J. Bayard Clark Park and Nature Center, or as it is more commonly known Clark Park, is a true gem. Located at 631 Sherman Drive, the park is the second largest regional park in the city. It provides residents with beautiful natural woodlands. The three trails in the park showcase local animals, the Cape Fear River and all of the native woodland plants. The park also provides a safe haven for local wildlife and helps to preserve the environment. Park rangers educate residents about trails and all of the beautiful things that can be seen beside them. The park amenities include a picnic area with eight tables and a parking lot near the beginning of the five-mile Cape Fear River Trail, which is a perfect for the beginning of a walk, run or ride. To make things even easier, the trail is paved. Clark Park also offers opportunities for learning through the events hosted at the park. Typical events include activities such as nature fairs, basic astronomy and animal print tracking just to name a few. This year’s events include the Fairy and Action Figure Fort Fest.  This is a three-day introduction to miniature gardens. These small gardens are increasingly popular and can be used as “forts” or homes for equally small dolls, depicting magical creatures like trolls, fairies, animals or action figures. The goal of this three-day event is to help groups or individuals learn about and then construct their own miniature gardens.

Day one is Thursday, Aug. 25. from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Park rangers lead  workshops about what goes in to making a successful miniature fort or garden. Friday, Aug. 26, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. is dedicated to building these forts or gardens. The third and final day, Aug. 27 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. is a public viewing of all the gardens.  

While fairy gardens are popular, they are definitely not a new concept. Their debut in the U.S. can be traced to the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair where the bonsai dish gardens at the Japanese Pavilion enthralled the American public. The exhibit was such a hit that The New York Timesfeatured them in an article, according to www.fairygardening.com. “The practice of Fairy Gardening® has been around for more than 100 years and today, many of the fairy gardeners we meet throughout the country are thrilled to tell us how the tradition has been passed down from one generation to the next,” the website notes. 

One of the things that makes miniature gardening so much fun is that the builder’s imagination is the only thing limiting the creation and design of the garden. Because they are small, these gardens work well in small spaces. They can be used indoors or outside.  

Workshops and building days are hosted in the shade of the forest on Clark Park trails. Guests who come on Aug. 27 get to vote on the best forts. Registration is required for groups and individuals. To register, call 433.1579.

 My students are my everything.  I spent the entire summer wondering if they are eating well, reading and having fun. It is not an easy task for some students to obtain school supplies for the upcoming school year and that is why the Register of Deeds Office is having its annual backpack school supply drive for Cumberland County’s homeless students. 

 The idea started when one of the senior staff members at the Register of Deeds Office expressed her concern that she was at church and a Fayetteville police officer had done a presentation about homeless students in the Cumberland County School System and the need they had for school supplies.   It really bothered her and she wanted to help with that need. A staff meeting was held and all of the staff members agreed that they wanted to help. This was the beginning of a wonderful sentiment that has turned into an annual event. 

 “This is our ninth or 10th year that we have collected school supplies for backpacks for Cumberland County’s homeless students,” said Lee Warren, registrar of deeds for Cumberland County. “We have an awful lot of good folks in our community that whenever there is a need, they step up to the plate and help fill the need.” 

Warren added that they try to think of what a child will possibly need to ensure that they will be a success in school and start school with all of the same supplies that any other child will have.  

 The items needed include pencils, notebook paper, pens, binders, glue sticks, scissors, hand sanitizer, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toothbrush holders, notebooks, rulers, folders, composition books, pencil sharpeners, erasers and crayons.    

 The goal this year is to collect items for 600 backpacks for students.  “For many years there were 800 homeless students and now there are 600,” said Warren. “What we would like to do is work ourselves out of a job and not have any homeless students next year.” Warren added that they are preparing 800 bags because in addition to preparing 600 bags for Cumberland County’s homeless students, they are preparing 200 bags for other agencies.  

 School supplies, cash donations and gift cards can be dropped off at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Room 114 throughout the month of August.  

 “I anticipate that we will do the school supply drive again next year,” said Warren. “This is something that really touched our hearts and we have done every year since.”  

 For more information call 678-7775.  

Governor Pat McCrory and a host of local, state and federal officials cut the ribbon on a six-and-a-half-mile section of Fayetteville’s Outer Loop last week. The $146 million project extends the future I-295 from Ramsey Street to Bragg Boulevard, providing Fort Bragg with direct access to I-95, something the Army has wanted for decades. 

“This is a game changer,” said City Councilwoman Kathy Jensen. 

The project has been on the drawing board since the 1980s, but was given unprecedented acceleration in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks. The first phase from I-95 to Ramsey Street opened in 2005. The section still under construction will extend from Bragg Boulevard to the All American Freeway, and completion is expected by the end of the year. Then the next section of the Outer Loop will span three miles from the All American Freeway to Cliffdale Road. The N.C. Department of Transportation awarded an $85.2 million contract for this project in June. It will be completed by 2021. 

“This is one of the many sections of the Fayetteville Outer Loop we are completing to meet growing transportation, military and logistics demands,” said N.C. Secretary of Transportation Nick Tennyson of the section just opened.

Construction of Interstate 295 from US 401 to the All-American Freeway was actually scheduled to begin in late 2008, and be completed by 2012, according to the NC DOT. But this project was put on hold in November 2008 because of the recession and the severe shortage of money for highway construction in North Carolina. The delays continued through 2011. Instead of this segment being undertaken as one contract, DOT split the work into three smaller contracts. It began in 2009 on the section from Bragg Boulevard to Murchison Road, using federal stimulus money. The section was completed in 2014. Meanwhile, in March 2011 a contract to construct the portion of the loop between US 401 and Murchison Road was awarded but did not include final paving. Three years later the contract for paving was issued. This is the six-mile segment that opened this month. 

Gov. McCrory last year encouraged the legislature to accelerate construction of the Outer Loop even faster. It and other local road projects were included in the 2015 state budget. The North Carolina Board of Transportation approved them in January 2016. 

“The reforms I signed into law will get these roads built sooner,”  said McCrory. 

The section extending the loop from Camden Road to Interstate 95 South of Fayetteville will see construction accelerated from 2021 to 2020. The remainder of the 39-mile future I-295 is funded through the state’s new transportation funding formula, which Gov. McCrory championed to take the politics out of transportation planning. Under the formula, more than $400 million is targeted to complete the entire loop by 2025. 

A natural gas explosion can be devastating. A single gas leak has leveled city blocks. Recently, a house in the King’s Grant community exploded because of a gas leak, badly injuring the homeowner. “Causes of such instances cannot always be detected,” said Fayetteville Fire Marshall Michael Martin. “Natural gas is a safe, reliable and affordable energy choice, but it should be handled properly and with care,” according to Piedmont Natural Gas. The company says it’s important to be educated about the properties of natural gas and of the potential hazards if natural gas is released through damaged or leaking pipelines.

Carbon monoxide gas is deadly when inhaled. CO monitors are almost as common as smoke alarms in homes. But, rarely do we hear about alarms that protect against combustible gases. Natural gas and propane gas have pungent odors. The best detector, Martin says, is your nose. “If you smell gas, get out right away.” Natural gas is not toxic to humans but it will displace oxygen. This means that a natural gas leak in a confined space could significantly reduce the amount of oxygen in the air and create a dangerous environment. Explosions or fires from leaking propane or methane gas can be prevented. Several companies manufacture home monitors. Safe Home ™ natural gas alarms can be purchased at home improvement stores and online. For homes that use natural gas for heating and cooking, the company recommends mounting monitors above appliances within six inches of the ceiling or on the ceiling 12 inches from a wall. That’s because natural gas is lighter than air and rises. Propane is heavier than air so propane alarms should be mounted 4 to 20 inches off the floor near appliances. Combustible gas alarms sound when the concentration of gas is less than 25 percent of the lower explosive limit. Safety Siren Pro 3 gas alarms plug directly into outlets. Safe-T-Alert, in 120VAC and 230VAC models, have a line cord for correct placement without a nearby outlet.

Piedmont Natural Gas recommends the following when someone smells natural gas: After leaving the area, call 911 and Piedmont Natural Gas at 1-800-752-7504 from a neighbor’s house or from a location far from the smell of the gas. Do not use anything electrical that may create a spark; this includes cell phones. Do not operate any light switches or strike a match or cigarette lighter. Do not attempt to locate and stop a leak. Do not return to the area until the fire department has declared it safe.

Gas fired appliances, including fireplace gas logs, have pilot lights. “They should have blue flames that are yellow near the tip,” Fire Marshall Martin said. If the pilot light in your gas appliance or heater shows a lot of yellow, orange, red, purple or green color, this indicates inefficient combustion and the presence of potentially hazardous chemicals. A yellow or orange pilot light will produce carbon monoxide — an odorless, colorless gas that can fill your home and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. 

The new owners of Fayetteville’s Prince Charles Hotel have suffered numerous setbacks in getting renovations underway. One of the obstacles was the lack of money to do the job. Urban developers with sterling reputations and decades of commercial construction experience across North Carolina could not get a bank to finance their plan to refurbish and reopen the rundown building. Investors in what is now Prince Charles Holdings Development, LLC, approached 10 North Carolina banks for loans and were turned down by all of them, according to PCH Development Manager Jordan Jones. Why? “… because it was a downtown Fayetteville project,” he said. “The banks haven’t gotten beyond the city’s Fayettenam reputation,” Jones added. He and Michael Lemanski, both of Durham, are overseeing a $15 million restoration of the nearly century-old Hay Street landmark. “I’m excited about the opportunity to bring one of Fayetteville’s iconic buildings back to life and contribute to the revitalization process already underway in downtown Fayetteville,” lead investor Michael Cohen said in a statement when he acquired the property last year.

