The wide-ranging impact and reach of mental health issues garnered considerable attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the virus as well as mandates designed to reduce its spread led to increased feelings of anxiety and isolation. Since then, life has returned to normal for billions of people across the globe, but many people, including seniors, continue to experience mental health issues.

The Pan American Health Organization reports that at least one in four older adults experiences a mental disorder such as depression, anxiety or dementia. And those figures will likely only grow, as population estimates indicate seniors will make up a greater percentage of the global population in the years to come. Seniors dealing with mental health issues may feel helpless, but there is much they can do to safeguard their mental health.

Socialize regularly.

A 2019 study published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences found that older adults who socialized with people beyond their circle of family and close friends were more likely to have greater positive moods and fewer negative feelings. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of older adults report feeling isolated from others. According to the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging that was conducted in January 2023, one in three older adults reported infrequent contact (once a week or less) with people from outside their home.

Speak with a mental health professional.

Among the more troubling aspects of the mental health crisis affecting seniors is that the PAHO reports two-thirds of older adults with mental health problems do not get the treatment they need. Speaking with a mental health professional can help older adults in myriad ways. Such professionals can identify the issue that is prompting seniors to seek help and offer suggestions that can improve overall health and quality of life. Roundstone Insurance notes that reliance on digital behavioral health tools, including telehealth, was turned to both during the pandemic and ever since, and seniors can utilize such services if they have limited mobility and/or no one to help them make it to in-person appointments.

Volunteer.

Many older adults are retired, and while ample free time may have seemed like the ultimate reward after a lifetime of working, many retirees experience a void once their life no longer has the structure that work can provide. According to the independent nonprofit HelpGuide.org, retirement depression can compel retirees to feel as though they miss the sense of identity, meaning and purpose that came with their jobs, which can make some feel depressed, aimless and isolated. Volunteering can help fill the void created by retirement, and the positive mental health effects of volunteering are well-documented. According to the Mayo Clinic, studies have shown volunteering increases positive, relaxed feelings and gives volunteers a sense of meaning and appreciation.

No one is immune to mental health issues, including seniors. But older adults can take various steps to address their mental health and improve their overall health as a result

Ain’t love grand? Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here’s another story of the course of true love which never runs smoothly. This story will probably not appear on the Hallmark Channel.

However, as another fine leisure service of Up & Coming, enjoy Grimm’s Fairy Tale of the Goose Girl. Spoiler Alert: If you don’t know this story, go read the book. Trigger Warning for Snow Flakes: Contents of this story involve identity theft, an ungrateful servant, a talking horse, violence involving said horse, a flock of geese, a mean kid named Conrad, and a barrel of not fun.

 

 

You have been warned.

Once upon a time, there was a widowed Queen* (*not a Drag Queen) and her lovely Princess daughter. The Princess grew up to be a great beauty. On her 15th birthday, it was time to marry her off to a Prince as life spans were much shorter then.

The Prince lived far away in the Great Woods. The Queen prepped the Princess for her journey with a maidservant and a talking horse, Falada. As a good luck charm for the Princess, the Queen pricked her finger to let three drops of blood drip onto a handkerchief. Being a dutiful daughter, the Princess tucked the handkerchief into her dress for the road to romance.

It was a hot day. The Princess became very thirsty after a long ride. She asked her servant to fetch her some water in the golden goblet the Servant was carrying. In the first sign of trouble, the Servant refused to get water for the Princess, telling her to get it herself.

The Princess, being a Princess, had never had to get her own water. She was shocked but somehow managed to get her own water from the spring. The Princess thought “Dear Lord!’ The 3 drops of blood replied: “If your Mother knew this, it would break her heart.” Gentle reader, you didn’t know that blood drops could speak, did you? Now you do.

They rode on a few more miles. Princess got thirsty again. Servant refused to fetch water. This time the handkerchief fell out of Princess’ dress into a stream and floated away. Uh oh. When Princess tried to get back on her horse, Falada, Servant said “Wait a minute, Missy! That horse is mine. We are going to switch clothes and I will be the Princess and you will be the servant. If you don’t agree I will kill you here.”

The Servant made Princess swear a mighty oath she would never reveal what had happened.

When they got to the castle, the Servant was received as the Princess. This switcheroo predated the movie “Trading Places” where Eddie Murphy switched with Dan Aykroyd.

To keep Falada from spilling the beans about the switch, the Servant got the Prince to cut off Falada’s head. The real Princess arranged to have Falada’s severed head nailed to a gateway she would pass each day. The Fake Princess suggested to the Prince that the real Princess be assigned to work driving geese each morning as a Goose Girl. This was a lousy job as her Goose boss was a male chauvinist pig named Conrad.

Conrad had a hair fetish. He tried to pull out strands of the Goose Girl’s golden hair. The Goose Girl said some magic words and each day the wind would blow away Conrad’s hat. Conrad would spend the day chasing his hat instead of pulling her hair. Falada’s head commented each day on how the Princess’ mother’s heart would break if she knew of her plight.

Frustrated, Conrad squealed to the King about what Falada’s head said. The King hid by the wall to watch Falada speak. The King summoned the Goose Girl to the palace to explain. She told him she had sworn an oath not to tell anyone. The King told her to get into an unheated iron stove and tell her story to the stove. The King listened outside the stove, so technically she did not break her oath. The King believed her story and restored her to her rightful position.

They had a royal banquet to celebrate. The King asked the fake Princess a hypothetical question about what should be done to someone who had done all the bad things the Servant had done.

The Servant, being not too bright, said such a person should be stripped naked and put in a barrel studded with nails on the inside. Then the barrel should be tied behind two white horses and dragged until she was dead. This was what is now known as a “Gotcha question.”

The King ordered the Servant into a barrel and dragged through the streets until she expired. The real Princess and the Prince were married and lived happily ever after. No talking horses were injured during the telling of this story. Now you know why this story will never be on the Hallmark Channel.

Happy Valentine’s day.

February is Black History Month, and there will be no shortage of activities for the public to participate in to immerse themselves in the culture and history of African Americans. Our People: The Black Influence in Contemporary Culture exhibition is one event no one should miss.

The Arts Council of Fayetteville Our People exhibit will run from Jan. 26th to March 2nd. Admission is free to the public. The exhibit can be viewed during gallery hours, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday noon to 6 p.m., and Sunday 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Community members, churches, schools, and everyone in between are welcome to come enjoy the masterpieces of current black artists. This year’s exhibit jurors are Brandon Dean Johnson, Bryane Broadie, Makayla Binter and Bob Pinson, Arts Council of Fayetteville’s CEO and President.

Our People: The Black Influence in Contemporary Culture is a colorful, beautiful and sincere visual homage to black culture from black artists, a Black History Month exhibition that focuses on the grace, accomplishments and subject of current black artists.

“Our People is really contemporary, modern, and I refer to a phrase, forward-looking exhibit, in the sense that we really wanted to give flowers and also just acknowledge the artists. The artists that are making art right now are going to have stuff in museums and the history forward. So instead of focusing on the things that have already happened, we want to acknowledge the present and the future. I would say that a lot of the art and just the type of art that’s in the exhibit and just the way that you can interact with the exhibit is really in that same modern style,” said Miles McKeller-Smith, Director of Public Relations at the Arts Council.

Our People is a highly anticipated exhibit that has taken time, blood, sweat, tears and a little clarification to create the wonderfully magical experience the public has to look forward to. It is, for the most part, thanks to the work and dedication of the curator.

