in their normal patrol functions,” he added. 

Transit Director Randy Hume says construction of the center is expected to be completed by January. Safety and security have been top of mind for city officials. Five exterior surveillance cameras monitored by police are to be installed around the transit center, and there will be 30 cameras inside the building, said Hume. 

Two security guards will be on duty from 5 a.m. – 11 p.m. daily, with one guard during the overnight hours. They will be equipped with two-way radios. Because Greyhound Lines will be moving its terminal operation from Person Street to the FAST Transit Center, it will share in operational costs of security and maintenance. The issue of vagrancy and loitering in and around the Greyhound station is not something city officials believe will be transferred to the new location off Russell and Robeson Streets. 

“There are two distinct issues here,” said Bauer, “poverty and behavior.” Being poor is not unconstitutional, he said, whereas behaving badly can be. He notes the Person Street bus station is in an area where behaviors have been an issue. A police survey determined that the area of downtown where the FAST Center is located has not been a problem spot. Its location adjacent to police headquarters should also help deter crime.

 Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend is the seventh American general since 2003 to assume command of war operations in Iraq. Townsend left his command of XVIII Airborne Corps and Ft. Bragg in August to become commander of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. His objective is to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) while simultaneously diffusing the region’s ethnic and religious conflicts that have drawn in nearly every major country across Europe and the Middle East. He heads coalition forces in the battle for Mosul. Then he must pursue ISIS into Syria, where the U.S. has few allies on the ground, and negotiate a highly complex battlefield. 

Military analysts say Townsend is overseeing a shift from conventional warfare to a mission dependent upon unconventional U.S military advisors and foreign troops. He has the help of the four star general who has spent much of his career in special operations. Former Special Operations commander Gen. Charles Votel is now in charge of Central Command, which has American military oversight of Middle East operations. He has emphasized the need for special operations forces to work hand-in-hand with traditional forces. Yet only 300 American special forces have been advising the Syrian Democratic Front (SDF) in the fight against ISIS. The coalition force of 30,000 is mainly made up of Kurdish troops and a sizable Syrian-Arab contingent. In Washington, Townsend faces historic uncertainty and a new Commander-in-Chief in January. 

One of his diplomatic challenges is Kurdish forces being used in an offensive on Raqqa, a sensitive matter for neighboring Turkey, which is wary of a strong Kurdish military presence on its border. A power struggle has played out in public as Townsend vowed to march on Raqqa with Kurdish forces regardless of Turkey’s opposition. “Turkey doesn’t want to see us operating with the SDF anywhere, particularly in Raqqa,” Townsend acknowledged in a press briefing. But, he added, “we think there’s an imperative to get isolation in place around Raqqa because our intelligence feeds tell us that there is significant external attack planning going on” there. The U.S. also depends on Turkey for use of Incirlik Air Base, a hub for U.S. air operations near its southern border. 

Townsend did say the isolation of Raqqa would be primarily undertaken by non-Kurdish Syrian forces. He believes there are currently enough of those fighters available to begin encircling the city soon. But he anticipates that the battle for Raqqa will take longer than the current battle for Mosul given that anti-ISIS partners in Syria do not have the resourcing available to the Iraqi military. Townsend says the timing of the offensive to retake Raqqa was not precipitated by the potential of an overseas terror plot although that concerns him. “We want to pressure Raqqa so that the enemy doesn’t have a convenient place to go,” said Townsend

Fayetteville Recreation and Parks Director Michael Gibson says he hopes construction on some of the projects approved in a $35 million parks bond referendum earlier this year will get underway by Feb. 1. The first bond issuance of approximately $8 million will provide for construction of four of the seven splash pads approved in the referendum. They should be ready for use by May 1. Also among the initial projects are improvements to Brentwood School Park, Clark Park, Dorothy Gilmore Center, Massey Hill Recreation Center, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, Mazerick Park and Seabrook Park. The west side senior center at Lake Rim and the downtown Fayetteville Skateboard Park are included as well. All the referendum projects must be completed within seven years, although it will take much longer for the bond debt to be paid back. Chief Financial Officer Cheryl Spivey told the committee that tax funds raised by the referendum will run out in 2040. Councilman Jim Arp noted that at that time the three-cent property tax increase approved by voters should be rescinded. Councilman Bill Crisp commented that taxes are never reduced. He later said the city would have a moral obligation to consider cutting the tax.

 

Fayetteville Storm Debris Update

Collection of storm-related construction debris resulting from Hurricane Matthew continues across the city. As of this writing, more than 125 truckloads of debris have been collected. A private contractor has four trucks and crews now picking up household yard debris, including trees, limbs and the like. Based on experience resulting from the 2011 tornado, the city had a contract in place with a vendor who was prepared to help with disaster relief. “We will continue to pick up debris across the city until it is all removed, whether by the vendor or by city vehicles,” said James Rhodes, interim Environmental Services director. FEMA will cover up to 75 percent of all storm-related debris collection by the city. State government is expected to help with the other 25 percent. Residents are asked to place their storm debris as close to the curb as possible, keeping it out of the street where possible. Residents should also keep the various types of debris separated since different vehicles are picking up the various types of debris. 

 

 

What About the People?

Cumberland County’s last emergency shelter, which was housed at Westover Recreation Center, closed last week. More than 11,000 residents applied for Disaster Food and Nutrition Benefits at the Department of Social Services Oct. 22-26. When combined with the more than 8,000 replacement food stamp affidavits submitted since Oct. 8, the department has assisted almost 20,000 residents affected by the hurricane. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) revised the hours for the Disaster Recovery Center at the DSS offices on Ramsey Street. The new hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m-7 p.m. Residents who suffered losses and damage can get information about state and federal assistance at the center, which is staffed by representatives of FEMA, N.C. Emergency Management and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

 

 

 

Cumberland County Rabies Clinic

The Health Department will hold a fall rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats on Nov. 12 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the parking lot of the Public Health Center on Ramsey Street. The cost is $10 per pet. The clinic, originally scheduled for Oct. 8, was postponed because of Hurricane Matthew. North Carolina requires that “the owner of every dog and cat over four months of age shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies.” Owners of dogs and cats that have not been properly vaccinated are subject to a civil penalty of $100. Dogs and cats initially must receive two rabies vaccinations one year apart. Thereafter, vaccination boosters are due every three years.

 

 

 

 

 Important policy issues are taking a back seat.

Among them is securing our borders. It’s the topic that got The Donald through the primary and onto the presidential stage. Hillary didn’t make much of a deal about it. Let’s face it; a big, beautiful wall (Donald’s words) paid for by Mexico is a bit much to comprehend.

The issue here is not about the 12 million illegal aliens already in the US. They are integrated into our economy and culture. That’s way too complicated for me. What’s not complicated but just as important are the daily incursions across our borders. They include illegal immigrants, drug smugglers, and sometimes human traffickers.

It’s a dangerous situation for Border Patrol agents and for illegals. In fiscal 2015 violators assaulted 378 Border Patrol agents.