The investment group bought the hotel at auction for $200,000. The adjoining 2.5-acre property was another $2 million. After being turned down by the banks, Prince Charles Holdings began exploring non-traditional financing and is confident about the prospects of a $9 million urban mixed-use loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to Jones. Ironically, his great grandfather’s company, J.A. Jones Construction Company, built the hotel, which opened in 1923. Most of the rest of the construction costs will be offset by federal and state historic tax credits, some of which were only recently restored by the state legislature at the urging of Governor Pat McCrory. “We see a lot of potential in the future of downtown Fayetteville,” said Jones.

Lemanski’s firm, Greenfire Development, has managed more than $300 million of investment in distressed properties in downtown Durham. There’s a lot of work to be done on the Prince Charles. The interior of the eight-story building will be entirely overhauled and rebuilt, resulting in 62 one-and two-bedroom apartments Jones told Up & Coming Weekly. They will rent from $800 to $1,200 a month. The former eighth floor ballroom will be transformed into a three-bedroom, three full-bath penthouse. It will contain 3,300 square feet with 14’ ceilings and historic hardwood floors. The tenant will have exclusive access to the terrace, which overlooks Hay Street. “This unit has the potential to be the most exclusive residential unit in downtown Fayetteville,” Jones declared. It will rent for $3,300 a month.

$2 million alone will be spent on the building’s façade, according to Jones, including $800,000 to refurbish the windows. They cannot be replaced because the building is in an historic district. The windows can be repaired so long as they retain their original appearance. Retail shops and an upscale restaurant will occupy the first floor and mezzanine and will be entered from Hay Street. Apartment dwellers will enter from a private side entrance near the elevators. “This is going to change Fayetteville,” declared Jones. “The apartments will fill a void in the market,” he added, citing “the many people who work downtown and have no place nearby to live.” Use of the historic tax credits requires that units be leased for the first five years. They could be converted to owner-occupied condominiums after that. “The market will decide which way to go,” according to Jones. Construction isn’t expected to get underway until next June and will take about a year to complete.

With an executed memorandum of understanding with the City of Fayetteville, Prince Charles Holdings is planning an estimated $60 million in commercial development around the planned baseball stadium. That could include a parking deck, hotel, more apartments and other amenities. Also planned is a pedestrian foot bridge over the CSX mainline railroad tracks. It would connect the Airborne and Special Operations Museum with the stadium, providing convenient additional parking. Jones tells Up & Coming Weekly that plans for restoration of the Prince Charles Hotel will go forward regardless whether the ballpark is built.

Up & Coming Weekly has learned that the proposed construction cost of a minor league ballpark planned for downtown Fayetteville will not exceed $33 million. A Fayetteville City Council stadium committee has been meeting privately for several weeks to hammer out a “non-binding memorandum of understanding with the Houston Astros that will set the stage for further negotiations,” said Councilman Jim Arp. He went on to say he would not support the stadium if he thought the project would require a tax increase. The committee also recommends that additional project costs such as architectural fees and other charges not exceed $2 million. City Council must agree to terms of the memorandum of understanding this week for it to move forward. Council held a public hearing to gauge initial citizen interest in a stadium. Sixteen people spoke … ten of them were opposed to the idea, five supported it. One speaker wasn’t clear as to his position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring Lake Police Chief to Retire            

Spring Lake Police Chief Troy McDuffie is retiring at the end of the year. “It was not an easy decision, but I know it is the right decision for me personally,” McDuffie said in an announcement. His last day will be Dec. 1.

“It has indeed been a distinct honor and privilege to serve as Chief of Police for the great Town of Spring Lake,” he said.  

He ends a 30-year career in law enforcement, the last seven as chief in Spring Lake. Before that he was a detective with the Fayetteville Police Department. McDuffie led the agency in the rebuilding of the department after it was relieved of its police powers in the wake of a scandal. The department “has been transformed into an independently-functioning department with 35 sworn officers dedicated to protecting and serving the Spring Lake community,” he said. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fayetteville Mountain Bike Trail   

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation has opened a new mountain bike trail. Bikers can access the three-mile trail from Clark Park on Sherman Drive or the Jordan Soccer Complex on Tree Top Drive. The trail is the result of support from various volunteer groups and individuals. The course features technical terrain and biking challenges. Tight turns and changing conditions require vigilance and constant attention. Riders are required to wear helmets at all times. The first half mile is located near the Cape Fear River, providing beautiful scenery and interesting terrain. The trail crosses the Cape Fear River Trail and continues along a winding route that allows bikers to explore nature in the middle of the city. The goal of Parks & Recreation is to stimulate the interest of users to justify additional mileage. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mental Health Crisis Intervention 

The latest class of the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Crisis Intervention Team academy has graduated following a 40-hour course of instruction. The 27 graduates are now among nearly 800 CIT-certified public safety and court system officials to advance through the program. Gail Staley, former program coordinator for law enforcement training at Fayetteville Technical Community College, received the first ever CIT Founders Award in recognition of her efforts in helping establish Cumberland County’s jail diversion program. The program provides specialized law enforcement response to individuals experiencing crises related to mental illness. First responders are trained to recognize mental or emotional incapacitation so they can provide appropriate treatment and avoid incarceration. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Train Station Gets an Overhaul   

The passenger platform canopy of the downtown Fayetteville Train Depot is getting what the city calls “an overdue and necessary” makeover. Pressure washing and painting of the lengthy canopy has been underway for several days. The city is also replacing the  roof of the protective passenger canopy. City spokesman Nathan Walls says the project should be completed next month. Repairs are estimated at $46,500. The Building Maintenance Division of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation is overseeing the work. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fayetteville Award Winner       

Barbara Brooks, a volunteer counselor with the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program has received the Mickey Hanula Volunteer of the Year award. It is one of four statewide awards for outstanding work in providing free, unbiased counseling about Medicare and other health insurance issues to seniors in North Carolina. Brooks counsels at the Cumberland County Coordinating Council on Older Adults in Fayetteville. She became a volunteer six years ago after retiring as Director of the Department of Social Services in Cumberland County. This year’s awards were presented at the Annual North Carolina SHIIP Coordinators’ Training Conference in Greensboro. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Correction

 In the Aug. 12 article titled “Cumberland County Property Revaluation Is Coming,”  Up & Coming Weekly stated that “County commissioners will adopt the SOV in November which will be effective Jan.1. The bills will go out that month, and must be paid by September to avoid penalties.”

Actually, the 2017 notices of new values will go out that month or January 2017.  Bills will be mailed in August 2017 and must be paid by January 5, 2018 to avoid penalties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am what most would call a weather geek. I love watching the weather. I study it. I often give weather forecasts to friends and family. That’s why I was uncomfortable with the cavalier attitude our local weather forecasters had concerning our recent unwelcome guest, Hurricane Matthew.
Being a weather geek, I follow the different models. And, I can say with no hesitation, always look at the European model. Its accuracy is far better than ours. So while everyone around was telling us not to worry, the storm wasn’t going to come anywhere near the Cape Fear region, the European model was SHOUTING, “Hey, you guys! Get ready.” Unfortunately, no one paid attention.
Instead, we all sat here, thinking ourselves safe and out of harm’s way. Until we were in harm’s way. Then everyone acted surprised. I would like to say that I smugly thought, I told you so. But I didn’t. I worried about my friends and neighbors. I worried about our first responders out in the midst of the storm. And I worried about those lookey loos who always find themselves stuck because they didn’t think it was that bad.
Sitting here, in the darkness of my home, I listened to the wind blow and watched the water levels keep rising. My neighborhood became a lake, and many found themselves under water. While I was safe, city and county officials hovered, trying to make a plan. And, while they planned, our law enforcement, fire department and EMS were out in the midst of the storm — taking care of us. 
They saved countless people who thought they could drive through 3 feet of water. They helped those stuck in their homes. They rescued those who simply had no sense. And they mourned those they couldn’t save. Friends I know who are among our heroes worked double shifts. They left their families alone, to fend for themselves, so they could take care of our community. 
When so many want to talk about police relations, this community saw who had their back. They saw who braved the storm to take care of them … no matter their creed or color. 
Our community leaders used every means possible to keep the local citizenry informed. They were on news casts. They were on Facebook. If there was a means to get the word out, they used it. I don’t want to single any one person out, but I have to say that I followed Kirk deViere’s Facebook posts religiously. I also followed Jimmy Keefe and Mayor Nat Robertson. The Fayetteville Observer also did a great job keeping us up to date.
Of course, I can’t pass up the opportunity to heap praise on the fearless men and women of all of our local utilities. They worked through the storm.
They were wet, cold and tired. But they kept going. 
I will admit, I was unhappy sitting in the dark. I was unhappy being without water. But I wasn’t wet and cold. I wasn’t facing downed electric lines and pouring rains and wind. They kept going. They are among the heroes of this storm. So, too, are the neighbors who came together to cut trees and move them from roads and houses. They offered help when others needed it. 
People can say what they will about Fayetteville and Cumberland County. But I know it is truly a community of heroes, people who care about their neighbors and go the extra mile. Matthew may have surprised the weather forecasters, but the reaction from our community did not surprise me one bit: Heroes, history and hometown. They all surely define our community.

It’s homecoming week at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and Givens Performing Arts Center is pulling out all the stops with two unique performances. The shows are open to the public. Shanghai Nightsfeatures China’s premier acrobats, while the second show, The Purple Xperience is a tribute to musical great Prince.

“We’ve brought acrobat acts to GPAC previously, and our audiences have loved them. It’s a family-friendly show that thrills everyone regardless of age,” said GPAC Marketing Director Chad Locklear. “We usually bring a concert during UNCP homecoming weekend to add to the festivities. There are UNCP alumni returning to campus and families and friends of our students are visiting, so it gives them a time to come together to celebrate and another option of entertainment during the week.”