McKeller-Smith said, “First and foremost I think it’s important to bring up the Curator, Collyn Strother. He is a Fayetteville native and also a Fayetteville State Alumni and he’s an artist that has chosen to really do what he does here, and build a community here. When he had the opportunity to curate this event you could tell he really just took the
torch and ran with it.”

The Opening Reception was one for the books on Jan. 26th. An opening reception befitting of its show, the community came out to support Our People and the wonderful artists that are being featured, including local artists Lauren Falls and Chayla Walker. After an artist-only private reception, the gallery officially opened its doors for the public to view the exhibit. DJ Fudgee kept the ambiance of the night going, while Hip-Hop Collective The Social Contract stopped through for a performance. A night of celebrating black art wouldn’t be complete without spoken word. Keith Sowell held it down phonetically.

A celebration to start a celebration, community members have the entire month to take in the art of Our People: The Black Influence in Contemporary Culture.

Professional photography is a thriving global business and Fayetteville doesn’t have a shortage of local premier photographers. Studio SM2 is adding to the talent and artistic eye of Fayetteville, located at 100 Hay Street Suite 704 in downtown.

Owner Jesus Sebastian Martinez, preferably referred to as Sebastian, is from Sincelejo, Colombia, and moved to the United States three years ago with his wife Lina, after studying business administration and graphic design. Unlike some photographers who have chosen to just shoot one style, Martinez is a photographer of many talents.

His photography skills range from professional headshots to high fashion; whatever the need, he has it covered. His enormous smile and keen eye for the “best side” of every client, make sessions with Martinez one-of-a-kind, comfortable experiences.

Photography isn’t the only service offered at Studio SM2. The studio offers videography and content creation services for individuals and businesses looking to take their social media presence to the next level, providing quality videos, creative direction and behind the scenes content. The studio is located within the Keep It Cute K Content Space, making it ideal for capturing photographs and video, in various beautifully decorated spaces.

”I accompany entrepreneurs in the creation of their businesses. I advise them and help them achieve what they want if they need a design, digital content, photographs, or ideas, because before delivering a final product, I am interested in people exploring and enjoying the process,” Martinez said.
Studio SM2 is a business born of pure artistic passion.

“I remember that when I was a kid, I liked photography, and more than taking photos of myself, I liked taking photos of other people. I remember that my mom had a roll black camera that was very old, then she changed it to a gray one, and I spent a lot of money taking photos of everything, of course she didn’t know…

"When I had my first digital camera, I found out the topic of videos and I started making videos and editing them, but I always did it for myself, to remember or to have memories and stories to tell. When I was 15, I had an advanced camera. The truth is that I took photos of everything that was interesting to me and that told me a story,” Martinez said.

“When I started studying Graphic Design, photography classes were my favorite and I began to find out more tools for photography,” Martinez said of his love for photography. When it comes to job experience, Martinez is well-equipped in his knowledge of creating content for clients and shooting stunning photos. While in Columbia, he racked up quite a resume working for companies like INSPIRA and even launched his educational project for children called +Inclusion. The United States was not in Martinez's original plan, but he has found a new mission and purpose here.

“I never imagined myself living in America and my English is not the best. But in my almost three years of living in this country, each experience has been enriching and rewarding. I have been able to connect with amazing people who have given me great learnings…I want to start creating learning spaces for the Latin community.

"I want to provide photography classes, content creation workshops, video editing workshops, social media workshops, and other creative workshops. I feel that there is a lot to contribute to the Latin community and I think this is the moment.” Martinez said.

Not a man to not give credit, Martinez is adamant that the secret to his success is his incredible wife Lina, a local ESL teacher. “She has been my model at 2 a.m. when I have wanted to take photos. Furthermore, she is my unconditional support, she is a beautiful woman, with surprising charisma and an adorable person. She is my right hand at Studio SM2 and we are always looking for new ideas.”

Lina is the driving force behind Sebastian, from helping him capture behind the scenes footage, to creative directing and translating. Studio SM2 is currently taking clients and Martinez has high hopes for the future of the studio.

“I want that Studio SM2 would be a famous space and brand in Fayetteville. I don’t want it to just be a space to take photographs, I want it to be known as a space to meet and connect with other people. I want people to feel comfortable, and safe and discover their best version in this space. I want Studio SM2 to be recognized as a unique experience, for our attention to small details to make a difference and to highlight that we want to show the best in each person,” Martinez said.

To book a session or view work, visit the studio website at https://studiosmtwo.my.canva.site/myportfoliostudiosm2.

This Valentine’s Day, feel your blood chill and your spine tingle in sync with the chug of a tractor motor. Experience true terror in the hay fields of Clinton this sensual season with the team behind Hollerin’ Haunts Hayrides at their My Bloody Valentine event held annually at their farm in rural North Carolina.

From the passionate performers, to the spooky sights and décor, Hollerin’ Haunts Hayrides hopes to bring attendees and spectators a fun and festive fright for all ages.

“We basically want to have the best hayride in the U.S. That’s our goal. That’s our ultimate goal. We’re not going to stop working and building until we get to that,” said Jerry Johnson, a team member behind Hollerin’ Haunts Hayrides.

The My Bloody Valentine horrifying hayride has been around since the beginning. Since it’s inception, the hayride has evolved to the point where it now has eighteen different scenes, sets, and scaled buildings meant to elevate the experience for thrill seekers.

Many secret spooks await at this year’s My Bloody Valentine as well. According to Johnson, the team has worked extremely hard to put together a brand-new scene that will be sure to have you walking, or running, like an Egyptian. For the sake of secrecy, that’s all we can say on the matter. If you would like to uncover the ancient horrors and witness the passion behind the pursuits to petrify, you’ll just have to see it for yourself. Unknown frights aside, Johnson also shared some of the other scenes included in the hayride and walkthrough.

“The hayride is definitely our main attraction. Our other event is our ‘Halfway to Halloween’. We also do an event where we allow vendors to come out. We do a ‘Zombie Prom’ and all kinds of different stuff like that. Basically, whenever the customers come, they get to mingle with the actors before it starts. Anytime there’s a Friday the 13th, we also do a walkthrough on the backside of the property. We have another whole path just for that,” Johnson said.

“You can come out for yourself and experience it. You’ll get a much better feel for it rather than writing or reading about it. For us, having the hayride is a huge advantage. Anybody can ride on the hayride.”

While its first performance has already passed, you can catch the next hayride on Saturday, Feb. 17. The event is planned to run between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Johnson and the crew invite all those interested in horror culture, haunted houses, haunting events and hayrides to come out and join them for an evening filled with fear, fun, and adrenaline pumping encounters.

For more information on how to attend and where to buy tickets for this and future events at Hollerin’ Haunts Hayrides, please visit their website at https://www.hollerinhauntshayride.com/my-bloody-valentine/

With the temperatures dropping, staying warm and safe are challenging factors for unhoused individuals. When temperatures drop in winter weather, there comes an increased risk of hypothermia, frostbite and other cold weather injuries. To alleviate this, states, cities and counties have developed and established facilities known as warming centers in key locations within public property. These warming centers exist to assuage the hardships and risks to individuals' health from prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures. Paired with them are White Flag shelters; these exist as overnight facilities meant to protect people from having to sleep outside in sub-freezing temperatures.

While widely unknown, these unsung facilities have been thoughtfully developed to provide relief from increased cold weather injuries during the winter months.