It happened on Oct. 31 in Calexico, Ca. A Border Patrol agent saw someone climbing over the fence. When he tried to arrest him he got punched in the face. It also happened a week earlier. A Border Patrol agent tried to arrest a man coming over the fence. Someone on the Mexican side threw a chunk of concrete hitting the agent on the shoulder.

It’s not all scuffles and handcuffs.

Agents rescued 2,183 immigrants during 2015. Another 240 died. Heat stroke, dehydration and hyperthermia are the top killers. Agents scouring the desert in a helicopter recently rescued a man bitten by a venomous snake and suffering from heat exhaustion. He recovered.

Some are lucky. Take for example a 4-year-old El Salvadorian girl shot last August. She and her mother traveled through Mexico toward the U.S. border. A Mexican pistol-wielding robber stopped their train. The robber’s pistol discharged and struck the girl in the shoulder when he pistol-whipped another victim.

She did get patched up but spent the night in a filthy “stash house” along the border. Luckily, U.S. Border Patrol agents spotted her and took the girl to a hospital.

While most of the news about illegal incursions is along the southern border, incursions also come from our coastal and northern borders.

The Border Patrol apprehended 337,117 people coming into the U.S. illegally in 2015. The Border Patrol listed 148,995 of them other than Mexican.

It also seized a variety of drugs:

•1.5 million pounds of marijuana

•11,220 pounds of cocaine

•8,282 ounces of heroine

•6,443 pounds of meth

•158 pounds of Ecstasy (mostly along the U.S./Canadian border)

•101 pounds of “other” drugs.

The last category included the powerful synthetic opioid painkiller known as Fentanyl.

Agents also stopped 375 guns and roughly 14,000 rounds of ammunition from coming into the U.S.

So, while our country remains split over who is the least offensive presidential candidate, people are dying in the desert, agents are being pummeled with rocks, and for every pound of illegal drugs stopped at the border, you can be sure another pound is making its way to the U.S. heartland.

Who won? When both of my readers skim this column, they will know the results of the presidential election. This stain upon world literature is scribbled one week before the election in the foggy dew of uncertainty. Once the election results become final, half the country is going to be happy as a barrel of drunken clams. The other half is going to be enraged. This doesn’t sound like an outcome devoutly to be wished for America. Unfortunately, stuff happens. If Hillary wins, The Donald will fuss and moan piteously about the election being rigged and refuse to concede. If The Donald wins, Hillary will give a grudging concession speech and huddle with her advisors to get ready to run again in the 2020 presidential election. Whatever the result of the election, neither The Donald nor the Clintons are ever going to go away until Time’s Winged Chariot calls them home to their reward.

While I cannot predict the winner of the election, I can with 100 percent certainty point out the losers of the election. The biggest losers are our old buddy James Comey and the FBI. Big Jim is the current and likely temporary head of the FBI who dropped his Hillary Email Bomb Letter eight days before the election. Big Jim managed to torque off The Donald with his original non-indictment of Hillary in July. Jim then turned on Hillary with his toxic Eight Day Letter intimating that Huma’s email could mean the Big House instead of the White House for Hillary. The Donald’s supporters went from cursing the very ground upon which Big Jim slithered upon when he made his first speech explaining why he didn’t charge Hillary to heaping praise on him for his Eight Day letter. Hillary’s supporters pirouetted from praising Big Jim’s honesty, judgment and parentage for not charging Hillary to calling him ugly names for attempting to sway the election in Trump’s favor by releasing his Eight Day letter.

Those of you of a certain age may recall a 1964 political paranoia movie called Seven Days in May. There are certain parallels with Big Jim’s Eight Day letter and Seven Days in May. In the movie, the president signed a nuclear disarmament treaty with the Commies. The treaty is highly controversial. The president’s political opponents and the military are strongly opposed to the treaty because, after all, who can trust the Commies? It turns out the Joint Chiefs of Staff are so opposed to the treaty they decide to stage a military coup and toss the president and the Constitution into the flaming dumpster of history. In order to save the Constitution, it was necessary to destroy the Constitution. Big Jim is playing the part of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in our current election. Let us hope the aftermath of this election will not be as ugly as in Seven Days in May. 

The dazzling metamorphosis of Big Jim from hero to goat, depending on whether you are a Donald or Hillary fan, as Larry David would say was, “Pretty, pretty dramatic.” It reminded me of the old sayings about our bovine friend, the ox. Reality depends solely upon whose ox has fallen into the ditch. If Big Jim’s Eight Day letter pushed Hillary’s ox into the ditch, The Donald is one happy dumpster fire. If Big Jim’s non-indictment of Hillary pushed The Donald’s ox into the ditch, Hillary is free to resume ignoring the rules from the Oval Office. Another ox parable states that reaction to events depends on whose ox was gored. If your ox is gored, that’s okay. My ox gets gored? Not okay. Al Gore’s ox got gored in Florida when the Supreme Court appointed Bush president. Al took it like a trouper and didn’t create a constitutional crisis saying: “Thank you, Mr. 5 to 4 decision, may I have another?” 

Pondering bovine wisdom got me thinking deeply about the mystical power of the letters O and X. Why is this combination of letters so powerful? What does Ollie, Ollie oxen free mean? Paul Bunyan’s pet, Babe the Blue Ox is clearly a Democrat. The way many people relieve pain and become addicted to Big Pharma’s drugs is through Oxycotin and Oxycodone. The letters used in Tic, Tac, Toe are O and X. Coincidence? I think not. As Bob Dylan, the Nobel Laureate, sang: “There is something happening here, and you don’t know what it is. Do you, Mr. Jones?”

What is the difference between an ox and a cow? This leads to a vegan concern about what is the difference between a yam and a sweet potato.Would an ox by any other name smell as sweet? Cowabunga! Will no one rid me of this meddlesome election?

…Are you a happy person?

I am not talking about every single moment of every single day. We all have our every day frustrations, such as my current ones—an icemaker that has gone on vacation and a bathroom ceiling that needs repair. I am talking about overall satisfaction with life in the place where we live, North Carolina.

Apparently, most of us are. 

McClatchy, the company that publishes North Carolina’s two largest newspapers, the News and Observer and the Charlotte Observer as well as several smaller papers, recently published an analysis of quality of life in our state, and North Carolina stacks up not perfectly but pretty darn well compared to residents of some other states. McClatchy reporters Anna Douglas and David Raynor used data from various sources to look at large factors that contribute to our ability to land jobs and to get to those jobs. Personal health and safety obviously play into our happiness and satisfaction with life as well.

As I write this, I am also checking email and texts and—truth be told—doing a bit of online shopping. All this, including zapping my column into the good folks at Up & Coming Weekly, requires an internet connection, something I often take for granted. Turns out that most North Carolinians do have internet access at home, about four out of five of us according to U.S. Census figures. This is slightly below the national average but higher than it was after the 2010 Census. The other 21 percent of us do not have internet, however, a significant disadvantage. Sometimes Internet access is unavailable particularly in rural areas, and sometimes people do not subscribe to it, but whatever the reason, lack of internet means people cannot search for job opportunities online, cannot work from home in today’s economy and cannot enroll in online education. They are shut out from the technological world most of us live in and expect.