On Oct. 18, don’t miss the Shanghai Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China debut of their brand new program Shanghai Nights! Visit the Far East through performance art. The acrobats use stories and vignettes along with movement, music and color to take the audience to the lively and diverse city of Shanghai. The sophistication, bustling energy and beauty of the city are all played out on stage. More that 50 of China’s finest acrobats come together to bring the Shanghai experience to the audience.

“The performances are breathtaking, and you can sense the enthusiasm from the performers. Many of them train their entire lives to perform. Audiences can expect to be mesmerized by their talents, focus and energy. They really are pushing the limits of the human body. Many of the acts you witness seem impossible,” said Locklear. 

The company of Shanghai Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China 2016 belongs to the artistic entities of governmental finance allocation. An elite performance group, the company is one of China’s most decorated company, performing in more than 30 countries since the 1980s and bringing home awards from acrobatic and circus competitions around the world. In 2009, the troupe won the Silver Clown award at the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival. 

“The Shanghai Acrobats started in 1959 and are considered one of the best acrobatic troupes in the world,” said Locklear. “They’ve won many awards throughout the years and traveled extensively. You might see similar circus acts to the ones you would see in Cirque du Soleil, but many of these are unique to this company and you won’t see them anywhere else. The costumes, music and occasional dance that you will see are all Chinese in origin.” 

On Friday, Oct. 21, The Purple Xperience takes the stage with Matt Fink leading the five-piece Prince tribute band. Find is a three-time Grammy Award winner and an original member of the Prince and The Revolution. The Purple Xperience started in 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The performance includes all the fan favorites from the Prince catalog.

“This show is going to be a lot of fun,” said Locklear. “Audiences are going to see Dr. Fink perform who was Prince’s original keyboardist for years and even has co-writing credits for some of Prince’s songs. Marshall Charloff will perform as a Prince impersonator. He sounds very much like Prince and does a great job at channeling Prince’s appearance and stage presence. Many people didn’t get a chance to see the legend before he passed away earlier this year. With one of Prince’s original band members, this is one tribute band that can perform the music of Prince’s catalog authentically.”

Purchase tickets online at uncp.edu/gpactickets or by calling 910.521.6361. 

It’s been more than 30 years since Flash Gordon came to Fayetteville. Actor Sam Jones, known for his role as Flash Gordon in the 1980 film of the same name, is one of the many guests attending this year’s Fayetteville ComicCon on Oct. 15 and 16. More recently, Jones was also in Ted and Ted 2 with Mark Wahlberg. Like many events, ComicCons come in a variety of genres, and Fayetteville’s ComicCon encompasses just about all of them. 

Michael Chaudhuri cast a wide net when he set out to host Fayetteville’s 2015 ComicCon last year. And why wouldn’t he? He knows the area and the diversity that thrives here. In short, last year’s event was a success, drawing more than 8,000 visitors. Chaudhuri could have stopped there. Instead, he decided to go even bigger this year. “Our con features a little bit of everything. If its geek, we got it,” said Chaudhuri, adding, “We do more than most conventions in the country. We have great guests, gaming, cos play, a kids dome, sci-fi speed dating — we put Fayetteville on the map. We had a lot of people say Fayetteville wouldn’t support an event like this … then people came and were amazed.”

With 72,000 square feet of space to fill, Chaudhuri pulled out all the stops bringing in special guests from the world of comics and popular culture; MtG, Heroclix, Yu-Gi-Oh other items of interest include video game tournaments; panels; portfolio reviews; trivia contests; martial arts and swordplay demonstrations; door prizes; photo ops; free comics or packs of non-sports cards to everybody (while supplies last); and two cosplay contests, with prizes galore, including one for best active-duty military entrant. 

Jones has been attending ComicCons for about 20 years, but the last two years have been especially busy. For fans, this is a great opportunity to come out and talk with Jones one-on-one and take pictures with him. “I am usually scheduled for a panel, and I really enjoy these because the moderator usually opens it up to the fans. The questions are always really good,” said Jones. “One common comment is, ‘It must have been a lot of fun making Flash Gordon.’ Believe it or not, because I was in every scene, I didn’t get any time to enjoy it. It took five months to complete. I was sent from one set to another to shoot a scene, to rehearse a scene, to practice with a bullwhip artist, the list went on. And in your 20s, it is easy to do. Now, I get to do screenings and other events with the fans, and I enjoy that.”

The guest list is impressive with ghost hunters, actors from a variety of films and shows including Power Rangers, Pokémon and The Walking Dead. Comic book artists and authors, Tugg the Super dog, Kitt the car from Knight Rider and the Scooby van will also be onsite.

For Chaudhuri, bringing guests like Jones to the event is an important part the activities, but it is one piece of a big and colorful puzzle. “It is going to be crazy for us,” he said. “I like to see the smiles and people having fun. One of the highlights was dancing and a main stage … last year we had 10 Harley Quinns dancing together. There were Dead Pools, dancing furbies and other characters. We didn’t have a plan for that, but when I saw 12 Dead Pools dancing together, I knew we had something good.”

If EJ Snyder looks familiar, there’s a good reason. This retired Army combat veteran fell in love with survival training when he was at the U.S. Army Ranger School. He was a U.S. Army Ranger School instructor, a Survival and Tracking instructor and a drill sergeant. He went on to appear on Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid three times, TNT’s 72 Hours and History Channel’s Patton 360. He’s currently the host of Discovery Channel’s Dual Survival. “A lot of people don’t realize I am a Fayetteville resident. I get asked all the time what I am doing here,” said Snyder. Being a retiree, it works for my family. It was nice having survival work waiting for me. I’ve been on three Naked and Afraid’s, and I am the host of Dual Survival. We did three episodes in Brazil, we went to Utah and the Louisiana swamps as well as the country of Georgia. That episode aired recently. Our last two episodes take place in Africa.”

While the Dual Survival season is almost over, Snyder says he’s not done with survival shows just yet. “We are waiting for Dual Survival to let us know if we are going to do another season. We will see what happens. I have several other shows I am getting ready to pitch to different networks, too.”

When he’s not filming, Snyder stays busy in the community. He is a motivational speaker, makes appearances at local venues and looks for opportunities to share his survival training and knowledge wherever and whenever he can. “I offer classes for backpacking and survival training. I do demos at schools and have even done birthday parties,” he said.

Fans can find Snyder at the Fayetteville ComicCon Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop booth on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. “I’ll be there to meet and greet fans and talk with them,” said Snyder. “There will be some survival items for sale. I am also bringing items I used on Naked and Afraid and Dual Survival. I will answer questions about any of the shows. We are talking about maybe doing a Zombie Apocalypse survival panel, too.” 

For more information about Snyder, visit www.ejsnyder.com.

It’s not always easy for big organizations to work together, especially when it comes to sensitive subjects like child abuse, but the Child Advocacy Center and its partners do just that. They work together to provide a safe place for abused children (more than 670 of them last year alone) to talk about traumatic events — one time. Then local agencies and law enforcement get to work on behalf of the young victims. There is no telling and retelling. No reliving the drama. A mission this big and this important takes a lot of planning and coordination. And money. On Saturday, Oct. 15, the Child Advocacy Center is set to host its Third Annual Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction to Unmask Child Abuse at the Metropolitan Room in Downtown Fayetteville. 

This is Ann Shaw’s third year on the planning committee, and she’s looking forward to the big day. “My favorite part of the whole thing is watching everyone and seeing how they are dressed up. The thing I really like about the ball is that it is almost like walking into a winter wonderland. The decorations and lighting are fantastic, and seeing every one dressed up and getting into the theme is a lot of fun. We wanted to make sure is that it didn’t look like a prom. We wanted it to be a fascinating event, and I think we did that.” 

Come ready for a good time, and don’t forget to bring a mask for pictures in the photo booth that will be on site and the mask contest. A deejay, dance demonstrations, live and silent auctions including things like vacation packages and other items are planned. Come hungry, too. The 11 culinary sponsors are going out of their way to impress the crowd with food and drink options.

“We have a mask contest and that is fun to watch. Some people really get into it,” said Shaw. “We have seen everything from handheld eye masks to painted on masks to a porcelain mask that was custom made to fit the person wearing it,” said Shaw. Mask contest categories include (most unique mask, best mask couple, best mask female, best mask male, best mask group and best ensemble from head to toe.)

The menu is designed to enhance the already elegant event. All 11 of the culinary sponsors come ready to impress. This year, the food is provided by Evans Catering, Inc.; Sweet Surprise Candy Buffet; R Burger; Chris’s Steak House; Dorothy’s 2 Catering; Sammio’s Italian Restaurant; The Wine Café and The Coffee Cup; Elite Catering; PDQ; Sherefe; and Cooking Connection; and A Taste of West Africa. “We also have a signature drink that will be provided by Broadslab Distillery,” Shaw added.

The auctions, both silent and live, are a big part of the evening. Items up for bid are: lodging and breakfast at the Cape Fear Winery; a golf package for golf enthusiast; Alaska Cruise on Royal Caribbean; UNC football game tickets with signed UNC football; private villa for eight in Cabo San Lucas; Costa Rica getaway; two Myrtle Beach vacations and many more exciting live and silent auction packages. 

Proceeds from the event go to the Child Advocacy Center and bolster efforts and programs to serve local children. “Growing up in a community where people watched out for each other’s children gave me a sense of security as a child. Remember the old saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a child?’ Finding that mentality today is very rare. That is why the need to provide educational programs that recognize and prevents child abuse is greater now than it has ever been before. Victims of child abuse are often left without hope, and it saddens my heart. I’ve always felt very blessed as a child and as a mother, and so I want to be a part of an organization that provides hope, help and healing to victims of child abuse,” said Shaw. 