"In general, warming centers are strategically located in public buildings located around the County, such as Library locations and recreation centers, with the goal of providing people who need them with options closer to where they are located,” said Lou Cherry, Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the Public Information Office, Cumberland County.

Being public facilities, warming centers are always open to the public at their corresponding locations within regular business hours. It is only when the weather drops low enough to warrant risk to the public are warming centers more actively advertised to those who might be unaware and in need within the communities they serve.

"Warming centers have no regulated standards and are operated within county and/or city facilities that meet building code standards as warming centers are not intended to shelter individuals overnight," Cherry stated.

"County facilities are maintained by the County, primarily through our Internal Services Department or departmental facilities staff. City facilities are maintained by the City," he said.

While uncommon, understanding and trusting the procedures set in place in times of emergency helps to facilitate the distribution of aid. Cherry stated that there was a department for handling such events.
"Facilities are instructed to alert Emergency Management if any overcrowding issues arise,” he said.

In most cases, emergency management departments are designed with the purpose of developing plans, contingencies and frameworks to alleviate the risks, hazards and vulnerabilities present in the regular operating procedures of the facilities they're overseeing. This includes plans for shortness of resources, equipment malfunctions and overcrowding to list a few.

Warming centers exist as a community staple to alleviate the suffering and health risks faced by people who are stuck outside during dangerously cold weather. While open to anyone who may be in need, these important facilities largely provide a safe and warm space for a local community's unhoused population during winter months. With locations in public facilities such as local libraries, parks and recreation centers and county department buildings, established warming centers give these people a moment of respite from the harsh and damaging temperature drops frequent during cold fronts. When paired with White Flag shelters providing unhoused people a safe and warm place to sleep during these cold weather crises, these two necessary public facility amenities help to reduce cases of life and limb-threatening cold weather injuries. These are just two examples of essential functions maintained by funding and oversight by local county governance.

If you or someone you know is at risk of being out in the cold this winter, please share with them these locations of Cumberland County's warming centers.

• Headquarters Library - 300 Maiden Lane, Fayetteville, NC 28301

• Bordeaux Community Library - 3711 Village Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28304

• Cliffdale Regional Library - 6882 Cliffdale Road , Fayetteville, NC 28314

• East Regional Library - 4809 Clinton Road, Fayetteville, NC 28312

• Hope Mills Community Library - 3411 Golfview Road Hope Mills, NC 28348

• North Regional Library - 855 McArthur Road, Fayetteville, NC 28311

• Spring Lake Community Library - 101 Laketree Boulevard, Spring Lake, NC 28390

• West Regional Library - 7469 Century Circle, Fayetteville, NC 28306

• Cumberland County Department of Social Services lobby - 1225 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301

• Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) Transit Center - 502-598 Franklin Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301

• Cumberland County Parks & Recreation - 121 Lamon Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301

• Cumberland County Public Health Department - 1235 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301

• Cliffdale Recreation Center - 6404 Cliffdale Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28314

• College Lakes Recreation Center - 4945 Rosehill Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28311

• Eastover Recreation Center - 3637 Pembroke Ln., Fayetteville, NC 28312

• E. E. Miller Recreation Center - 1347 Rim Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28314

• G. B. Myers Recreation Center - 1018 Rochester Dr., Fayetteville, NC 28305

• John Dover "J.D." Pone Sr. Recreation Center at Gray's Creek - 2964 School Rd., Hope Mills, NC 28348

• J.S. Spivey Recreation Center - 500 Fisher St., Fayetteville, NC 28301

• Kiwanis Recreation Center and Honeycutt Park - 352 Devers St., Fayetteville, NC 28303

• Cumberland County Lake Rim Recreation Center - 1455 Hoke Loop Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28314

• Massey Hill Recreation Center & Park - 1612 Camden Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28306

• Pine Forest Recreation Center - 6901 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311

• Smith Recreation Center - 1520 Slater Ave., Fayetteville, NC 28301

• Stedman Recreation Center - 175 Circle Dr., Stedman, NC 28391

• Spring Lake Recreation Center - 245 Ruth Street, Fayetteville, NC 28305

• Spring Lake Senior Center - 301 Ruth Street, Fayetteville, NC 28305

• Stoney Point Recreation Center - 7411 Rockfish Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28306

• Westover Recreation Center - 267 Bonanza Dr., Fayetteville, NC 28303

•Dorothy Gilmore Therapeutic Recreation Center (Gilmore Therapeutic Center) - 1600 Purdue Dr., Fayetteville, NC 28304

• Bill Crisp Senior Center - 7560 Raeford Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28304

• Fayetteville Senior Center - 739 Blue St., Fayetteville, NC 28301

•Tokay Senior Fitness Center - 328 Hamilton St., Fayetteville, NC 28301

While the holiday season was a special time for celebration and cheer, the New Year is one for reflecting on the past and looking to the future. There have been many challenges over the first year of the 118th Congress.

Still, one thing has never faltered: my unwavering commitment to serving you and our community. With the 2024 legislative session in full swing, I look forward to continuing to advance the best interests of our entire region, the military families who call our community home, and our nation.

Tackling critical issues head-on and finding common sense solutions has always been my focus as your Congressman. In a race to beat the deadline, Congress passed a short-term deal to keep the government funded and prevent a shutdown.

While it is not a perfect deal, it ensures that our troops and their families have the resources they need. It also allows House Republicans to continue advancing our agenda and fighting for conservative policies - like proven measures to secure our border.

Due to the disastrous immigration policies of the Biden Administration and the Democrats, we have seen the worst crisis at our Southern border in history. In December alone, more than 300,000 illegal migrants were encountered at the border.

This is three times the population of Moore County. This crisis is not just impacting border communities, this is impacting every community.

Record numbers of illegal immigrants are crossing into our country every day, overwhelming cities nationwide, draining resources and costing taxpayers billions.

To make matters worse, liberal states, like California, have gamed the system to provide Medicaid benefits to illegal immigrants at the expense of hardworking taxpayers. Not only is this against the law, but it further incentivizes more illegal crossings at our border and puts citizens who truly depend on the program on the back burner.

That is unacceptable, which is why I recently introduced the Protect Medicaid Act. This common-sense bill will help protect your tax dollars from being used to subsidize illegal immigrants’ health care costs and ensure the most vulnerable among us can get the care they need.

The absence of a secure border has posed a serious threat to the safety and security of communities nationwide.

We have seen a significant influx of deadly drugs, especially fentanyl, being smuggled into our interior and robbing countless innocent lives.

Just this month, a man in Cumberland County was busted trafficking more than 1,600 rainbow fentanyl pills, which usually are targeted to children.

While President Joe Biden continues to ignore the devastating consequences of his failed open-border policies on our nation, the Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing recently to address just how bad the crisis has gotten.

One thing was clear from the testimony: the urgent need to close our border. House Republicans passed H.R. 2, the strongest border security legislation to help solve this crisis. Yet, Senate Democrats refuse to take up this important bill.

Their inaction — combined with Biden’s open-border policies - are continuing to worsen this crisis. But we will not stop fighting for solutions.

As a dad and your Congressman, I am also committed to defending the right to life — endowed by God and enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

As a Christian, I firmly believe that life begins at conception and that family is the foundation of American life.

Before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, more than 60 million unborn children had lost their lives to abortion over the past 50 years. Since the Court’s ruling, countless innocent babies have been saved.