North Carolina, like states across the nation, is increasingly urban and suburban, which brings advantages and longer commutes to work. But those of us who drive to work in North Carolina have shorter commutes than folks elsewhere across the nation, including our neighbors in Virginia and Georgia. U.S. Census data finds our average commute is 24 minutes, up from 20 years ago, but below the national average of 26 minutes. Still, it is a reason that Tar Heel cities are exploring mass transit options on the theory that traffic congestion will get worse, not better.

We are all enjoying our lovely fall weather with its crisp air and clear blue skies. One reason we love being outside this time of year is that North Carolina has reduced our air pollution of nitrogen oxide by half since the early 2000s. This gas comes largely from motor vehicles emissions, and reduction in its levels is in large part due to the North Carolina Clean Smokestacks Act of 2002. But guard your lung health by keeping an eye on the General Assembly, which has tried to roll back emission standards. Again, mass transit can play a role here.

More good news for North Carolinians.

Both property crime and violent crime are down, the first reduced by about 45 percent since 1995 and the latter down by 46 percent over the same period. If you have been the victim of either kind of crime, these numbers may not speak to you, but they are still good news for most of us. Community policing and advances in forensic technology probably account for some of the decreases. On the flip side, however, drug abuse is on the climb, devastating families in countless ways. North Carolina joins the rest of the nation in this increase, coming in second in the South in drug overdose deaths. Stunningly, more people die in our state from drug overdoses than from vehicle accidents. Clearly, there is work to be done in this area all across our nation.

Whether we are Tar Heels born or got here as soon as we could, North Carolina is not among the fastest growing states in our nation for no reason. Decades ago, state boosters promoted “Variety Vacationland,” stressing our beautiful coast and majestic mountains and the urban centers in between. It has become truer and truer, as we have tried to nurture our natural assets and build newer ones. None of our blessings just happened, though, and we protect them only by paying attention to what our elected officials are up to at every level. 

Whether you are elated or appalled by the outcome of Nov. 8, it is incumbent on each of us to pay attention and to participate in public decision-making. I am thankful to live in North Carolina and want it to get better and better.

No doubt history teacher Lee Francis used poor judgment when he stomped on Old Glory in front of 29 Massey Hill Classical High School students to demonstrate how the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment protects our right to freedom of expression. Not a smart idea. However, we are a forgiving community with a competent school board with many trained, experienced, forward-thinking administrators quite capable of handling such bazaar behavior. For this, we are thankful, though sometimes I feel these dedicated educational leaders go mostly unappreciated. Unfortunately, this situation initially could have been dismissed as “poor judgment” and settled with a simple and humble apology from Mr. Francis. Instead, the incident escalated into a nationwide embarrassment for our community while possibly exposing hidden agendas that can only be described as calculated and self-serving. After all, one of the very first things Francis did was lawyer up and start sounding off to the media. Not necessarily the heartfelt behavior of someone who is repentant or desires to educate and teach children about American history or our inherent First Amendement rights. 

To his credit, Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Frank Till Jr. is recommending to the Board of Education a 10-day suspension without pay. However, Francis says he’s not going back to the classroom, nor does he want to teach in Cumberland County. Oh, well! See ya later, Gator! And, good riddance. Such behavior is not acceptable and cannot be justified under any circumstance. 

Children need to be aware of and taught their constitutional rights. To this, I agree. Matter of fact, if emphasizing and demonstrating free speech and the right to freedom of expression were the major objectives of this class, then all Francis had to do was turn on the TV to Fox News or MSNBC and let the students watch Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump go at each other with their disgraceful and never-ending barrage of accusations and insults. This would demonstrate that the First Amendment protects this kind of behavior. They could witness up close and personal the kind of behavior that is protected by our Constitution. A clever teacher could even mix in a character education lesson with an emphasis on honor, honesty, truthfulness, caring, trustworthiness, fairness, responsibility and, most of all, respect. You remember, the same character traits that are being taught to our children in K – 6 grades. 

My point is this, we have too many Lee Francises in America. Our country needs to get back to teaching and practicing the basics of civility. We need to teach by example. We need to be good role models for our young people. We are the ones responsible for setting the example for future generations. America needs to pay attention because we are losing our morality. This 2016 presidential election has demonstrated effectively that our nation has reached an all-time high in new lows. It is to this that Americans should all “take a knee.” 

Lee Francis, is just an example of where we are now. The bright side of this unfortunate incident is that several students immediately got up and left the room in disgust taking the flag with them – a good sign that there is s

 hope for America. 

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. 

Heroes Homecoming is a celebration of America’s veterans. All of them. It’s how the community honors their sacrifices and bravery and how we say thank you for the freedom earned through their deeds and commitment. In a city that has sent hundreds of thousands of Americans to distant shores to serve and welcomed them home again, anything less would be a disservice to the dedicated men and women who answered their country’s call and carried out the will of the American people around the world. Heroes Homecoming features several events from Oct. 29 - Nov. 11 throughout the community.

This year is the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. While Heroes Homecoming honors all veterans, this year it gives a special nod to the greatest generation. During World War II, more than 16 million Americans answered their country’s call. Now, there are fewer than 800,000 of these veterans among us. Almost 500 World War II veterans die every day. 

“Heroes homecoming has been going on since 2010 when the community first honored the Vietnam veterans. After that, there was a lot of feedback about the need to honor the World War II vets because that generation is getting older. It is time. It is time to honor what these men and women did, and say thank you, because it is that generation that gave us so much. We wanted to do it before it was just too late,” said Angie Brady, Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau director of tourism.

“These events all come out of a result of us wanting to preserve the legacy of this generation. One way to do that is through the live forever campaign. It is an offshoot of Heroes Homecoming,” said Brady. The campaign invited several World War II veteran to tell their stories. The campaign is partnering with Cumberland County Schools to help school age children understand what these vets did. “It is pretty moving. If you share your connection to World War II on social media and tag it with #operationlivesforever, it will populate on the website and by doing their stories, their legacies will continue to live on. You can find out more at www.Operationlivesforever.com.” 

The Heroes Homecoming celebration kicked off on Oct. 29 at Eastover Heritage and Heroes. The Eastover Civic Club honored veterans with exhibits, food, vendors and music. The event combined a celebration of the town’s agricultural heritage along with its patriotism. 

While America’s youth went to war in the 1940s, it meant changes at home, too. Everyone stepped up to fill in the gap. Americans tighten their belts and conserved resources wherever they could so that loved ones overseas would have what they needed. Things like gasoline and sugar were rationed. People who didn’t already do so started growing their own food. They held drives to raise money and to gather supplies to send to America’s soldiers. But they also carried on with their lives. Amidst the tension and concern there was still room for laughter. They took care of their families and friends. They socialized and danced. 
   On Nov. 3, the Arts Council presents A Sentimental Journey. It’s a night of World War II era swing dancing along with a look at what life in America was like during World War II. Capture the spirit of the 1940s with a night of fun-filled music and dance. Take notes as the emcee provides information about how to grow a healthy and fruitful Victory Garden, gives tips about how to stretch your resources (including sugar and butter rations) and offers news updates from the front. 