 Tickets are $100 per person, $175 per couple and $850 for a table of eight. Tickets can be purchased at the Child Advocacy Center, or order online at CACFAyNC.org; Eventbrite or text PINWHEEL to 44222. 

Oct. 15 is the beginning of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s 2016-2017 season. The concert, Fall Spooktacular is focused on fun, seasonal music and sponsored by Sandhills Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. For this concert, the musicians perform a mix of classical and popular music with the idea of celebrating a fun, spooky and family-friendly Halloween. All of the music is set to stories of witches and sorcerers. Some of the featured pieces are works like Bach’s “Toccata & Fugue in D Minor,” music from Harry Potter and even music from Psycho. Families are encouraged to get into the spirit of the season and to enjoy the concert, in Huff Concert Hall at Methodist University, dressed in their finest Halloween costumes.

Another exciting aspect of this concert is that it is part of the Final Five Series. This series highlights five conductors applying for the position of music director/conductor of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. In order to give the community a voice in the decision of who will be the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s next conductor, these five applicants have been invited to guest conduct a concert. These concerts are essentially public auditions. After each concert, an opportunity for audience members to comment on the concert and on the conductor is planned. The feedback received in this manner is used by the Symphony Board of Directors to make the final decision. 

The guest conductor for the “Fall Spooktacular” is Alfred Sturgis. He is currently the conductor of the Tar River Orchestra, Carolina Ballet and the North Carolina Master Chorale. Audience members will have the opportunity to get to know Sturgis a little before the concert with the Pre-Concert Talk. Joining Sturgis on the stage is the FSO “Music Nerd.” The Pre Concert talk will start at 6:45 p.m., and everyone is invited to learn more about the potential new leader of the orchestra. 

Tickets for the “Fall Spooktacular” are $27 and can be purchased at www.fayettevillesymphony.org. However, there are also season packages available that offer discounts with the purchase of multiple tickets. 

From it’s inception in 1956 the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra has been dedicated to the citizens of Cumberland County. The symphony works to educate, entertain and inspire through its artistic excellence. Having community input in the selection of the new musical director/conductor is vital for the future of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the artistic nature of the musical community in Fayetteville. Community support and participation is what makes this work, and it may be difficult to pick your favorite conductor if you have only seen one of the five auditions.

The next guest conductor is Stefan Sanders who will lead the concert, “Czech is Out!” on Nov. 19. During this concert, the Fayetteville Symphony will bring to life Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 8,” which harkens to Bohemian folk music. Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 8 in E-Flat Major” is also part of the performance by soloist Scott Marosek. Sanders is currently the Associate Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. He will also be available for conversation during a Pre-Concert Talk with the FSO
“Music Nerd.”

The issue has bubbled beneath the surface for years: Does the annual Dogwood Festival have a broad appeal to Fayetteville’s diverse population? The most recently available demographic data indicates the city’s population of 204,000 residents is 45 percent White, 41 percent African-American and 10 percent Hispanic. Mayor Pro-Temp Mitch Colvin alluded to the figures at a Fayetteville City Council meeting when questioning whether festival musical headliners appeal to all segments of the community. Colvin had met privately with Festival Executive Director Carrie King prior to the meeting to discuss musical diversity that might broaden the appeal to African-Americans. Historically, Friday and Saturday night headliners have been country and rock performers. 

Colvin, and Councilmen Chalmers McDougald and Larry Wright contend the main acts do not represent music preferences of half the community. King contends that over the course of the three-day festival as many as 25 diverse acts appear on stage. Colvin said the city contributes more than $100,000 in in-kind services and should expect main events to appeal to a broad swath of the community. During the popular three-day spring festival, King says, the events attract from 200,000 to 250,000 people each year. “We think we do a fair job of programing,” King said, adding that a 2011 study found the top four musical genres favored by festival-goers were country, rock, jazz and Christian.

More than once King invited Council members to join with the organization’s board in the selection of performers. She said the board of directors takes into account festival goer’s preferences, sponsor considerations and the budget in selecting musical acts. “I think there is a way that we can amicably work this out and make this more of a community event,” Colvin said during the Council meeting. Mayor Nat Robertson agreed. But McDougald pointedly took note that only one member of the festival board present was black. “It’s really lacking a little bit,” he said. “We have never excluded anyone from the decision-making process,” King insisted. She has been executive-director of the private organization since 2006. 

“The Dogwood Festival recognizes the … growing diversity in the community and inclusion at festivals,” Board Chair Mary Beth MacKenzie said in a news release issued immediately following the Council meeting. “We have already planned our 2017 festival and entertainment, but this discussion will potentially frame the 2018 process,” she added. King would not disclose the performers or musical genres chosen for next year. MacKenzie pointed out the board has a non-scientific survey available on the Festival’s website asking about musical preferences. The survey choices are country, rock, urban/R&B/hip hop and jazz/blues. 

For nearly 35 years Fayetteville’s Dogwood Festival has placed among the top festivals in North Carolina. The organization has donated more than $110,000 to other non-profits in the community. It’s stated purposes includes in part “encouraging unity through celebration and fostering civic pride.”

Houston Astros President Reid Ryan came to Fayetteville last week, four days after he purchased a California minor league baseball team for $10 million. He plans to move the club to Fayetteville where it will join the Carolina League as an expansion team. Reid, 43, is one of the youngest team presidents in the game. He stopped in at Fayetteville City Hall for a few minutes to introduce himself to members of City Council’s Baseball Committee. Consultant Jason Frier was on the phone as the son of Hall of Fame Major League pitcher Nolan Ryan was introduced. 

Frier is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hardball Capital whose core business is the operation of affiliated Minor League Baseball teams. He owns stadiums in San Antonio and Columbia, S.C., and has been hired to guide Fayetteville through the process of building a $33 million stadium. City-owned property behind the downtown Prince Charles hotel building is the site of the new ballpark. It will be modeled after Frier’s Triple-A stadium in Columbia. He told the committee that he expects a formal lease agreement will be ready for council’s consideration in the next 30 to 45 days. “That’s when the city’s memorandum of understanding becomes a binding contract,” said Frier. At the same time, a stadium architect will be selected. Thereafter business details will be finalized with an eye toward executing the contract and beginning site construction in July. 

The South Carolina facility, Spirit Communications Park, was honored by Ballpark Digest as its 2016 Ballpark of the Year. It was selected as the top park across Minor League Baseball nationally for 2016. “Spirit Communications Park is not only our Ballpark of the Year, it’s also one of the best ballparks opened in the last decade,” said Publisher Kevin Reichard. It’s “the centerpiece of serious economic development in Columbia,” he added. Fayetteville’s Baseball Committee members and city staffers visited the Columbia facility this summer and came away committed to patterning the local stadium after it, albeit on a smaller scale. 

The team the Houston Astros purchased is one of two franchises that are leaving the California League at the end of the 2016 season. Both will join the Carolina League. Kinston, which has a professional baseball history dating back to 1956, landed a Texas Rangers MiLB team. With the Sept. 30 purchase of its California team, the Astros have committed to Fayetteville for the second Carolina League club. “We are happy that professional baseball will return to Kinston and we are pleased with the steps Fayetteville has taken to bring professional baseball back to that great city as well,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner. 

Fayetteville won’t be thought of as home of the new team during construction of the stadium. It will play in a yet to be determined temporary location, probably not in Cumberland County because officials are not optimistic that a Fayetteville location can be found. County government is said to be negotiating an extension of its agreement with the summer college league Swamp Dogs for use of J.P. Riddle Stadium. Jim Perry Stadium on the campus of Campbell University is under serious considered as the temporary home until the new Fayetteville stadium opens for the 2019 season. Jim Perry Stadium seats fewer than 700 fans. Buies Creek is 35
 miles from Fayetteville in Harnett County.

About 50 people were present at the Fellowship Hall of Highland Presbyterian Church for a community meeting some knew nothing about until they got there. The City of Fayetteville’s Planning Division organized the session as a follow-up to some brainstorming about the future of Haymount over the summer. Urban Designer Eloise Sahlstrom told the group she wanted to hear ideas from Haymount residents and business people about their hopes and concerns for the future of the community. 

Haymount was named for a prominent 18th century citizen of Fayetteville, John Hay, whose estate was named Hay Mount. Hay Street bears his name. In 1789, Hay was made one of the original trustees of the University of North Carolina. 

Sahlstrom and Fayetteville Planning Director Scott Shuford said ideas from residents would help the city better understand key planning issues that are critical to the future of Haymount.

 “How do you envision Haymount 20 years from now?” Sahlstrom asked. An hour later, the responses gleaned from a dozen or so roundtable discussions were varied, but there were some common concerns. Many residents are disappointed that older houses are being torn down and replaced with newer homes that don’t always match the traditional character of the neighborhood. Parking in the five points business area has always been a problem. Some bemoaned the lack of sidewalks in some areas. The retail community is varied but residents would like to see a small, mom and pop grocery, which they believe the community would support.  What they don’t want is a big box supermarket. 

City planners came up with the idea of “Uptown Haymount” as a way of branding the historic area. 

“One hundred-year-old homes could qualify for the National Register of Historic Places,” said Sahlstrom. 

She displayed a map of century-old homes and others known to be 75-years-old. She told the gathering that the study conducted by the city is especially timely and pertinent given a number of factors, including the recent destruction by fire of the Haymont Grill. Many are still wondering if it will be rebuilt. She also pointed to talk of building a Civil War History Center at Arsenal Park. As envisioned, the center would replace the Museum of the Cape Fear, and once built would be operated and maintained by the state.  