However, the annual March for Life in our nation’s capital recently served as a reminder that the fight to protect the sanctity of life is not over.

In Congress, I have advocated for all methods of protecting life and mothers, encouraging adoption, boosting resources like pregnancy centers, or fighting to stop the administration from imposing unconstitutional mandates on small businesses that go against their beliefs. Rest assured, I will never stop being a strong voice for the voiceless.

A new year brings new opportunities to get our nation back on track and secure a brighter future for every American.

By working together, I am confident that we will do just that.
Until next time.

The 2024 national Girl Scout Cookie Season commenced on Jan. 9th, marking an opportunity to show support for these young girls as they acquire important entrepreneurial and life skills such as goal setting, interpersonal abilities and financial management.

While Girl Scout cookies are undeniably delicious on their own, they also make a great accompaniment to beer! If you're a fan of delicious treats and a cold brew, then you're in for a real treat! Girl Scout cookies and beer pairing is the ultimate combination for those looking to indulge in the perfect sweet and savory experience. When it comes to pairing Girl Scout cookies with beer, the possibilities are endless.

 

Thin Mints

These minty chocolate delights pair beautifully with a rich and robust stout. The smooth, velvety texture of the beer complements the crispness of the cookie, creating a sensational taste sensation that will leave your taste buds wanting more.

Beer Suggestions:
• Shooter McMunn's from Lost Rhino Brewing Company
• It's My Island from Pocock Brewing Co.
• Shaft House Stout from Dostal Alley

 

Trefoil

For those who prefer a lighter cookie, the trefoil is a perfect choice. These buttery shortbread cookies are best enjoyed with a refreshing pilsner or lager. The light and crisp flavors of the beer enhance the subtle sweetness of the trefoil, creating a harmonious balance that is simply irresistible.

Beer Suggestions:
• Happy Amber from MadTree Brewing 2.0
• ESB from Hillman Beer
• Bull Kelp ESB from San Juan Island Brewing Co.

 

Caramel deLites/Samoas

These coconutty caramel delights are a fan favorite, and they deserve an equally impressive beer pairing. The richness of an amber ale or brown ale perfectly complements the decadence of the Samoa. The caramel notes in the beer enhance the caramel flavor in the cookie, while the slight bitterness cuts through the sweetness, creating an unforgettable taste experience.

Beer Suggestions:
• Potter's Clay from Four Saints Brewing
• Amber Ale from Full Sail Brewing Company
•Fat Tire Amber Ale from New Belgium Brewing

 

Peanut Butter Patties/Tagalongs

The Tagalongs are all about that perfect balance of sweet and salty. The creamy peanut butter filling adds a rich and nutty flavor, while the smooth chocolate coating provides just the right amount of sweetness. A hoppy IPA can provide a refreshing contrast to the sweetness of the chocolate coating.

Beer Suggestions:
• Hazy Little Thing IPA
from Sierra Nevada
• IPA from Goose Island
• 90-Minute IPA from Dogfish Head

 

Do-si-dos/Peanut Butter Sandwich

This cookie features a crisp and buttery oatmeal exterior, with a smooth and creamy peanut butter filling in the center. It's a match made in cookie heaven. For those who enjoy a rich and indulgent experience, try pairing your cookie with a stout or porter. The dark roasted malts in these beers complement the nutty flavors of the peanut butter, while the slightly bitter finish helps to balance out the sweetness of the cookie.

Beer Suggestions:
• Special Double Cream Stout from Bell's Brewery
• Breakfast Stout from Founders Brewing Company
• London Porter from Fuller's

 

S’Mores

This delectable treat is inspired by the beloved campfire snack, double dipped in a creamy icing before being enveloped in a scrumptious chocolate coating with a graham cracker sandwich that is filled with a combination of chocolate and marshmallow. For a delightful pairing, instead of opting for a sweet or roasty stout to accompany the chocolate, graham cracker, and marshmallow, try a tart and fruity sour.

Beer Suggestions:
• Sour Brainless on Peaches from Epic Brewing Company
• Kriek Ale from Cascade Brewing
•Blackberry from Upland Brewing Company
•Passion Fruit Sour Ale from Breakside Brewery

 

Lemonades

These tangy delights are best enjoyed with a light and citrusy wheat beer. The zesty flavors in the beer enhance the refreshing lemon taste of the cookie, creating a flavor combination that will make your taste buds dance with delight. It's like a summer picnic in every bite.

Beer Suggestions:
• Oberon American Wheat Ale from Bell's Brewery
• Sunny Little Thing Citrus Wheat from Sierra Nevada
• LightSky Citrus Wheat from Blue Moon Brewing Company

Whether you're hosting a cookie and beer pairing party or simply looking to treat yourself to something special, pairing these beloved cookies with beer is a surefire way to elevate your snacking game. So grab your favorite box of Girl Scout cookies and crack open a cold one - it's time to indulge in the ultimate sweet and savory pairing!

If you need help finding Girl Scout Cookies in your area use the Girl Scout’s Cookie Finder:
https://www.girlscouts.org/en/cookies/how-to-buy-cookies.html

If incumbent Mike Causey wins the Republican nod for insurance commissioner in March, it’ll be his seventh nomination.

That will break the current record of six nominations for insurance commissioner — a record currently shared by Causey and the late Jim Long, a Democrat.

That’s just in the primary, though. All six times Long was nominated, beginning in 1984, he won the general election. Of Causey’s six runs — 1992, 1996, 2000, 2012, 2016, and 2020 — he was victorious in only the last two.

While all 50 states have insurance commissioners, North Carolina is one of just 11 that elect their commissioners. The office is primarily a regulatory one, not only overseeing the wide spectrum of insurance policies and annuities sold in our state but also licensing such professionals as agents, adjusters, bail bondsmen, and home inspectors.

Before his election in 2016, Causey owned an insurance agency and other businesses and worked for the N.C. Department of Transportation. On his campaign site, he argues that “more competition in North Carolina’s insurance industry will provide lower rates for consumers and greater access to better products.”

One of his rivals for the GOP nomination, former state Rep. Robert Brawley, is also an insurance professional and served off and on for two decades in the North Carolina House.

In 2004, he was the Republican nominee for insurance commissioner, losing to Long. In 2016, he unsuccessfully challenged then-Gov Pat McCrory in the GOP primary. Among Brawley’s priorities are enhancing building code safety and “maintaining fair competition in the insurance industry.”

In recent weeks, Brawley has called for a financial audit of the Department of Insurance and criticized Causey’s practice of hiring friends and political allies as personal aides and department officials. As first reported by the News & Observer of Raleigh, critics question the value and efficiency of Causey’s regional offices, though he calls them “a good way to serve the public without people having to drive all the way to Raleigh.”

A third candidate in the GOP primary, Andrew Marcus, has worked as a prosecutor, firefighter, and insurance regulator. A first-time candidate, he advocates a crackdown on insurance fraud, more price transparency and competition, and investigating any Chinese Communist Party involvement in insurers doing business in the state.

The insurance commissioner “should work for you, not for the insurance companies or for political cronies,” Marcus says. “But that’s not the case today and that’s why your rates are increasing year after year.”

One of two candidates for the Democratic nomination is Natasha Marcus (no relation to Andrew). Currently serving her third term as a state senator from Mecklenburg County, she’s a former litigator who worked at an anti-poverty organization before embarking on her political career.