More than 400,000 American service members died in the war and many more died from causes related to the effort. Worldwide it’s estimated that between 50 and 80 million died from World War II or from war-related disease and famine. And when the unthinkable happened, when the news came that a loved one had fallen, Americans buried their service members and mourned their losses. On Friday, Nov. 4, the Town of Spring Lake and the city of Fayetteville will each hold a candlelight vigil to pay tribute to America’s World War II heroes and veterans.  The Spring Lake Candlelight Tribute starts at 6:30 p.m. and is at Veterans Memorial Park. After the service, take a candlelit walk to the community recreation center for music, light refreshments and World War II exhibits. The Fayetteville Candlelight Vigil also starts at 6:30 p.m. The event starts at the Arts Council where everyone will meet for a walk to the Airborne & Special Operations Museum garden. At the garden, there will be a ceremony complete with speakers and music to honor World War II veterans and their service to our country.

Nov. 5 is a busy day for Heroes Homecoming with the Fayetteville Veterans Day Parade at 10 a.m. followed by Mayor Nat Robertson’s proclamation to World War II veterans at noon. At 1:30 p.m. ASOM hosts a salute to the veterans with Vincent Speranza. It includes a discussion and book signing with the author and World War II vet. The 101st Airborne Division machine gunner at Bastogne shares his experiences and talks about his book.

Hope Mills proclaims Nov. 6 as Greatest Generation Day with a flag displayed at Veterans Memorial Park for each World War II veteran from Hope Mills. Each flag will bear the name of a veteran along with their branch of service. This flag display lasts until Nov. 11. 

On Nov. 11, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, in conjunction with its Nature Connects Art with LEGO Bricks exhibit, hosts Veterans Day at the Garden.  It features a mock LEGO Brick battle scene and an American flag build. The garden is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

At 10 a.m. on Nov. 11, Spring Lake hosts a Veterans Day ceremony from 10 - 11 a.m. at the Town of Spring Lake Veterans Park. At 11 a.m. Eastover is set to dedicate a World War II monument as the Eastover Civic Club unveils the monument, which was made from the same granite as the World War II monument in Washington D.C. It’s at Eastover Community Center. Admission is free. At 3 p.m., Hope Mills honors veterans with a wreath laying ceremony at Hope Mills Recreation Center. Refreshments will be available after the ceremony. Admission is free. At 5 p.m., the ASOM Foundation hosts a POW/MIA ceremony to honor missing Americans and their families. Rolling Thunder North Carolina Chapter 1 will attend and host a Missing Man Table Ceremony. It will be followed by a flag retirement ceremony. Admission is free. 

Cape Fear Regional Theatre hosts military appreciation nights on Nov. 11-13 with discounted ticket prices for military members.  Willian Shakespeare’s Henry Vtells the story of warriors, the brotherhood, the valor, the costs and consequences of war. Performances start at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.cfrt.org or call 323.4233 for information and tickets.

Find out more about these events at www.heroeshomecoming.com.

Karl Merritt wrote a book based on his daddy’s life. It is called From the Rough Side of the Mountain. Karl will be at Sweet Palette on Nov. 15 for a book signing and meet and greet. 

 understand the book and why it matters, it is important to understand a little bit about Karl’s daddy. Karl is the oldest of Milton W. Merritt Sr.’s six children. 

The world Milton grew up in was nothing like today’s world.  Milton’s dad (Karl’s grandfather) was a poor man. He was a sharecropper in rural Georgia where he and his wife and children worked the farm together to make ends meet. When Milton was 12, a man walked into his family’s home and shot his father dead. Milton’s mom was left with seven kids to raise, including Milton. 

Fast forward several decades. Milton had served his country in World War II, he was college educated and he was a husband and a father. He’d been a building contractor, a pastor, a civil rights activist, a teacher and more. He overcame obstacles. He worked hard. He didn’t give up. He counted his blessings and pondered his decisions. Milton lived a full and exciting life, and he loved to share his experiences with others, especially if what he shared could help someone else. That could have been enough. Until it wasn’t. 

“After a speaking engagement in Macon, Ga., several people came up to my dad and said, ‘you cannot carry this to your grave. You need to write it down,’” said Karl. He agreed to help tell his daddy’s story. For more than a decade, Karl recorded conversations with his father. He accumulated more than 20 hours worth of conversations, lessons, insights and memories. By now Milton’s health was failing. Still, Karl had not started on the book.

 Then Karl’s wife asked, “How will you feel if your daddy dies before you write this book?”

She had the tapes transcribed. 

Karl wrote the book. 

  “I went through and took pieces and made that the basis of each chapter,” said Karl. “One of the chapters is about friendship. My dad treasured friendships. I am more of a lover and I didn’t have those same experiences. I didn’t invest in friendships for a long time. I think that is the value of the book. It helps people live life to the fullest by looking at what he did right and never claiming to have done everything right.”

Other chapters in the book include topics like determination to succeed, facing life’s disruptions, the power of example, family experience, making time to assist, genuine concern for others, taking advantage of opportunities and counting the cost of decisions. 

The meet and greet is from 5-7 p.m. Not only is it an opportunity to meet Karl and learn more about From the Rough Side of the Mountain, the Up & Coming Weeklywriting team will be in attendance as well. Come share your opinions, suggestions and story ideas. Karl’s book is also available at City Center Gallery and Books. For more information, call 484-6200.

The Cumberland County Veterans Council is sponsoring the Fayetteville Veterans Day Parade scheduled for Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. in downtown Fayetteville.  The theme of this year’s parade is “Honoring our World War II Veterans – The Greatest Generation.” 

Organizers said there will be more than 100 participants in the parade, including active duty military with military equipment, veterans’ organizations, ROTC units and marching bands from area high schools and universities. The parade is set to begin on Hay Street at the Airborne Special Operations Museum and end at Liberty Point on Person Street.

“The Veterans Council is once again proud to sponsor this event with the City of Fayetteville,” said Mike Gillis, President of the Cumberland County Veterans Council and a retired Chief Warrant Officer. “The Veterans Council wanted to honor the veterans of World War II during this anniversary year.  This generation called ‘the Greatest Generation’ grew up in the great depression, went off to serve their country, and came home to help rebuild a nation into the world’s economic powerhouse.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth “Rock” Merritt will be the Grand Marshal of the parade.  Merritt is a World War II veteran who took part in the combat parachute jump into France on D-Day with the 82nd Airborne Division.  He served for 35 years, with 31 years spent on jump status.  

While Merritt served in many capacities during his military career, he spent much of his time at Fort Bragg in the 82nd Airborne Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps, even twice serving as the Corps Command Sgt. Maj.  He began his military service with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment when it was at Camp Mackall.  During his career, Merritt served several overseas tours including Korea, Vietnam and the Dominican Republic. 

“I’ve marched in many parades, but never been the Grand Marshal of one,” Merritt said. Now 93 years old, Merritt retired from Fort Bragg in 1977 and decided to make Fayetteville his home.

Merritt has received other honors for his military service, including the Silver Star.  After his retirement, Merritt made a point to stay connected to the men and women who continue to serve in uniform, often attending reunions and functions to share his experience and advice.  