Some of those in attendance said they had no idea what the meeting was all about but had heard about it by word-of-mouth from neighbors. They were the same longtime residents who recently persuaded the Fayetteville City Council not to allow conversion of an historic ante bellum house on Morganton Road known as Fair Oaks into a private school. City officials describe the community is “very neighborly” and self-protective. A follow up meeting is planned for Nov. 3.

Former Fayetteville City Manager Ted Voorhees is working for an executive recruiting firm that has been retained by Cumberland County to find a new director of the Solid Waste Management Department. Developmental Associates is a North Carolina-based company that most recently conducted searches for county government to hire an assistant county manager and tax administrator. “Voorhees is doing consulting work for Developmental Associates, which … is assisting with our Solid Waste recruitment process,” said county spokesperson Sally Shutt. Voorhees is employed by and being paid by Developmental Associates and is not employed by the county, she added. Former Solid Waste Director Bobby Howard retired on Dec. 31, 2015. He was with the county for 33 years and was Solid Waste Management director for 11 years. Engineering and Infrastructure Director Jeffery Brown is serving as interim director. Voorhees resigned under fire earlier this year after three-and-a-half years as Fayetteville city manager. 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 Principal of the Year

Dr. Vernon S. Lowery, principal of Westover Senior High School, is Cumberland County Schools’ Principal of the Year. Lowery will now compete against other regional award recipients. One of them will be selected as North Carolina’s 2017 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year. Lowery has served as a school administrator for nine years. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Chemistry from Methodist University. Lowery later obtained Master’s in Education and School Administration and a Ph.D. in Education from Fayetteville State University. Lowery only recently was appointed principal of Westover High. As Principal of the Year, Dr. Lowery received an award from the Cumberland County Board of Education, plus a cash award and floral arrangement, an engraved desk clock, a commemorative Principal of the Year ring, a $5,000 check for school use and $1,000 for her personal use from LaFayette Ford/Lincoln. E.E. Smith High School Principal Melody Chalmers won statewide accolades this past year as the North Carolina Principal of the Year.

 

 

 

 

Police Command Staff ChangesThe retirement of Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock has resulted in a number of personnel changes in the police department’s command staff. Interim Police Chief Anthony Kelly has named Captain Jesse Devane an acting assistant chief. He will supervise the Uniformed Patrol Bureau for the next 10 weeks while Assistant Chief Michael Petti is away attending the FBI National Academy. Assistant Chief Chris Davis is in charge of the Administrative Bureau, which provides technical services and training. Davis also heads the training and communications division. Assistant Chief Katherine Bryant continues to lead the Investigative Bureau as Chief of Detectives. Petti will resume his post as Administrative Bureau Chief when he returns to duty and Davis will lead the Patrol Bureau, said spokesman Lt. Todd Joyce.

 

 

 

 

 

Fox Attacks Two Men

The State Public Health Lab in Raleigh has confirmed a positive result of rabies in Cumberland County. Animal Control picked up a dead fox at Rosamond Drive, off Ramsey Street near Methodist College Oct. 4. County spokesman Jon Soles says the fox chased two men, one of whom was in a golf cart. The men jumped over a fence into a nearby resident’s yard. “The fox tried to jump over the fence, but the two men killed the animal by striking it with a golf club and a tree limb,” said Soles. Animal Control officers retrieved the fox’s body afterward. It was the seventh case of rabies in the County this year.

Deep in our hearts, we all know what is most important in our lives — who and what are dearest to us, who and what have shaped the lives we are living. For me, outside my own family, closest friends and good health, my education has shaped and enriched my life more than any factor I can name. My education, most of which was delivered in the public schools of North Carolina and in our revered UNC system, has given me the tools to understand at least some of our world, helped me enjoyed cultural and artistic creations by my fellow human beings and encouraged me to satisfy my curiosity about whatever crosses my mind, first in libraries and now in the comfort of my own home with my own computer. I even confess to waking up in the middle of the night with some question on my mind and researching it right then and there with my tablet computer. This is the real gift of technology for me! Like everything else, though, education is changing. I would not change my liberal arts studies — I was an English Literature major —a s I know I would not be “me” without all that reading — some engrossing, some boring, and lots somewhere in between. I also know, though, that the way many people view education and particularly higher education has changed dramatically. Gone are the concepts of education’s inherent value to individual and his quality of life and of the critical importance of an educated society. In is the notion that education is merely a ticket to a better job and higher income with no emphasis on less quantifiable but undeniable enrichment of education. As the concept of education as a ticket to income and little else spread, so did the idea of the receiver of an education as a “consumer,” not as a student. And, if that person is a consumer, he must then pay for what he consumes, resulting in rising tuitions and falling public funding for education at all levels. This is the thinking that education is an individual expense, not a public good, that has turned education into a business saddled millions of Americans with debts some of us will never be able to repay. Now you know some of the worries that keep me up at night, researching on my tablet or just tossing and turning. A new documentary, Starving the Beast, takes a hard look at what is happening in American public higher education, including such respected research institutions as Louisiana State University and the Universities of Iowa, Wisconsin, Virginia, and our own University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. All have seen significant funding cuts from state legislatures, so deep in some cases that LSU actually considered filing bankruptcy. Writing in Inside Higher Ed, Ellen Wexler describes the issue the film confronts this way. “The film lays out an overview of the debate’s philosophical underpinnings: originally, states saw public colleges as a worthwhile investment in their residents. Poor students could gain useful skills and move up in the world while also contributing to their states’ economies. In the early days of public higher education systems, many states charged little if any tuition. “On the other side, there are the reformers and think-tank leaders, the anti-spending politicians and political operatives... say that public colleges are too wasteful, and lawmakers feel an obligation to keep taxes low.” Count me on the side of quality public education at all levels in North Carolina, as our state Constitution clearly mandates. Article 1 reads, “…. knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools, libraries and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.” Article 9 tells us whose responsibility higher education is. “The General Assembly shall provide that the benefits of the University of North Carolina and other public institutions of higher education, as far as practicable, be extended to the people of the State free of expense.” I believe that education is not a product but an enriching experience that grows and lasts a lifetime. I believe that education strengthens both the individual and society at large, and that is important to know the history of where we come from and to recognize works of great literature and art. I believe that if we think of education the same way we think of buying a car or a house, we are not seeing the big picture of what it means to be an educated person or an educated society. Someone can take your car or your house, but once you have an education, you can share it with others without losing it and no one can ever take it away.

The Indigo Moon Film Festival will bring 38 independent films to Downtown Fayetteville Oct. 7-9, featuring the work of students and seasoned professionals alike. The films were submitted from around the world, including some from local filmmakers.

“If you love films, I hope you will make your way here,” Pat Wright said.  

Wright and Jan Johnson, founders of local non-profit GroundSwell Pictures, organized the event. Both Johnson and Wright are award-winning producers/directors/writers. After years of attending other film festivals, the pair decided to organize a festival locally.

“We do have a thriving arts community here,” Johnson said. “But film is not well-represented to enhance our cultural arts options.”

The festival is the first of its kind in Fayetteville, Wright said.  

“There will be films from around the world,” Wright added, noting that films were submitted from the U.S., Great Britain, Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, India and Hong Kong. “Through these films we get to see other cultures, feel empathy and understanding.”

At about a dozen of the screenings, the actual filmmakers will be on site to discuss the film afterward, Johnson said.  

The pair explained how they came up with the name of the festival.

“Independent films are called ‘indie,’” Johnson said. 

“You have an opportunity like this once in a blue moon,” Wright added.  “This is our chance, our once in a blue moon.”

No strangers to taking chances or filmmaking, Wright and Johnson created GroundSwell in 2014 to engage and inspire others by making films, teaching filmmaking, showing films and supporting other filmmakers.  Their own films tackle tough topics such as child pornography, the effects of desegregation and recovery efforts in Haiti after an earthquake killed more than 230,000 people in 2010. Wright and Johnson say they are committed to educating the public and creating a groundswell of constructive change.

While some of the films shown during the festival will cover serious topics such as genocide in Iraq, suicide and domestic violence, there are also lighter and humorous topics — the story of a 100-year-old artist, the happenings at a hotdog stand, nuns cited with “radical feminism” by the Vatican.

First-time festival-goers should visit the website www.indigomoonfilmfestival.com  to review descriptions of the films and watch the trailers. With 38 titles and a wide variety of genres, there is something for every viewer. The selections range from two-minute short films to two-hour features.  

Not only for those who enjoy viewing films, the IMFF is a competition. There are six cash awards and five awards voted on by the audience. The categories are: narrative feature, narrative short, documentary feature, documentary short, animation and student film. All films will be shown over three days in four venues Downtown: the Cameo Art House Theatre, the Arts Council, Hay Street United Methodist Church and the Cumberland County Headquarters Library.

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise will open the festival on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Cameo, Wright said. The film, released earlier this year, is a documentary about poet, author and performer Dr. Maya Angelou. It reflects on how the events of history, culture and the arts shaped Angelou’s life and how she inspired others through her autobiographical literature and activism.

The film has been on the independent film festival circuit, Johnson said, explaining it is a rare opportunity to be able to show it in Fayetteville.  

“We all kind of embraced her as our own,” Johnson said, “We thought we knew her.” 

Before her death in 2014, Angelou taught at Wake Forest University and made her home in Winston-Salem. The documentary includes clips from older interviews as well as her final interviews, and goes into parts of her life most are unfamiliar with, Johnson said. 

After seeing the film about Angelou’s life, “You can’t help but feel inspired and motivated,” Wright said.