“My mission has always been to stand up against corruption, corporate greed, and bad government,” Senator Marcus says. “We need a commissioner who will be on the side of the people, not corporations.” She’s been endorsed by Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue and many of her Democratic colleagues in the General Assembly, as well as the Sierra Club and the state’s AFL-CIO.

Her primary opponent is David Wheeler, is a small-business owner and former staffer for the North Carolina Secretary of State. He’s campaigning vigorously against proposed increases in homeowners insurance rates.

“No one in Raleigh is fighting to keep the rates down,” Wheeler says, “and the current commissioner is dependent upon insurance industry campaign cash.” Indeed, he calls Causey “Rate Hike Mike” and, like Brawley, has criticized Causey’s hiring practices and use of a state car to commute to Raleigh from Greensboro. Wheeler also pledges to resolve insurance claim disputes in 60 days and create programs to reduce or forgive medical debt. Among his endorsers is former state Rep. Patsy Keever.

All five of these candidates maintain campaign websites where you can read more about their backgrounds, endorsements, and positions on issues pertinent to the Department of Insurance. Early voting for North Carolina’s March primaries begins on February 15.

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

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra intends to highlight the significant contributions of Black composers and artists through their upcoming concert titled "Celebration of Love." This special event, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 23, is a tribute to Black History Month.

“It’s important that as an arts organization, we bring greater diversity to the ranks of performers, composers, and audiences to help change the face of classical music. It’s also equally as important to make the music of black composers as accessible to all people regardless of background or ethnicity,” expressed Meghan Woolbright, Marketing and Office Manager of the FSO.

Attendees of the concert will enjoy a one-hour musical performance featuring compositions by Florence Price and Antonín Dvorák. These pieces will be brought to life by a talented string quartet comprising Megan Kenny, Dennis Malloy, Nate Leyland and Anne Leyland.

Florence Price is recognized as the inaugural African American female composer in the field of symphonic music. Additionally, she holds the distinction of having her composition performed by a prominent orchestra. Throughout her career, Price created an impressive repertoire consisting of more than 300 pieces, including four symphonies, four concertos, choral compositions, art songs, chamber music and solo instrumental works.

Antonín Dvorák became the initial composer from Bohemia to gain global acclaim. He was renowned for his ability to transform folk elements into Romantic music of the 19th century. Ever since its groundbreaking debut at Carnegie Hall in 1893, Dvorák's Symphony No. 9, also known as the "New World Symphony,” has captured the hearts of audiences across America. This orchestral masterpiece is renowned for its innovative incorporation of African American musical elements, marking a significant milestone in the history of classical music.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra is excited to be partnering with the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church where the concert will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 18. Tickets can be purchased online at fayettevillesymphony.org, and over the phone at 910-433-4690.

Limited tickets will be available at the door the night of the performance.

“I was the hero for a little while,” Drew Ziegler says laughing.

“We learned enough to be dangerous.”

Ziegler and his wife often used to find themselves at events where people were dancing. He decided to enroll in Roland’s Dance Studio classes.

“Eventually, I got brave and purchased a beginner’s package," he said.

Now, about thirty years later, Ziegler is the president of Cape Fear Ballroom Dancers, and he and the others are preparing for their monthly dance event. This month, of course, the center is around Valentine’s Day. The event will be held at Roland’s Dance Studio from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17. The admission for the night will be $20 and will include some light food.

“We typically do a group lesson,” he says. “It depends on if we have one of our members that is an instructor attending. It’ll be right in the middle.”

The Cape Fear Ballroom Dancers, which has about 50 members, hosts a dance every month. Eight times a year they host monthly dances at Roland’s Dance Studio on the third Saturday of every month. Each quarter, they host a dinner dance at Highland Country Club, usually accompanied by live music. All the events are open to the public and those of any dancing expertise.

“Some of the members will dance with [attendees] and show them a few steps … a lot of our members haven’t taken a formal lesson. Who cares? No one has a clipboard. People just have fun.”
For the members and Ziegler, dancing is all about showing up and having fun. Ziegler looked at dancing, now and when he began, as an elegant adult activity — something he and his wife could do for date nights. He has since found it useful in many places and all sorts of events.

“When we go to other places, when we go on a cruise … we can jump out there and dance and have a good time.”

The members of Cape Fear Ballroom Dancers encourage anyone to come out, celebrate Valentines Day and have a good time at the upcoming dance.

For those worried about having a partner to dance with, Ziegler says not to worry — there are many members spreading dances around.

“There will be no wallflowers,” he says. “No one is sitting on the sidelines. It’ll be a good workout.”
For more information on this and any upcoming dance, visit www.capefearballroomdancers.org

Some people say that I’m an old-fashioned girl, but I believe in love and all that it means. There’s nothing like making a concerted effort to have dinner and a fruitful conversation with the one you love, especially when the love is genuine and impassioned.

Fontashia Johnson had an avid vision for an event where individuals would network, build connections, create lasting memories and be in community with one another as they spread love in a good way. With this in mind, Johnson is hosting Dinner in Love on Saturday, Feb. 24 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“The purpose of this event is to bring people together in community, connection and love with gratitude,” said Johnson, owner and founder of Dinner in Love. “People will come together to enjoy a meal prepared by themselves unless they purchase an a la carte menu option while having conversations, making connections and celebrating each other.”

Johnson added that the objective is for the individual to prepare a meal alone or with someone else and they will bring that meal to the event. If they choose to purchase a meal, the meal will consist of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, string beans, rice and cornbread.

The ticket includes entry to the event, an appetizer, a drink, dessert and wine/champagne will be provided for a heartfelt toast. The budding event is rooted in love.

“When I think about Dinner in Love, I think of having dinner with a loved one or an in-law, not just for a holiday, but we can do this every day,” said Johnson. “It is different when it comes to being in community with people that you don’t necessarily know but have an opportunity to network, grow and have authentic conversations that you may not necessarily have any other way.”

The networking affair comprises a gratitude portion, self-love activities, music, dancing, food and drinks, a variety of connection activities based around love languages, raffles, mindfulness practices and more. “One of the activities that people will partake in is similar to when you are celebrating Thanksgiving,” said Johnson. “One of the traditions in my family is that we allow each family member to say a person or a thing that we are grateful for.”

She added, “We will take a moment to show some love and gratitude for at least one thing that you are grateful for.”

The love ambassador shared that individuals will participate in a mindfulness practice activity.

“It will be a practice in the way of nonjudgmental awareness and really coming into the present moment before we partake in our meal together,” said Johnson. “There is also some element of surprise to what people will expect when they get there because this is something that we hope to continue doing.”

In 2017, the trailblazer started her nonprofit, Financial Awareness Counseling and Teaching Services. “The purpose of FACTS is to teach mindfulness, financial literacy and workplace readiness skills in underserved communities,” said Johnson. “I would go to different communities to teach individuals all of those things and now it has shifted into meeting people where they are.”

“I now go to where there are mobility issues and we want to be known as the organization that brings those teachings to you.”

Looking to keep up the momentum of Dinner in Love, the mindfulness educator has a prepense plan that aligns with her purpose of spreading love in the world in any way that seems fit.

“We hope to continue doing this event in different cities and areas to bring people together over a meal in love and connection with one another,” said Johnson. “We have to take moments of pause to really be with what’s happening in the moment, put some things aside and really love on each other.”

The event will be held at 8175 Cliffdale Road, Suite 113. General admission is $50. The dress attire is formal/business casual. For more information call 919-295-2230.