“I’ve been retired almost 40 years,” Merritt said. “And I’ve been talking to soldiers at Fort Bragg ever since.”

Merritt, who makes it out to Fort Bragg about twice a week, is not hesitant about picking favorites.

“My favorite soldier’s a squad leader – they have the toughest job in the Army,” Merritt said.  “General Omar Bradley told me to take care of them, even after I retire.”

It is a charge the sergeant major has taken to heart. His service and commitment to young soldiers, especially those serving in the infantry, has not gone unnoticed.  Just last month, Merritt was presented with the Doughboy Award at Fort Benning, Georgia, the home of the U. S. Army infantry.  

The Doughboy is presented each year to an individual in recognition of outstanding contributions to the infantry.  It is presented on behalf of all infantryman past and present.  “Doughboy” is the term coined while soldiers were preparing for World War I along the Rio Grande in Texas.  The troops would become covered in the dusty, white adobe soil.  Mounted troops called these infantrymen “adobes.” The term became “doughboys” over time.  The Doughboy Award is the highest honor the Chief of Infantry can bestow on any Infantryman.

Merritt said he is honored to be asked to serve as Grand Marshal for the Veterans Day Parade in Fayetteville, an event he has enjoyed for years.  “I think it brings the community together,” he said.  “A lot of people look forward to it.”

Parade organizers said Merritt’s connection to the community and his service make him an ideal choice for Grand Marshal duties.  

“We are honored to have Command Sgt. Maj. ‘Rock’ Merritt serve as our Grand Marshal this year,” said Kirk deViere, Chairman of the Fayetteville Veterans Day Parade.  “Command Sgt. Maj. Merritt is the epitome of the ‘Greatest Generation’ - a man that is humble, who never brags about what he had done or been through. He is just a loyal patriot that gave so much for our country.”

 For those unable to attend the parade downtown, WRAL-TV will cover the parade live again this year.

“This is one of the state’s finest parades and is dedicated to the generations of military men and women who have served us all so valiantly,” said WRAL-TV Vice President and General Manager Steven Hammel. “We are extremely honored to be a part of it.”

The Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch inspires, educates, empowers and celebrates the lionesses in our community by bringing women together in a quarterly forum filled with opportunities to network, learn and shop all under one roof. At the November event, FLPL welcomes Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, president and CEO of Envision Consulting, LLC and the national vice president of The Links, Incorporated, as the keynote speaker.

A graduate of Fayetteville State University with a degree in Psychology, Dr. Leonard continued her education at North Carolina Central University and Howard University, with a master’s degree in science and a Ph.D. in Psychology, respectively. Her career covers working as a senior research scientist at MayaTech Corporation where she conducted and presented research involving the substance abuse treatment of African-American adolescents followed by a brief period at the District of Columbia Department of Health with the Addiction Recovery Prevention Administration. Leonard then served as the Chief Operating Officer at the District of Columbia Department of Health, later moving to Envision Consulting, LLC where she currently serves as the president and CEO. 

Serving as the national vice president of The Links, Incorporated, Leonard commits to giving back to her community in the areas of services to youth, the arts, national trends and services, and health and human services, benefitting African-Americans and people of African ancestry.  Founded in 1946, The Links, Incorporated, a non-profit, international organization, has chapters in 42 states with more than 13,000 members.

Before and after the keynote speech, Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch attendees have many opportunities to get a head start on their shopping lists with the Shopportunity Expo. Vendors, representing small and medium-sized businesses, bring an array of goods and services to the Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch. To date, vendors include representatives from 6 Figure Girl Boss, Avon, Design By Training, LLC, Isagenix, Jamberry, Lilla Rose, LuLaRoe, Mary Kay, McKee Homes, McTails, Park Lane Jewelry, Perfectly Posh, Pure Romance, Ramada Plaza, Renaissance Spa, Rodan + Fields Dermatology, Small Frye Photography, Stella and Dot, Style Dots, Terry’s Originals, Thirty-One, Usborne Books & More, Victoria’s Esthetics and Ways to Wellness.

The Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch offers Platinum, Gold, Silver and Hostess Table sponsorship packages. The sponsors for November are Biz Card Express of Fayetteville; The UPS Store in Westwood; Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop; Omni Plaza Movies, Games, and Golf; and Carolina Selfie Stand. The power lunch organizers appreciate the support from these businesses and welcome more companies to recognize the women who make a difference in the community.

Support of the Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch, now in its sixth year, benefits the children and youth of Cumberland County schools. The Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation receives a portion of the proceeds. Kidsville News! is a monthly newspaper distributed at no charge to schools to support literacy in grades K -6. 

Find out more about the Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch at http://www.fayettevilleladiespowerlunch.com/index.html

There is a play being set upon a stage, and on those planks, there is a fire that glows hot and unyielding.  The play is Henry V and it is the final show for Cape Fear Regional Theatre Artistic Director Tom Quaintance who is moving on to the position of artistic director at the Virginia Stage Company.  The show, directed by Quaintance, delivers a lesson that is in many ways recognizable in this community - no matter how much we might say we do not understand the words and stories that were penned and delivered with such stylistic flair by William Shakespeare.

The story of war, leadership, love and brotherhood that is so prevalent and understood in our military community can be visualized and appreciated in this production. Montgomery Sutton, who plays Henry, rallies and rouses not only his army on stage, but also his army of an audience.  

On opening night, Sutton delivered the lines of the great Henry with an ease and attitude that bring to mind many great leaders; for that is what Henry was, a fierce leader.  He led by example.  He physically situated himself amongst his troops, as opposed to the French army he was fighting against whose leaders were shouting out commands from the front lines with the soldiers behind them.  Great battles have been led not by leaders who charge by the front, but by leaders who are willing to get their hands dirty and fight side by side with their brothers.  Sutton shows us this side of Henry with bombastic servitude that shakes the stage to its foundations.  

The following lines from the play were given by Sutton in almost religious fervor: “That he which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart; his passport shall be made and crowns for convoy put into his purse.  We would not die in that man’s company that fears his fellowship to die with us.”  When delivered with such passion, can there be a more inspirational war-cry than this? 

 Now also bring in the hair-raising performances of the ensemble cast that marches and fights with Henry in this show and you are set to see the battle of ages on the stage.

There were actors playing multiple characters with great style and ease. Local actors Michael Carney, John Doerner, Denver McCullough and Robyne Parrish did outstanding work. Actor Josh Innerst filled the house with moments of intensity. Jeremy Fiebig plays the narrator who is adeptly named “Chorus.” Fiebig played well by setting up certain scenes that would settle better in our minds and stomachs with his eloquant delivery of the plays verses.  

Wallis Quaintance played the queen, Katharine, beautifully.  Striking the stage with startling presence and delivering her lines in her exquisite French, we come to understand her relationship with Henry.  There are comedic twists at many moments in this play that Shakespeare has planted, and they bloom largely when delivered well in this cast.

Quaintance stretched the set on the stage all the way to the very back-wall of the theatre.  Seasoned theatre-goers to CFRT will appreciate the ingenious work of the artistic staff.  The icing on the cake is the fact that there are seats on the stage for audience attendees to sit in for this production... talk about being intimate with the actors.  