On Sunday, the final day of the festival, an awards banquet BBQ is slated at SkyView on Hay Street at noon with an encore showing of the winning films at 1:30 at the Cameo.

There are several options for film-goers. To attend the opening night film and party at SkyView, tickets are $25. Tickets are $15 to attend the awards banquet. Individual tickets for films are $10. Tickets to see blocks of the short films, which range from two to 30 minutes each, are $10. You can also purchase a VIP pass for $80-$100 which includes the opening night film and party, the awards banquet, tickets for up to five film blocks, an IMFF festival tote and first admittance to screenings. There are discounts for students, seniors, military and Moon Shadow Film Society members.

There is limited seating in all venues, and you must pre-select your choice of films when you purchase tickets/passes to guarantee your seat.  You can purchase passes on the website or go to the Rainbow Room on Hay Street.

Any unclaimed seats will be made available for $10 cash only five minutes before the screenings.

Under GroundSwell Pictures, Johnson and Wright also run the Moon Shadow Film Society, which hosts a screening of an independent film at the Cameo Art House Theatre the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. Fittingly enough, October’s film was The Last Film Festival.

“It is the film Dennis Hopper was working on when he passed away,” Wright said. Hopper stars as a movie producer whose film has been turned down by 3,999 of the 4,000 film festivals in the world.

Like the Indigo Film Festival, the actual filmmakers are often on hand to answer questions and discuss the film after the screening. Also after each Film Society screening, the audience is invited to a reception at the Rainbow Room.

The next Film Society screening is Oddball on Nov. 1. The film is based on the true story of a chicken farmer who trains his mischievous dog to protect a wild penguin sanctuary from fox attacks and in the process tries to reunite his family and save their seaside town. The film is appropriate for the entire family.

Tickets for Moon Shadow Film Society showings can be purchased at the Cameo. 

For more information on the Indigo Film Festival or the Moon Shadow Film Society, visit www.groundswellpictures.co

Cumberland County Schools presents its 13th Annual Reading Rocks Walk-A-Thon & Block Party on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 8:30 a.m. in Festival Park in Downtown Fayetteville. 

“Reading Rocks is an event that Cumberland County Schools hosts each year and it promotes literacy among our schools,” said Jody Hawley, executive director of information technology and media services. “We actually have several events going on during Reading Rocks.” Hawley added that after the walk, the school district’s Parent Teacher Association will have a “Rock the Block” party. 

The walk-a-thon is a 15-minute walk in Fayetteville’s historic downtown area. “We have thousands of walkers attend each year,” said Hawley.  “Last year our schools raised more than  $265,000, so we would love to top that amount this year.” 

The proceeds are used to purchase books, digital tools and other learning items that will benefit the students and media centers in Cumberland County. 

The agenda consists of the mayor and Dr. Frank Till, superintendent of Cumberland County Schools speaking. John Malzone is the emcee of the event. Choruses and band ensembles will provide entertainment. “We have invited mascots from the community as well as mascots from our schools to attend the walk,” said Hawley. “We will have our high school host band inside Festival Park leading the music for the chorus and we will also have other middle and high school bands along the route so all walkers can enjoy the sights and sounds of our school bands.”         

A new addition to the event this year is the “Rock the Block” party sponsored by the district’s Parent Teacher Association that takes place after the walk. There will be a deejay, food trucks and community vendors on site.  “We are excited to partner with our district PTA this year and we hope the block party will be a success,” said Hawley.  

Promoting literacy among students is very important to Cumberland County Schools. “We know children who gain literacy skills at a young age are more successful,” said Hawley. “All subject areas require reading and we know kids who have a high vocabulary do well in reading and other subject areas.” Hawley added that reading is fun and it lets kids’ imaginations run wild when they read fiction. They also get to learn new things when they read nonfiction and be explorers. She noted that it truly is a wonderful thing to see a child who can master reading.    

Sponsor categories range from $25 for Book Buddy to the Platinum Superintendent’s Circle for $5,000. Any amount is appreciated. Checks can be made payable to your child’s school or CCS’ Media Services to support the countywide Reading Rocks fund. 

“We look forward to seeing everyone at the event,” said Hawley. 

The event is rain or shine. Gates open at 8 a.m. The walk will begin at 9 a.m.  For more information or to become a sponsor, call 678-2613.                   

Fayetteville is filled with gems and secrets and history... lots of history. The Woman’s Club of Fayetteville oversees three especially significant pieces of Fayetteville’s history at Heritage Square. On Thursday, Oct. 13, the club is set to host a Wine, Brews and Silent Auction. 

“The proceeds from this event are earmarked for the restoration of Heritage Square. We don’t get any money from the state or federal government, but it is important for people to know that every dollar that comes in is used to keep the property up.” said Woman’s Club President Elaine Kennebeck. This particular project is an undertaking that will benefit local school children. The Woman’s Club is looking to expand its educational outreach efforts to area schools. “We are in the process of framing a lot of our archives. We have had them for years and no one gets to see them. We have a closet full of old dresses and uniforms that students love to see. We have an old rope bed. We have all these things for school kids to see on the tour of the property. We hope to see more field trips so we can share this history with students.”  

The evening’s events include an assortment of top-shelf wines and beers, food and appetizers, live music and a silent auction. “We are serving high end beverages with delicious food,” said Kennebck. “We will have a string trio for the first hour of the event followed by a jazz trio. We have more than 100 items for auction. We have all kinds of gift certificates, a TV, handbags, entertainment packages — there really is something for everyone.

At 225 Dicks Street, the Sandford House, Oval Ballroom and Baker-Haigh-Nimocks House make up Heritage Square. These structures are a significant part of Fayetteville’s past and the Woman’s Club is dedicated to preserving their history and sharing their story.

Mark Russell was the original owner of the land that is now Heritage Square. Duncan McLeran purchased the property in 1797. It is McLeran who is credited with building the Sandford house and the Nimocks house. The property changed hands in 1804 when McLeran sold the house to John Adam and his wife, Sarah, and again in 1820 when Sara Adam sold the house to John Cameron. Cameron sold the house to the United States Bank. John Sandford worked as the cashier at the bank where he also lived on the second floor. He purchased the house in 1839. The house changed hands a few more times before the Woman’s Club purchased it in 1945. 

When Margaret Halliday married John Sandford in 1830, the family had a ballroom built for the reception and ball that would follow the ceremony. One hundred years later, it had become the Colonial Inn, a popular tourist stop during the depression. Visitors enjoyed fine southern fare and enjoyed the history of the building. Once the Woman’s Club purchased it in 1956, the group moved the ballroom to its current location on Heritage Square. The Oval Ballroom is an elongated octagon in form on the outside and a perfect oval on the inside. Because of its unique design, the room is registered in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., and featured in the book Early Architecture of North Carolina by Johnson and Waterman.

In 1818, James Baker bought some land and a house from Duncan McLeran. He moved his young bride in and they lived there until 1849 when he sold it. By 1852, Charles T. Haigh owned the house, which he gifted to his daughter-in-law and her husband, William. In 1893, after William died the house was sold to Quincy K. Nimocks. The Woman’s Club purchased the house in 1966.

Tickets are $40 per person, $75 per couple. The events runs from 6-9 p.m. For tickets and information, call 483-6009.

Cumberland County’s Veterans Treatment Court is one of 463 courts nationwide that offer mandatory rehabilitation and medical treatment for veterans arrested for certain misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. Last week, the U.S. Justice Department pledged to support more courts in this growing system, awarding more than $4 million to 13 state and local jurisdictions to develop their own programs. North Carolina is not among them this year. Some of the programs will likely be patterned after the one started nearly two years ago by District Court Judge Lou Olivera. It was launched with a grant from the Governor’s Crime Commission. 

The Veterans Treatment Court is an alternative sentencing program designed to address the specific needs of veterans “who have returned from combat with injuries that are not visible,” said Olivera. Veterans are able to take part in a holistic program that addresses mental health and substance abuse issues, housing, employment, education and healthcare. The veteran must attend counseling, community support meetings, participate in a stringent drug testing program and perform community service. At the end of the year-long program, successful graduates may be eligible to have his or her original charges dropped or expunged.

Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Bill Baer said that with one in six Iraq or Afghanistan veterans abusing alcohol or drugs — a situation that can contribute to arrest — the nation is obligated to help them productively reintegrate into society. 

“Our military veterans risk life and limb for their country,” Baer said. “We owe our very best to help those who struggle with substance abuse,” he added. Baer spoke during a forum hosted by the justice department to mark Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week. The abuse of opiates, especially heroin, is a national epidemic especially prevalent in Greater Fayetteville. Five years ago, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center recorded just one heroin overdose. Through Oct. 7 of this year, the number of overdose reports had grown to 96. 

Fred Wells Brason II, director of North Carolina’s Project Lazarus, says the heroin problem in Fayetteville is worse than other areas of the state because of the presence of generally young, transient, lower income military men and women. They are more susceptible to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems that can lead to drug and alcohol abuse. The good news is that according to data provided by Justice for Vets — an advocacy group that provides training for court staff  — two-thirds of veterans who go through the Veterans Treatment Court system successfully complete the program. The system has proven so successful that the VA has mandated that every VA medical center have a veterans’ justice outreach specialist to provide legal assistance to veterans in their region. While veterans court advocates had sought $15 million for programs nationwide in 2016, they said any amount helps safeguard against veterans winding up in the prison system. 

“I won’t let them fail,” said Judge Olivera who is himself a veteran. “I’ll help them find their way again,” he promised.