Without a doubt, Nat Robertson, President/CEO of the Fayetteville Area Chamber of Commerce, and staff celebrated their 125th Anniversary in style last week at The Carolina Barn, where over 300 attendees representing local Fayetteville businesses, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations gathered together for the Chamber's Annual Awards dinner.

Before Robertson joined the organization, the Chamber suffered from dwindling membership, a lack of relevant programming, and poor leadership.

Wow! What a difference a year makes! Robertson is breaking records in making the Chamber relevant to the business community and growing its membership. In addition, he is initiating new programs, fine-tuning existing ones, and offering many new value-added benefits to Chamber members.

His hard work and dedication manifested when they celebrated this highly anticipated event. If there were any doubts about whether our Chamber was on the right path in rebuilding and fulfilling its vital role as an advocate for businesses and community, they exist no longer.

With 15 Chamber of Commerce Achievement Awards and dozens of well-qualified and deserving nominees, it was evident that the Chamber did the due diligence needed to select the most deserving recipients.
For ample proof, you only had to look no further than the recipient of the Realtors Cup, former President of the Fayetteville Technical Community College, Dr. Larry Keen—and Mac Healy as one of three George Breece Legacy Award honorees.

 

Keen retired from FTCC after 16 years at the helm. The Realtors Cup is the highest honor and most prestigious Chamber award. The Longleaf Pine Realtors organizations sponsor it. It is presented to the individual who has contributed outstandingly to the Fayetteville community's economic, civic, and cultural growth.

In addition to being a great guy, that pretty much defines Dr. Larry Keen to a tee. The fifty-plus past recipients of the Realtors Cup read like a distinguished Who's Who list of men and women who positively influenced and enhanced our quality of life.

As mentioned, the other notable indication the Chamber carefully evaluated the qualifications of their honorees was naming Mac Healy as one of the recipients of the George Breece Legacy Award.
This award honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the Chamber and the community. No one does that better, in my opinion, than Mac. He is probably the most generous and humble servant this community has.

Undoubtedly, Mac continually goes above and beyond when it comes to investing energy, time, resources, and commitment to the Fayetteville community. He follows in his father's footsteps.
Fritz Healy was also a great benefactor to the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Mac is a legacy, and he will leave a legacy. Fritz Healy would be proud. As the adage says, "The apple never falls far from the tree."

Some might say that Mac should be considered for The Realtors Cup. However, he's already been bestowed that honor in 2017. Our community needs more people like Larry Keen and Mac Healy.
To all the Chamber 2023 Annual Award winners, we say "Congratulations." My singling out Healy and Keen was only to accentuate that our Chamber of Commerce is dedicated and committed to recognizing and honoring the people, businesses, and organizations making this community enjoyable and liveable.

Make sure you read the complete list of Chamber Award winners on page 8. You will see for yourself: The Chamber Got it Right!

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Cumberland County Schools has taken another step in its journey for school safety with the recent awarding of a grant geared toward funding safety equipment, training and services for students in crisis.

The district applied for a safety grant from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's Center for Safer Schools and recently learned that it is one of 230 school districts and charter schools in the state to benefit from $35 million in safety grants.

According to Kevin Coleman, the associate superintendent of CCS' Auxiliary Services, the district's $103,400 award from the safety grant will be allocated to improve camera systems throughout the district by incorporating the use of artificial intelligence.

"Adding artificial intelligence capability to our already upgraded camera system will help school staff maintain a safe and orderly environment," said Coleman. "AI will allow us to take advantage of technologies that utilize facial recognition, people detection and vehicle detection. Providing school administrators with these tools will help them utilize new technologies to help protect our students and staff."

This precautionary measure follows efforts that have already been made by the district that include enhancing high-definition security cameras, implementing upgrades to the Raptor visitor management system, enhancing The Say Something anonymous tip line and establishing Behavior, Intervention, and Threat Assessment Teams.

 

In April 2023, CCS hosted the "School Safety: Let's Talk About It!" forum. During this event, more than 200 district and community leaders, law enforcement officers, families, educators and students shared their insights, proposing innovative safety measures to be implemented in the district.

Some of the valuable suggestions generated during the forum will now be realized through the allocation of these grant funds.

As new safety measures are implemented, the district continues to seek input and collaboration from stakeholders, emphasizing a collaborative approach to school safety.

About Cumberland County Schools

Our mission is to provide a safe, positive, and rigorous learning environment to prepare lifelong learners to reach their maximum potential. Serving nearly 50,000 students at 89 schools, we are focused on meeting students' diverse learning needs. Our fully-accredited school system has a diverse student population representing more than 75 different countries and 82 different native languages. More than 13,000 CCS students are military/federally connected.

Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey Through Black History is a musical performance created by Brenda Vandervort-Miller. Coming into its fifth year, Lift Every Voice is an annual mainstay of the Cumberland Choral Arts musical group production lineup that aims to celebrate black culture and share it with the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community.

"I had begun thinking about this a few years before I actually brought it to the board of Cumberland Choral Arts. I brought it to our board in the summer of 2019 after watching Beyonce's Homecoming performance on Netflix. She started to sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing," and when I heard her hit those first few notes it was like a lightbulb went off. I broke out my iPad and created a shell of the program," said Vandervort-Miller.

This year's theme is "The Harlem Renaissance," a time in American history during which a cultural revival of African American music, art, philosophy, literature and theater took place and forever changed the landscape of American culture on a broader scale.

"I think what makes this show in particular great is that it's lighthearted. You'll definitely come away with something different every year. Every year has a different theme. Last year we focused on women composers and vocalists,” said Vandervort-Miller.

The Harlem Renaissance brought about notable and famous individuals alike. This includes the likes of Langston Hughes, Louis Armstrong, W. E. B. Du Bois, Ella Fitzgerald, James Weldon Johnson and more. For those familiar with Johnson, he is the author of the poem and song, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in which the musical takes its namesake. The song invokes times of hardship, the spirit of perseverance, the desire for justice, and deliverance from the cruelties of slavery and prejudice experienced by the Black population in America.

This message still rings true with many Black Americans today. The words stand as a cultural and historical touchstone for the Black community, and, in larger part, for all Americans as well.

"For me, it's part of my history and part of my culture. Growing up a Black American it's never not been a part of my cultural identity. I think I might have learned it about the same time I learned our national anthem. It's always been a part of my musical life," said Vandervort-Miller.

The show's appeal comes from this personal perspective of sharing and appreciating one's culture. One of the art's many beauties is its ability to provoke conversations both internally and externally.

Learning to appreciate the unique perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures of one another is an important step toward fostering a healthy appreciation for all of the things that make us similar. Our shared love for creativity and expression are just two examples of the many traits we share as human beings.

As Vandervort-Miller puts it, "We want people to come and be informed about what the theme for that year is, but ultimately we want people to have fun, and walk away from it feeling good and rejuvenated. Our show is a light-hearted, fun performance with history thrown in."

"The focus is to lend a different perspective to Black history and shine a light on a period within Black history for people to come and have a fun time," Miller continued.

With a planned performance from the Fayetteville Jazz Orchestra, the musical heightens the experience with big band numbers and encourages the audience to dress in period-appropriate clothing to better immerse oneself in the time period. All of these pieces come together to promise a show that will impress, entertain and stay on people's minds.

This year's performance, and those before it, are made possible because of the amazing organization and teamwork of members of the Cumberland Choral Arts and the team behind Vandervort-Miller working together to bring her vision of black history-inspired musical theater to the stage.