Get ready to dig your heels into the floor like the hounds that are leashed in at the heels of Henry.  Quaintance asks us to listen like in prayer and to judge this play.  It only then seems fitting to leave the readers with the most rousing and spiritual words in the play the war-like Henry gives us.  I know these words have been used in a motivational speech or two by great leaders, as we see, Henry was giving his troops the intestinal fortitude that is far greater than the meek will ever know. “ From this day to the ending of the world, but we in it shall be remember’d; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he today that shed his blood with me shall be my brother.” 

 Henry Vplays until Nov. 13 at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre.  It is truly the inspirational show this season that will motivate you to keep coming back to find the strength to carry on in all the daily wars we wage.

Fayetteville City Council has taken the first of many steps to build a multi-million-dollar minor league baseball stadium in downtown Fayetteville. It’ll take a year-and-a-half, and it will be much more than a ballpark. The venue is officially described as a multi-use outdoor sports stadium/entertainment facility designed for baseball, soccer and perhaps even football, as well as outdoor concerts and festivals. Its presence behind the former Prince Charles Hotel off Hay Street is expected to be a catalyst for millions of dollars of economic development projects. Renovation of the old hotel will include 60 apartments, a luxury penthouse, a ground floor restaurant and retail spaces.

City Council agreed to hire a pair of architectural firms. One of them is a well-known local group, Slf+a. The other is Populous, which has designed athletic stadiums, arenas and convention centers around the world. In its solicitation of architects for the project, the city said it is interested in “negotiating a master development agreement that will leverage public investments in amenities and infrastructure to induce private sector investment in downtown.” Council appropriated up to $3 million for the undertaking. It sets out five core elements: the stadium itself; private re-development of the former Prince Charles Hotel into a mixed-use building, a ground level apartment and retail building; private development of a new hotel to be integrated with the venue providing public parking to be owned by the city; and a private partnership to provide public open space for a park or square on the Hay Street side of the stadium. 

In its proposal, the City of Fayetteville states that a market study concluded the project development should attract as many as 300,000 visitors per year. The budget anticipates $33 million in hard costs for venue construction. It must be constructed to facilitate diverse year-round use for purposes to be defined during the conceptual design process. 

The architectural proposal gives a hint, on paper at least, what the ballpark will look like. First and foremost, it must meet minor league baseball standards and include fixed seating, outfield berm seating and other general admission areas to comfortably accommodate approximately 4,500 fans. A limited number of luxury and club suites will include all finishes, furniture, fixtures and equipment. Concession facilities will include specialty cooking and vending areas, general commissary and point-of-sale vending locations. 

Also outlined are team facilities including locker rooms, training areas, a “green room” or secondary locker room area for other types of events as well as team store(s), merchandising, concessions and box office facilities. Press access includes facilities for print media, radio and television broadcasts as well as in-house public address and audio/visual equipment. Scoreboard and video board design including facilities for video production are to be provided.  Construction is expected to begin in July with completion anticipated by January 2019. 

Residents of the Rayconda neighborhood in West Fayetteville have not gotten along particularly well with the City of Fayetteville since their annexation by the city 10 years ago. Like other suburban residents on the west side, the so-called big bang annexation became a bone of contention. But now, residents are beginning to appreciate the city services they receive. When the neighborhood was subdivided, county government standards allowed a single roadway, Siple Avenue,  in and out of the community. Siple Avenue crosses an earthen dam that splits Keith lake into two sections. The dam was heavily damaged last month when a utility culvert beneath the street ruptured during Hurricane Matthew.  The road was closed because of the damage beneath it. The city had assumed responsibility for the street, but as is often the case with dams, it belongs to and is therefore the responsibility of the homeowners association. For three weeks, residents were cut off from the rest of the city. “This is a mess,” said Freddy Rivera, president of the homeowners association. 

The city and its contractor worked seven days a week to make repairs to Siple Avenue, which reopened for all traffic on Oct. 28., two weeks ahead of schedule.  But for the lake to be fully impounded, the levee must be replaced by a more structurally sound dam, which isn’t likely to occur anytime soon, if at all. A new road at a different location is the only permanent solution to the problem facing the more than 230 residents of Rayconda.  

That’s something the city became aware of sometime ago. Design work on the new street into the neighborhood was all but complete when the city had to turn its attention to Siple Avenue following the hurricane. With repairs finished there, work has resumed on development of a 1,000-foot city street at the other end of the neighborhood. It will connect Rayconda directly to Raeford Road at the traffic light near the VA Healthcare Center. It will link up to Pinewood Terrace, said City Engineering and Infrastructure Director Rob Stone. But land clearing and construction could easily take a year or so, said Stone. For now, Siple Avenue will continue to be Rayconda’s life-line to the rest of the community.

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has ordered the Pentagon to stop the National Guard Bureau from aggressively collecting enlistment bonuses paid to thousands of Guardsmen in California, even as the Pentagon says the number of soldiers affected was smaller than first believed. The White House said President Obama has warned the Defense Department not to “nickel and dime” service members who were victims of fraud by overzealous recruiters.   

  The Los Angeles Timesfirst reported that the Pentagon had demanded that some soldiers repay their enlistment bonuses after audits revealed overpayments by the California National Guard. Recruiters under pressure to fill ranks and hit enlistment goals at the height of the two wars improperly offered bonuses of $15,000 or more to soldiers who re-enlisted, the newspaper reported. That number is lower than a widely reported figure of nearly 10,000 soldiers who were told to pay back their bonuses. The Pentagon now says it told at most 6,500 California Guard soldiers to repay the bonuses. 

Defense Department spokesman Maj. Jamie Davis said an audit more than five years in the making concluded last month that 1,100 soldiers improperly received bonuses for which they were ineligible. Another 5,400 soldiers had erroneous paperwork that could have made them ineligible. The California Guard said it has collected about $22 million from fewer than 2,000 soldiers who improperly received bonuses and student loan aid. A defense authorization bill passed by the House would establish a statute of limitations on the military’s ability to recover future overpayments and scrutinize existing cases of service member debt. House and Senate negotiators are trying to finalize the defense bill and pass it during the post-election, lame-duck session. 

The California National Guard told the state’s congressional delegation two years ago that the Pentagon was trying to take back enlistment bonuses from thousands of soldiers. But Congress took no action then, said a senior National Guard official. The official added that what may have been ill-advised bonuses had been paid to National Guard members in every state. Attention was focused on California because it was “the only state that audited” bonus payments at the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he added. The Pentagon acknowledged that the problem likely extends beyond California. So far no instances have surfaced in North Carolina. 

Many of the veterans were enticed to enlist with bonuses topping $10,000, and later served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. “These bonuses were used to keep people in,” said Christopher Van Meter, a 42-year-old former Army captain and Iraq veteran from Manteca, Calif., who says he had to refinance his home mortgage to repay $25,000 in reenlistment bonuses and $21,000 in student loan repayments that the Army says he should not have received. “People like me just got screwed.” The likelihood that hundreds of soldiers must repay large bonuses which were paid years ago when the Pentagon relied heavily on the Guard to supply troops for two wars may increase pressure on Congress to act. 