Following in the footsteps of retired Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock would be a daunting task for most. Anthony Kelly accepts the challenge saying “Someone’s got to do it.” Kelly has been an assistant police chief since January of 2015. Until this week, he commanded the FPD’s uniformed patrol bureau, the largest division in the department. City Manager Doug Hewett named Kelly Interim Chief a week or so before Medlock stepped down. “I identified him as a true leader and he’s proven my decision was correct,” Medlock said. 

Kelly graduated from Fayetteville State University while living at home on Amanda Circle with his mom and dad. His first love was the military, but he was afraid (and still is) of flying. He went to work part time at Food Lion, and then moved to Charlotte to join the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department. He graduated from the Basic Law Enforcement Training course in December of 1994, and the following spring decided to move back home. Kelly applied for a job with the Fayetteville Police Department. He’s 48 now and has been in law enforcement for 22 years. He says the last two years were a turning point for him and the more than 400 officers of the department. 

“Chief Medlock allowed us to think big, and when we thought big, good things happened,” he said.

Medlock brought big-city experience and police training to Fayetteville from Charlotte where he served as a deputy chief. Kelly says officers began getting anti-bias training during those two years. Police officers in this city, he says, are constantly exposed to young black men in hopeless, negative situations. “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change,” he said. 

These days, he says, a police officer is one bad day away from having a bad career, which is why he reinforces to the men and women of the FPD that proper training is the key “to being good police.” One of the most important elements of Fayetteville Police training in dealing with street crime, he says, is what’s called “cover and concealment.” De-escalation of a potentially violent situation begins with the cop taking himself out of the equation. Instead of approaching a volatile situation, Fayetteville police officers are trained, when possible, to take cover and conceal themselves in such a way that they can speak with others involved while not getting involved themselves. It’s called situational policing.

Kelly told of police officers who responded to a 911 call a couple of weeks ago about a woman in her yard brandishing a shotgun. She apparently suffered from mental health issues. First officers on the scene concealed themselves where she couldn’t see them, but they were close enough to speak with her. A police sergeant noticed there was a lock installed in the shotgun trigger housing. He engaged her in conversation, and she told him about her grandchildren. The sergeant said he hoped to have grandkids one day and asked her the names of hers. With that, the woman dropped the weapon and began crying. “That situation could have gone horribly wrong had it not been for our training,” Kelly said.

Kelly comes from a middle class family, and credits his parents for the person he has become. He says he never got that warning from his mother and father that many African-American youngsters do about how to behave if stopped by the police. 

“My mom and dad taught me how to act, period,” he said. “I can’t stand it when people tell me they were taught how to act during a traffic stop.” 

Kelly reflected on an incident when he was a child that he’s never forgotten. He was in the fifth grade and got five Fs on his report card. At a parent/teacher conference his teacher told his mom of the bad grades, and that he seemed more interested in girls. “I looked at my mom and there was a tear coming down her cheek,” he said. “When we got home with my mom not saying one word, she grabbed a belt and whooped my behind.” Kelly said she grounded him for one year; he couldn’t leave the house for a year. His grades improved, he said. “I served nine months of that sentence when my dad asked mom to let me off.” 

Kelly speaks of how fortunate he was to come from a two-parent household. He’s just as proud to have come up through the ranks of the Fayetteville Police Department and to have served with Harold Medlock. 

“We’re setting the police standard in this state and perhaps the country for how to have relationships in the communities we serve,” said Kelly.             

Seventeen days, not seven — The North Carolina General Assembly reduced early voting opportunities a few years ago to only seven days. But when the federal courts got involved, one-stop voting rules were changed. The Republican-dominated Cumberland County Board of Elections declined to implement changes ordered by the court, so the State Elections Board did so. Now, North Carolina voters have 17 days to vote early this year. There are 10 locations to cast early ballots. 

Early voting begins on Thursday, Oct. 20 and continues through Saturday, Nov. 5 and includes two Sunday afternoons. There are 10 early voting locations in Cumberland County. They are the Board of Elections Office on Fountainhead Lane in Downtown Fayetteville, Kiwanis Recreation Center on Devers Street, Smith Recreation Center on Slater Avenue, North Regional Library on McArthur Road, East Regional Library on Clinton Road, Cliffdale Recreation Center on Cliffdale Road, Grays Creek Recreation Center on School Road, Hope Mills Recreation Center on Rockfish Road, E.E. Miller Recreation Center on Rim Road and Spring Lake Community Center on Ruth Street. For hours, contact the Cumberland County Elections Office at 678-7733. It should be noted that early voting localities are not necessarily the location of election day voter precincts. If you do not know where your election day polling place is, you can use www.ncsbe.gov to find your voting precinct and location.

Voters are no longer required to present photo identification at the polls. However, certain first-time voters must provide proof of identity if they did not do so when they registered. Individuals may once again register and vote on the same day during the early voting period. Curbside voting is available at all voting locations for disabled individuals. The elections office also provides assistance to persons in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other care facilities. Again, the local board of elections should be contacted.

Of all the states, the best early voting statistics are available for North Carolina, where absentee voting by mail began on Sept. 9. Requests for absentee ballots by registered Democrats and unaffiliated registered voters are running ahead of 2012, for the same number of days prior to the election. Requests by registered Republicans are down. Given that Mitt Romney beat Barack Obama by two percentage points, the early voting statistics appear to confirm polling averages which show a narrow lead for Hillary Clinton. According to the U.S. Constitution, the 2010 Census Reapportionment provides that North Carolina will have 15 electoral votes through the 2020 presidential election. North Carolina, which was one of the original 13 colonies, entered the Union in November 1789. Like many other southern states, it voted almost exclusively Democratic from 1876 through 1964. Tar Heel voters flipped and began voting Republican in 1968. The shift was largely in response to white conservative voter uneasiness with Civil Rights legislation passed in the mid-1960s. In 2008, Barack Obama reversed the trend of Republican dominance in North Carolina barely defeating John McCain by about 14,000 votes out of 4.3 million cast. It was the second closest race of the 2008 election (behind Missouri). In 2012, North Carolina was again the second closest race (this time behind Florida) as the state flipped back to Republican and Mitt Romney beat Obama by about 2 percent. This year, the Tar Heel State is a toss-up battleground, given the flip flops of the last two Presidential elections. 

In a few days, Doug Hewett will officially be named city manager. City Council decided during an evaluation session that he deserved to be elevated from his temporary position after five months on the job. Council is working out details of his employment including salary, benefits, severance and term of office. Council is considering offering Hewett a one-year contract. It’s not unusual for government executives to have renewable contracts, although it’s a first for Fayetteville. 

“Hewett had a very positive performance evaluation…and we have unanimously decided to ask (him) to accept the position of city manager,” said Mayor Nat Robertson. 

Hewett didn’t hesitate to accept the offer.  During the personnel performance closed session, City Attorney Karen MacDonald received a ‘satisfactory’ rating according to Robertson. That’s a midrange evaluation in a five step range.

 

 

Free Smoke Alarms Distributed

Every night in Eastern North Carolina about five house fires occur, leaving families helpless, confused and alone. In Cumberland County, Highlands Chapter Red Cross volunteers respond routinely to local house fires. Last month, nearly 300 Red Cross volunteers from 27 groups, including Fayetteville Firefighters, gathered in Fayetteville to install more than 1,000 smoke alarms in homes of military members and their neighbors. 

“Brave men and woman of our military work every day to make sure we are safe in our homes,” said Barry Porter, chief executive officer, of the Red Cross in Eastern N.C. “We want to return the favor and protect them in their own homes with new smoke alarms.” 

Four volunteers visited the home of Cory Hall, an active-duty military member and former firefighter. They installed four smoke alarms and tested his existing alarms. Hall said he feels confident his family is safe in their home should a fire start. 

“Over 500 households were reached in the Bonnie Doone, Shaw Heights, and Montclair Communities,” according to Fayetteville Fire Chief Ben Major.

 

Gilbert Theater’s New Season

Fayetteville’s Gilbert Theater in the former City Hall Building on Bow Street announces two projects thanks to a pair of grants from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County says Robyne Parrish, artistic director. “This year, in addition to our usual five-show main stage season, we will continue our second stage this year,” she added. It’s called the ‘next stage’ and will feature six one-act plays and two glee club shows. “The Arts Council is proud to partner with Gilbert Theater in support of their 2016-2017 season,” says Executive Director Deborah Martin Mintz. The Arts Council’s programs and services are funded in part by contributions from businesses and individuals and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the North Carolina Arts Council.

 

 

Cumberland County Master Gardener Volunteer Training

Cumberland County’s Extension Master Gardeners Volunteer program is offering a training class for local residents interested in increasing their gardening knowledge and volunteering in the community. The extension service is providing advanced notice. The classes aren’t scheduled to begin until Jan. 12, 2017. They’ll be held weekly through May 4 in the Cooperative Extension Auditorium at 301 East Mountain Drive in Fayetteville. There is a fee to cover training supplies and the Extension Master Gardener Training Manual. Applications are now being accepted and can be obtained by calling 910-321-6405. Applications may also be found online at the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Service website (https://cumberland.ces.ncsu.edu). The deadline for accepting applications is Nov. 18. 

 

Clarification

A News Digest article in last week’s edition misstated that Fayetteville Regional Airport has been awarded three $10 million dollar grants to renovate the 47-year-old terminal. Actually, it’s receiving two such grants. Other federal funds include $6 million in entitlement funding and $2.8 million in passenger facility charges. A local airport share of between $5 and $7 million rounds out the revenue. Total funding for design and construction is estimated at $34 to $36 million, according to Airport Manager Brad Whited.

 

I spend substantial time in the Fayetteville Community Garden. This is because I grow vegetables in a plot there, along with volunteering to help maintain and beautify the garden. This five-acre, 94-plot garden is proving to be a microcosm of what I see in our country from a distance. That is, I see media reports and hear accounts from other people that trouble me as to what is happening in America. In the garden I see close-up incidents that corroborate what troubles me about the larger society.