"The support from the board of directors of the Cumberland Choral Arts has been invaluable to this project, and specifically the board president Sandy Cage and CCA secretary Cathy Thaman. Brandley Laub is another board member who has been invaluable. Alexandra Marth has also been extremely helpful in marketing the show this year and getting us in front of people and faces who might not have seen us before."

"They have all just been absolutely invaluable. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention our artistic director for Cumberland Choral Arts which is Dr. Michael Martin. I have an incredible support team with this organization and I cannot be more thankful," said Vandervort-Miller.

The Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey Through Black History show is truly something to behold. From Vandervort-Miller's spark of inspiration and love for her culture to the stage lights and opening night, Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey Through Black History is a story not just about the history of Black Americans throughout America's history, but of their continued efforts to strive for success, excellence and have a positive influence on the communities and society around them.

It is a story of how people come together to create things they find beautiful and inspiring and their efforts to share them with others in the hopes that they too might find their creations beautiful and inspiring.

This cycle of inspiration and creation is something that connects us all as human beings. It allows us to experience each other's individual perspectives, beliefs and values, and to share them in kind. When we support endeavors to create art that helps facilitate that unity in expression, we are also supporting the opportunity to do the same for ourselves and for others in the future.

Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey Through Black History will be performed live at Fayetteville State University's J.W. Seabrook Auditorium at 1200 Murchison Road in Fayetteville. The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. and be held on Feb. 17. Tickets are$15 and are available first-come first-serve.

For more information about the event, visit https://www.cumberlandchoralarts.org/lift-every-voice-concert/ . Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lift-every-voice-and-sing-a-musical-journey-through-black-history-tickets-788442120607?aff=ebdsoporgprofile.

“Fort Liberty honors the heroism, sacrifices, and values of the Soldiers Service Members, Civilians and Families who live and served with this installation. Fort Liberty is the Army’s Premier Power Platform for the Army and the largest installation by population. Fort Liberty trains more than 1 million soldiers a year across 172,000 acres of land. The combined total population of the installation is 282,000 including a little over 50,000 service members and more than 20,000 Department of the Army civilians and contractors,” according to the Fort Liberty fact sheet.

Fort Liberty conducted a readiness exercise on Jan. 24, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. within various locations on the installation.

“The Garrison conducts tabletop exercises throughout the year to identify concerns and refine SOP and response plans. Readiness exercises like this provide a controlled environment with our Emergency Operations Center to ensure we are able to validate our standard operating procedures,” said Shane Woodmancy, installation emergency manager.

Army Installation Management Command is “tasked with providing quality Soldier and family services, managing post infrastructure, integrating base operations and supporting warfighter deployability during emergencies such as inclement weather, power outages, cyber attacks and mass casualty events,” said April Olsen, media relations, Fort Liberty Public Affairs Office.

The readiness exercise on Jan. 24 was an active shooter on the installation. An active shooter event occurred on. October 27. 1995: “1 soldier was killed and 20 others were hurt Friday when a sniper opened fire on an athletic field at Fort Bragg (Liberty). The sniper allegedly fired on his unit as they prepared to start a morning run, a Fort Bragg (Liberty) spokesperson said,” according to CNN.

“It is better to prepare for the worst, so that you are ready for the least…it is to make sure we are prepared for whatever disaster is coming,” said Adam Buehler, Lead Fort Liberty Installation Emergency Manager. “In this exercise, an active shooter led to a hostage negotiation…we must be ready for everything from natural disasters to acts of violence.’’

The Fort Liberty Emergency Operation Center consists of Garrison command staff, “people from finance to logistics, law enforcement, fire, emergency services, all those elements send representatives here” said Buehler.

The active shooter readiness exercise was inclusive of a mock press conference representing the event in ongoing stages on the installation. Col. John Wilcox, Fort Liberty Garrison Commander, provided updates of the active shooter. The Fire Chief, Military Police, Family Services and Emergency Services officials were available for the journalist role-players. The mock press conference included questions and follow-up to Col. Wilcox and assembled essential personnel.

“Readiness exercises…...ensures we are able to provide the best services and responses possible to all the units, Soldiers, civilians who live and work on Fort Liberty,” said Shane Woodmancy.

What does Old John’s, a diner on the Upper West Side of New York City, have to do with North Carolina?

An article titled “The Best Diners Are Still Just Diners” in the January 7 edition of The New Yorker praised Old John’s for staying true to its nostalgic ideal.

The author, Helen Rosner, celebrates diners who have remained diners.

“I always read the whole menu at a diner, but I don’t really need to. My order is both predictable and unremarkable: a cup of soup, a cheeseburger with fries. Sometimes I’ll switch things up and have a Greek salad, with extra feta cheese, or corned-beef hash and scrambled eggs, though the side of fries always remains.

 

A cup of coffee—lots of milk—and a slice of pie. If I were to scroll back through my life, tallying every diner meal, every fat ceramic mug of watery coffee, I think they might number in the thousands.”

Rosner reminds me of my regular breakfast order at Sutton’s in Chapel Hill. “Two over easy with bacon and, sometimes, grits.” Martha, Hollie, or Elsie, always attentive and smiling, know what I want before I open my mouth.

Rosner, who was writing about Old John’s (though she could have been writing about Sutton’s) said, “There are people who think of a diner as just a place to get a meal, and then there are those of us who understand diners, who cherish them, who seek them out and settle into them. We are recharged by time spent in diners in the way that adults who emerged from happy childhoods are recharged by a visit to their parents’ home.
Every diner is different; every diner is exactly the same. The ideal of a diner—its promise, its function—is not to be great but to be there. To be open when you need a restaurant to be open, to have seats when you need to sit, to exist sufficiently outside of time and space and trend that its reliability is itself reliable.”

For more than 35 years I have been writing about such diners and other eateries in North Carolina, where locals eat, and visitors are welcome. My readers liked those columns better than my usual ones about politics and books. When I invited them to write about their favorite local haunts, I got enough material for more columns and for a series of magazine articles that featured local eateries near the interstates.

All that led to UNC Press’s “North Carolina’s Roadside Eateries: A Traveler’s Guide to Local Restaurants, Diners, and Barbecue Joints” in 2016.

Because the book helped readers find North Carolina eateries that were like Old John‘s in New York, “Roadside Eateries” was a great success.

But there are problems. Thanks to Covid and changing tastes, more than 30 of the book’s eateries have closed including the following, listed by nearby interstates:

I-26: Ward’s Grill; Saluda.
I- 40: Judge’s Riverside, Morganton; Smith Street Diner, Greensboro; Allen & Son, Chapel Hill; Margaret’s Cantina, Chapel Hill; Toot-n-Tell Restaurant, Garner; Holland’s Shelter Creek Fish Camp, Burgaw.
I-73 & 74: Dixie III Restaurant, Asheboro; Hill’s Lexington Barbecue, Winston-Salem.
I-77: Acropolis Cafe & Grill, Cornelius; Carolina Bar-B-Q, Statesville; The Cook Shack, Union Grove; The Lantern Restaurant, Dodson.
I-85: Wink’s King of Barbecue, Salisbury; Tommy’s Barbecue, Thomasville; Captain Tom’s Seafood Restaurant, Thomasville; Angelo’s Family Restaurant, Graham; Bob’s Bar-B-Q, Creedmoor; Nunnery-Freeman Barbecue, Henderson.
I-95: Sheff’s Seafood Restaurant, Pembroke; Candy Sue’s Restaurant, Lumberton; Fuller’s Old Fashion Bar-B-Q Lumberton (relocated to Pembroke); Durham; Miss Maude’s Café, Smithfield; Holt Lake Bar-B-Q & Seafood, Smithfield; Bill’s Barbecue and Chicken Restaurant, Wilson; Broadnax Diner, Seaboard.