Fayetteville City Council continues efforts to revise its Community Development Annual Action Plan to devote nearly a million dollars to Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts. Council unanimously agreed to reallocate $900,000 budgeted for neighborhood improvement projects to individual owner/occupied housing grants. Other funds would be devoted to assist tenants of rental properties. The money would be used to supplement expenses not covered by private insurance or FEMA, said Victor Sharp, Fayetteville Community Development Director. Sharpe told the council that federal Housing and Urban Development guidelines must be followed, but that some requirements can be waived to speed up the assistance project. Sharp said 90 $10,000 grants could be made available to residents on a first come, first served basis.

 

 

Recovery Housing Available

The City of Fayetteville’s Community Development Department has a list of affordable rental properties available to families displaced by Hurricane Matthew. Persons needing short-term housing options should call Adolph Thomas at 433-1935 or email him at athomas@ci.fay.nc.us for the current list. Property management agencies that would like to be added to the list may go to Fayettevillenc.gov. Click on Government, City Departments and then Community Development. Once there, click on the Hurricane Matthew link. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disaster Relief Grants

The Cumberland Community Foundation is matching the first $100,000 in gifts for Hurricane Matthew relief and recovery. That money is being made available by the Foundation and the William R. Kenan Charitable Trust. The 15 members of the Fayetteville New Car Dealers Association wasted no time making a major contribution. “They’ve given $30,000 to help local people recover from the hurricane,” said Foundation Executive Director Mary Holmes. “I’m glad we’re able to do it,” added Eason Bryan, president of the car dealers group. Other sizeable contributions were received subsequently, taking the challenge well over the top. One hundred percent of the money raised will go to local nonprofit organizations in support of Hurricane Matthew victims, said Holmes. The disbursements will be coordinated by the Cumberland Disaster Recovery Coalition.

 

 

 

 

Salute to Veterans

Fayetteville’s Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation will host the eighth annual Salute to Veterans on Saturday, Nov. 5, through Monday, Nov. 14 at the museum. The public can purchase flags for $5 in honor or in memory of a veteran by calling the museum at 643-2778 or visiting the website at www.asomf.org. Flags can also be purchased in the museum’s gift shop. Each flag will be placed on the museum grounds. “This is a wonderful way to show your support and gratitude to those who have served and those who are serving now,” said Paul Galloway, Executive Director of the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation. “We hope to have more than 1,000 flags on display, showing the true patriotism of all citizens of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and beyond,” added Galloway. An Opening Ceremony for the Salute to Veterans will be held Nov. 5, at 1:30 p.m. at the museum. Guest speaker will be World War II veteran Vincent Speranza. Immediately following the ceremony will be a book signing with Speranza, author of Nuts! A 101st Airborne Division Machine Gunner at Bastogne. This is Vince’s life story including his participation in the Battle of the Bulge. Books are available in the museum’s Gift Shop. The ceremony is free and open to the public. 

 

Fayetteville Outer Loop Improvements

Fulcher Electric of Fayetteville will install dynamic message signs and traffic cameras along Fayetteville’s Outer Loop (N.C. 295) from the All-American Expressway interchange to Interstate 95, thanks to a $1.5 million contract awarded by the Department of Transportation. The route will eventually be designated I-295. Work can begin as early as Oct. 31 and will be complete by Aug. 1, 2017. This was one of six road and bridge projects recently awarded by the N.C. Department of Transportation. The contracts were awarded to the lowest qualified bidders, as required by state law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solid Waste Manager Named

Cumberland County Manager Amy Cannon has hired Jerod A. Roberts as Cumberland County’s new Solid Waste Management Director. Roberts had been Superintendent of Waste Collections for the City of Virginia Beach, Va., since December 2013. Roberts begins work in Cumberland County on Nov. 28. A native of Portsmouth, Va., Roberts spent four years in the Marine Corps. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Strayer University in Chesapeake, Va. “We are very pleased that Mr. Roberts will be joining our Leadership Team and look forward to working with him as he guides our Solid Waste Management Department,” Cannon said. Roberts was hired following as assessment conducted by Developmental Associates. He succeeds Bobby Howard who retired in December of last year. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are in the throes of a painful 2016 presidential election. This is an election where Americans must be careful and give detailed thought to how we should individually respond in this situation. My wife and I recently spent a weekend visiting with a 2-year-old and her mother. The father, the mother’s husband, was not with us due to his work schedule. As I watched this little girl move about in freedom, filled with excitement and expectation, I was saddened to realize she might not get to grow up in the great America that I have experienced. This election could result in a country that my generation would not recognize and over which we would despair and even cry.

That possibility exists because our choice for president is between two people who offer very different courses into the future. They are Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Our choosing one over the other is complicated and is challenged by questionable comments and alleged unacceptable actions by these candidates. In the haze of this situation, it is very difficult to slow down, examine the facts and thoughtfully decide how to vote or even if one will vote.

Recently, an audio tape was released in which Donald Trump, some eleven years ago, made comments about being able to grope and otherwise inappropriately touch women. This being possible, he indicated, because of his status in the world of business and entertainment. He also recounted his efforts to seduce a married woman. Let the record be clear, I find his comments far beyond the pale and reflecting an attitude that is disgusting. A few days later, several women came forward accusing Trump of unwelcomed touching and kissing, one from 30 years ago. The question is do we choose the Hillary course based solely on Trump’s totally unacceptable comments and alleged actions toward some women. I contend if that 2-year-old could look into the future and see the calamity that such a choice on our part would bring, she would cry out, “Please, do not put my future and that of others like me in the hands of Hillary Clinton.”

What follows are a few of the considerations that cause me to conclude Hillary Clinton is by far the wrong choice for president. Start with Supreme Court appointments. There is one vacancy now, and given the advanced ages of some justices, more vacancies are likely over the next four years. In an article titled “Hillary Clinton Has a Vision for the Supreme Court, and It Looks like Sonia Sotomayor,” Cristian Farias writes that when asked during the Oct. 9 debate how she would go about selecting justices, Clinton said, “‘I want to appoint Supreme Court justices who understand the way the world really works, who have real-life experience, who have not just been in a big law firm and maybe clerked for a judge and then gotten on the bench, but maybe they tried more cases’” I read this statement to mean Hillary Clinton wants justices who will legislate from the bench. I watched the second presidential debate and in talking about these appointments, not one time did she mention upholding the Constitution. On the other hand, Trump’s response addressed upholding the Constitution.

Clinton makes attractive promises regarding free college, government investment in infrastructure that will produce jobs, along with a myriad of other government spending programs. She proposes to pay for this additional spending by increasing taxes on the wealthy. As does Barack Obama, she argues that the wealthy must pay their “fair share.” The question Obama and Clinton never answer is what is a fair share for the wealthy? The Summary of the Latest Federal Income Tax Data, 2015 Update says:

“In 2013, the bottom 50 percent of taxpayers (those with AGIs below $36,841) earned 11.49 percent of total AGI. This group of taxpayers paid approximately $34 billion in taxes, or 2.78 percent of all income taxes in 2013.