Among these corroborated concerns is the course America seems to be taking relative to redistribution of wealth. I agree with Charles Payne, a Fox Business Network contributor and host of Fox’s Making Money with Charles Payne. I understand Payne to say there are many people who believe America has peaked in ability to expand the economy and provide opportunity for financial advancement; consequently, there must be redistribution of wealth. This assessment is even more troubling when one considers the primary approach being used by those who so strongly pursue redistribution of wealth. I contend what they are doing is summarized well in an article titled “Work Ethic Definition & Elements of a Strong Work Ethic” at www.cleverism.com when speaking of socialism:

“Traditionally, work ethic has been understood as a value based on hard work and diligence. Capitalists, for example, believe in the necessity of working hard and in consequential ability of enhancing one’s character. Socialists suggest that a concept of ‘hard work’ is deluding the working class into being loyal workers of the elite; and working hard, in itself, is not necessarily an honorable thing, but simply a way to create greater wealth for those at the summit of the economic pyramid.”

Given that the thinking in the second half of the quote above is prevailing in America, the result is a multitude of entitlement programs where citizens receive benefits without having invested anything. Federalsafetynet.com states, “Welfare Programs include 13 separate programs to fight poverty (…) and the Medicaid Program which provides healthcare to low-income Americans. Welfare Programs and Medicaid are non-contributory, meaning recipients are entitled to the benefits even though they have made no contributions to the programs through taxes.” 

The pressing question is: Are these anti-poverty programs effective? A paper by Robert Rector and Jennifer A. Marshall titled “The Unfinished Work of Welfare Reform” states that when measuring poverty, the U.S. Census Bureau “omits more than $800 billion in means-tested government cash, food, housing and medical benefits; it takes into account only what Americans earn on their own, without government assistance.” Referring to that approach, Rector and Marshall give this assessment:

“And what does this measure tell us? That there has been essentially no improvement in self-sufficiency since the War on Poverty began more than four decades ago. In 1966, the share of the population living below the poverty (self-sufficiency) threshold was 14.7 percent; by 2011, it had actually risen — to 15.0 percent. While the material living conditions of less affluent Americans may have improved over time, when it comes to President Johnson’s original goal — reducing the “causes” rather than the mere “consequences” of poverty — our welfare policies have failed. Many parts of the population are in fact now less capable of self-sufficiency than they were when the War on Poverty began.”

Also in this wealth redistribution effort that I see from a distance is welfare reform from 1996, during the presidency of Bill Clinton. Two bits of information from the paper by Rector and Marshall referenced above. First, focus on the work requirement of that reform:

“For all the hype about the 1996 law, it dramatically reformed only one of nearly 80 federal means-tested programs providing aid to the poor. The reform replaced the largest cash-welfare program, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, with a new program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which included work requirements and a time limit on aid — all funded through block grants to states.”

Then on the impact of this reform:

“The immediate results clearly vindicated the conservative hypothesis about ‘workfare,’ as droves of former (and potential future) welfare dependents became productive employees in the private economy. So successful was the policy overhaul, in fact, that many conservatives concluded that their work on welfare was finished. But the reactions of both sides were overwrought: Liberals’ dire predictions that millions more Americans would fall into poverty and that social dysfunction would increase proved mistaken; conservative workfare, meanwhile, has become the victim of its own success.”

Then Robert Rector writes in a 2012 article titled “How Obama Has Gutted Welfare Reform:” 

“But the Obama administration has jettisoned the law’s work requirements, asserting that, in the future, no state will be required to follow them. In place of the legislated work requirements, the administration has stated, it will unilaterally design its own ‘work’ systems without Congressional involvement or consent. Any state will be free to follow the new Obama requirements ‘in lieu of’ the written statute.” 

The cost of existing entitlement programs is tremendous and growing. Many politicians promise even more programs and intend to pay for them by raising taxes on the wealthy.

To this point is what I see from media and research. This can be summarized as America rapidly moving from espousing hard work and seeking opportunity for advancement to a nation discouraging hard work; fermenting disdain by citizens of low income toward the wealthy; and promoting an entitlement mentality that causes far too many people to believe society is to provide for them “from the cradle to the grave.”

Now a couple of experiences from the community garden that corroborate this summary assessment of what I believe America is fast becoming. I was working in my garden plot when a lady rode up in a car driven by another lady. The passenger gets out, approaches me and explains that she needs food for her family because her Food Stamps will not come for another two days. I tell her there is nothing in my garden, but maybe two men sitting near their plots might help. She talks with them and comes back mumbling about how they would not help her. I asked if she realized she could rent a plot for just $25 per year and grow vegetables. Her response was she had three kids, was a single parent, and did not have $25 to rent a plot. In a huff, she got in the car and left.

My thought was, by gardening, she could not only grow food, but have those three children help and, in the process, learn the value and necessity of work. This won’t happen because she has come under the new American spell that others are to provide for her. Sadly, by observing their mother, those three children will likely take on the same attitude. 

Another day, a lady drives up in a nice SUV, gets out, and starts asking me to name various vegetables in several plots. I begin answering her questions, but then asked if she has a plot. She says, “No,” but she wants to pick some vegetables. I explain I can’t give her permission to take vegetables from plots that belong to other people. She responds, “This is a community garden.” I explained to her that “community garden” does not mean that you take what you want without permission and I ask her to leave. She moves to leave and I walk away, but look back. The lady is in a plot picking tomatoes. I yell, “Ma’am, please stop taking vegetables and leave the garden.” She gets in that nice SUV and kicks up dust on the garden road as she leaves, obviously angry. By the way, this lady had a young girl with her who looked to be about 12-years-old.

I hold here is another person who not only feels entitled, but also disrespects the rights and property of others. This is an attitude born of, and nurtured by, all of what is described in the opening of this column. Furthermore, given a choice of the woman she rode up with, or me, as a role model, that young lady will likely choose the woman and take on her attitude to the detriment of herself and American society.

If not already done, I encourage you to read this column slowly and thoroughly. Then determine what you might do to help turn America back to the course where hard work, individual responsibility and respect for others prevail.

All the markers tell us that we women have indeed “come a long way, baby.” For the first time, a woman is running for President of the United States on a major party ticket, and a North Carolina woman is poised to unseat an incumbent United States Senator. Women lead major corporations, direct films and television programs and blossom in entrepreneurial startups. More and more of us are stunningly successful, and the rest of us of all ages are watching and taking notes.

It is all good, but there is no question we are also conflicted.

Deborah Spar, president of Barnard, the women’s college associated with Columbia University in New York, wrote a column last month about women “of a certain age” fighting back through plastic surgery. Cosmetic plastic surgery is an option for relatively few of us because it is expensive and rarely covered by insurance, but for those so inclined and willing and able to pony up, Spar’s column is making big waves among both the pros and cons of cosmetic surgery. She lays out the dilemma this way: “Like most women in my liberal, feminist-leaning, highly educated peer group, I am ideologically opposed to intervening in such a natural and inevitable process as simply getting on in years.

 “But like many of my peers, I am also a two-faced hypocrite, at least when it comes to parts of myself that may well benefit from a twinge of not-quite-so-natural intervention. Almost every woman I know colors her hair in some way, whether from a box or at a pricey salon….Does a little face-life along the way constitute treason, or just a reasonable accommodation. I don’t know.

 “What I do know, though, is that for women in certain professional or social circles, the bar of normal keeps going up. There are virtually no wrinkles on Hollywood stars or on Broadway actors; ditto for female entrepreneurs or women in the news media…women in Congress and even fewer on Wall Street….Just saying no — to chemical, peels, lasers and liposuction — becomes harder under these circumstances, even if no one wants to admit that’s the case….”What is more, as with so many issues that surround women and beauty and aging and sex, there is a paradox today that seems to strike women of the postfeminist generation with a particular force.”

Weighing in about women on another front is Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook and author of Lean In, her bestseller encouraging women to tackle both our public and private lives with gusto, energy, and enthusiasm. Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Sandberg acknowledges pushback against women’s advancement in the workplace, with words like “bossy” and “aggressive” tossed around when women ask for responsibility and promotion. She also points to an annual study from Women in the Workplace, which found that women are still a century away from gender equality in corporate suites.

Not surprisingly, Sandberg urges women to keep negotiating and pushing —t o keep “leaning in,” and to do so until the day that it’s seen as perfectly normal, and even expected, for women to ask for more.”

Says Sandberg, “These things matter — not just for women, but for all of us. Research shows that gender equality is as good for business as it is for individuals. Diverse teams and companies produce better results and higher revenue and profits, which lead to more opportunity for everyone, not just women.”

Sandberg and Spar address different aspects of the nearly two-century long struggle for gender equality in our country, and both acknowledge that women of all ages have work to do both in the workplace and in the many ways we see ourselves and allow others to see and judge us. They — and I —would love all of us, both men and women, to be aware of stereotyping of women in daily conversation, including some of the conversation in this year’s political campaigning.

Speaking of cosmetic surgery, Spar says this, and her words go to the heart of how women both perceive ourselves and the costs of advancing in our culture:  “…an entire generation of feminist and post-feminist women who stormed the barricades of the American workforce, planned their reproductive destinies, and even got their partners to fold the laundry occasionally, are now engaged in an odd sort of collective self-delusion. Everyone….is doing it, and very few are confessing, a fact that in some ways is more disturbing than the surge in the surgeries themselves. Because not only are we nipping, suctioning and using hormones, but we’re also feeling embarrassed about it, and lying. Neither of which was really the point of women’s liberation.”

Hmmmm…..