”In contrast, the top 1 percent of all taxpayers (taxpayers with AGIs of $428,713 and above), earned 19.04 percent of all AGI in 2013, but paid 37.80 percent of all federal income taxes.”

Is widening the spread above fair or even productive? The national debt is approaching 20 trillion dollars and Clinton wants to spend more. Trump proposes reducing taxes. This approach has a record of stimulating economic growth. 

Then there is the matter of religion in America. In an article titled “Hillary Clinton Is a Threat to Religious Liberty,” Marc A. Thiessen writes:

“In a speech not long before she launched her 2016 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton made a stunning declaration of war on religious Americans. Speaking to the 2015 Women in the World Summit, Clinton declared that ‘deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed.’” 

Couple this with emails among various Clinton staff persons where they disparage Catholics and Evangelicals and a picture of war against religion is clear. The emails were released by WikiLeaks along with thousands of others that reflect badly on Hillary Clinton. 

An article by Pamela Engel titled “Leaked Emails Show State Department Gave Special Attention to Bill Clinton’s Friends after Haiti Earthquake” adds another item for thought. The article’s title states a conclusion. Engel supports that conclusion by quoting from various emails, especially those of Caitlin Klevorick, who was one of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s senior aides.

In one email, Klevorick wrote, ‘“Need you to flag when people are friends of WJC,” referring to William Jefferson Clinton. “Most I can probably ID but not all.” 

She wrote in another email: ‘Is this a FOB [Friend of Bill]! If not, she should go to cidi.org,” “referring to a general government website.” 

The person was emailing to offer medical supplies in the wake of the earthquake.

Beyond special attention to some people is Clinton’s use of a private server at her home instead of using the State Department’s email system as required by Department rules and with all the associated security risks. Emails were destroyed after a Congressional subpoena had been issued for those emails. Then she changed her message to fit the audience, saying one thing before wealthy donors and something different to other groups. 

These negative revelations continue to flow from WikiLeaks and other sources. There were reports on Oct. 17 of another disturbing incident. Budhaditya Bhattacharjee writes following in an article titled “Patrick Kennedy ‘Quid Pro Quo’: Facts to Know.”

“Documents released on Monday show that the State Department official tried to make the FBI back down on classifying the contents of an email from Hillary Clinton’s private email server. He offered a ‘quid pro quo’ to the FBI while trying to get the Bureau to shift a single classified email to “unclassified.” However, the FBI claimed that it refused the request.” 

There is disagreement regarding who between State and the FBI proposed the quid pro quo. No matter who proposed it, this is not reassuring behavior. 

An article by Right Rally News titled “Hillary Clinton Favors ‘Open Trade and Open Borders’” quotes Clinton as saying the following in a speech for which the transcript was released by WikiLeaks. The speech was given Brazilian bank in 2013.

“‘My dream is a hemispheric common market, with open trade and open borders, some time in the future with energy that is as green and sustainable as we can get it, powering growth and opportunity for every person in the hemisphere.”’

She dreams of an America with no borders and trade that flows freely. Donald Trump says, “A nation without borders is not a nation.” This is a point on which the difference between these two candidates could not be clearer.

What I have presented is miniscule when compared with the totality of negatives regarding Hillary Clinton. What is equally dangerous is that the vast majority of media outlets give little attention to Clinton’s negatives while religiously focusing on every possible negative of Donald Trump. We must be careful, America…think, then vote. While thinking, remember that 2-year-old and the millions of others like her.

Driving on an interstate recently, I tuned into to Terry Gross’ excellent interview show on National Public
Radio. Her guest, a national journalist with a conservative bent, had offended a nebulous group with white nationalist leanings called the “alt right.” The next thing he knew, his Twitter account exploded with racist, sexist and personally threatening tweets, including depictions of his wife and 7-year-old daughter in pornographic scenes. The journalist said he worked with law enforcement authorities to protect himself and his family and bemoaned the reality that the ugly undersides of Twitter and other social media are now part of our international fabric. 

While the journalist and his family endured their ordeal, all of us have been living through the worst election year in recent memory. We have all heard Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump insult women generally and specifically, minorities and anyone who dares criticize him in any way. No lesser institution than the New York Timesrecently published a two-page spread of Trump’s 282 insults of people, places, and things. We know his feelings about Hillary Clinton and Rosie O’Donnell, but Trump also has negative opinions of major league baseball — “so ridiculous,” other Republican candidates — “mere puppets,” Amazon — “a no profit company,” the State of the Union address — “very hard to watch,” and T-Mobile — “I think the service is terrible.”

I know no one in Trump’s league when it comes to insulting tweets or insults in general, but he is not alone in spewing ugliness.

Hillary Clinton labeled half of Trump’s supporters “deplorables,” and talking heads of all political persuasions are slinging mud of their own.

Saturday Night Live and a raft of other comedic shows skewer widely and not always kindly, but at least we get a chuckle. 

My question is when did all of this become OK? When did it become acceptable to call other people names, to demean someone’s physical appearance, intelligence and character? How did we become desensitized to personal insults? How did we come to embrace and enjoy them?

Clearly, I am not the only person put off by political incivility. A quick Google search brings up a plethora articles on the topic as well as scholarly research on the topic. These include an article in Commentary magazine entitled “Politics of Incivility: Where Discourtesy Meets Democracy in Modern American Life,” a Huffington Post piece asking “Is There an Incivility Ceiling for Women?”—apparently, we tolerate rude behavior a lot less than men do, and research from the University of Arizona’s National Institute for Civil Discourse (who knew that existed?) and KRC Research, both looking at how much of this vicious incivility we are willing to take.

Truth be told, American politics has always been rough and tumble, to put it politely. George Washington seems to have been most everyone’s choice as our first president, but by his second term political parties were taking hold. Along with partisan politics came rough campaigning, including allegations of sexual misconduct going all the way back to our Founding Fathers. Think Thomas Jefferson.

It seems to me that the difference between then and now is not the ugliness of the incivility, but that it is with us 24/7. It took weeks and longer for political news and campaign rhetoric to travel to the hinterlands, and some voters — all white, landowning men in our early years — probably did not get a full dose of messaging until after the election was over. Some may not have known there was an election.

Contrast that with our Election 2016 experience. 

As I write this column, CNN plays on a television in my office. I have seen Donald Trump snarling from Ohio, and Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama hugging in Winston Salem. An endless stream of talking heads has weighed in on what we viewers should think about all this, both pro and con, and prognosticating about the rapidly approaching outcome. I flick through channels, and every channel that covers “news” is full of campaigning, even though most people in our country and around the world are going about our lives totally outside campaigning. In short, for early Americans — whatever their politics — campaigning was not in their faces all day, every day. Incivility might have reigned, but without television, radio, internet, social media and the U.S. Postal Service, they did not have their noses rubbed in it.

I am no Pollyanna about any of this, having been around the political block a few times myself. On one of those trips, I was even portrayed as a hooker, though if that had been my chosen profession, I should have started decades earlier. I suspect the Twitter-afflicted journalist feels the same way.

That said, I have thought of one of my mother’s favorite sayings most” days of 2016. “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”