Their loss the bad news.

The good news is replacements have been found and UNC Press plans to publish an updated edition on April 1.

You can find a preview and a new cover at https://uncpress.org/book/9781469660936/north-carolinas-roadside-eateries-revised-and-expanded-edition/ or Google UNC Press Roadside Eateries

Editor’s Note: D.G. Martin, a retired lawyer, served as UNC-System’s vice president for public affairs and hosted PBS-NC’s North Carolina Bookwatch.

The Fayetteville (NC) Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, and the Fayetteville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta is set to host the A Krimson & Cream Affair on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. This dazzling event will unfold at the Iron Mike Conference Center on 2658 Rock Merritt Avenue, promising an unforgettable evening filled with elegance and excitement.

Attendees are invited to immerse themselves in a night of vibrant colors, captivating music and delightful company. The celebration of unity and camaraderie aims to unite members and supporters of the Kappa Alpha Psi and Delta Sigma Theta. Dwayne Robinson, Chairman of the Social Committee for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Fayetteville Alumni Chapter, shared his excitement about the event.

"Our goal is to create a space where members and friends can come together, celebrate our rich history, and forge new connections. It's not just a party; it's a celebration of our community and giving back to the next generation,” said Robinson.

The night promises delectable treats, refreshing beverages, and a dance floor alive with rhythm. Attendees are encouraged to dress to impress in semi-formal fashion, adding a touch of sophistication to the festivities.

"Events like A Krimson & Cream Affair highlight the importance of community and collaboration. It's an opportunity for individuals from different backgrounds to come together, share experiences, and enjoy a night of elegance,” Robinson said.

 

As the evening unfolds, participants can expect a journey through history. The Fayetteville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was chartered on Sept. 12, 1953, by 11 dynamic women who recognized the need for service in the community. Embarking on its 70th year of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood and Social Action, the chapter continues to impact Fayetteville and Cumberland County through its National Five Point Programmatic Thrust. The Educational Thrust committees of the Fayetteville Alumnae Chapter work diligently on issues such as social graces, community service and scholarship opportunities for youth in the community. Their commitment to International Awareness and Involvement, Economic Development, Educational Development, Physical and Mental Health and Political Awareness and Involvement is evident in their efforts to educate and initiate a 'Call to Action' in critical matters.

The Fayetteville (NC) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, with its roots dating back to Feb. 25, 1957, has a rich history. The charter members, including Ernest E. Miller, Booker T. McNeil, and others, instilled principles of leadership and achievement in every field of human endeavor. The Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority have been pillars in Fayetteville, shaping the community for decades.

As the A Krimson & Cream Affair unfolds, it not only promises an evening of elegance and excitement but pays homage to the rich history and impactful contributions of these two distinguished organizations in Fayetteville. Take advantage of this chance to participate in a celebration combining glamour, history, and a sense of community. Mark your calendars and join the Fayetteville (NC) Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, and the Fayetteville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta for a night to remember.

Tickets for the event cost $75 and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-krimson-and-cream-affair-hosted-by-fayetteville-chapters-of-and-tickets-759705308027.

On January 30th, the Greater Fayetteville Chamber held its 2024 Annual Awards at The Carolina Barn, sponsored by the Huff Family Office, Piedmont Natural Gas, and Fort Liberty Federal Credit Union.

The event brought together esteemed professionals, community leaders, and entrepreneurs to celebrate the remarkable achievements of individual and business members that have significantly contributed to the prosperity of Fayetteville. With over 300 attendees from the local business community, the event was a resounding success.

Our Chamber team extends its congratulations to all the winners and expresses gratitude to the entire business community for their continued commitment to excellence.

"This year's Annual Awards ceremony truly showcased the incredible talent and dedication within our business community," said Chamber President and CEO, Nat Robertson.

"We are proud to honor these exceptional individuals and organizations that contribute to the success and vitality of Greater Fayetteville. Their accomplishments inspire us all and serve as a testament to the resilience and innovation that define our community."

 

In recognition of our outstanding local achievers, we are pleased to announce the 17 winners of the 2024 Annual Awards as follows:

Excellence in Innovation Award: Public Works Commission

Business Beautification Award: Miller’s Brew

Best in Communication Award: Up & Coming Weekly

Young Professional of the Year Award: Ella Wrenn, Cape Fear Regional Theatre

Public Service Award: Johnny Wilson, Fayetteville Urban Ministry

Outstanding Educator of the Year: Dr. Marvin Connelly, Cumberland County Schools

Ambassador of the Year Award: Jordan Blake, 5 West Media Group

Chairman’s Service Award: Joseph “BEAR” Dewberry, On-After Bar & Grub

Government Relations Service Award: Henry Tyson, Tyson Commercial Real Estate

Military Affairs Council Service Award: Greg Dudak, Mercedes of Fayetteville

Non-Profit of the Year: Cumberland Community Foundation

Small Business of the Year: Bubba’s 33 Restaurant

Business of the Year: Mercedes of Fayetteville

Realtor’s Cup: Dr. Larry Keen

The Chamber’s Breece Legacy Award: John “Mac” Healy, Healy Wholesale; Judy Dawkins, Community Supporter; Anthony & Joanne Chavonne, CityView Media

For more information about our events or to become a sponsor, email events@faybiz.com.

Get ready to catch football fever because Super Bowl Sunday is just around the corner!

The teams are set. The San Francisco 49ers will face off against the Kansas City Chiefs for Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV.

Whether you're a die-hard football fanatic or just enjoy the commercials and halftime show, there's something for everyone on Super Bowl Sunday. Don't miss out on the electrifying atmosphere and camaraderie that only the Super Bowl can deliver.

To help you find your local game-day spot we've rounded up the best places to catch the big game with fellow enthusiasts.

So put on your team colors and get ready to cheer on your favorite team as they battle it out for football supremacy.

• Mac's Speed Shop at 482 N. McPherson Church Road, 910-354-2590
https://www.facebook.com/MacsFayetteville
— Mac’s has party platters you can pre-order if you need a gameday spread for a watch party at home.

• Huske at 405 Hay Street, 910-437-9905
https://www.facebook.com/huskehardwarerestaurant

• District House of Taps at 1240 Fort Bragg Road, 910-491-6737
— Taking reservations and are extending their hours to accommodate the end of the game.
https://www.facebook.com/districthouseoftaps

• Scrub Oaks at 5780 Ramsey Street, 910-884-3072
https://www.facebook.com/scruboaks

• Bubba's 33 at 500 Westwood Shopping Center, 910-223-2601
http://tinyurl.com/4z3n44zw

• Latitude 35 Bar & Grill at 1217 Hay Street, 910-485-4777
http://tinyurl.com/5ast2n6x

• Gaston Brewing Company at 124 Hay Street, 910-748-0580
https://www.facebook.com/gbc910

• Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux at 2116 Skibo Road, 910-779-4901
https://www.facebook.com/WalkOnsFayetteville

• Buffalo Wild Wings at 2097 Skibo Road, 910-868-1561
https://www.facebook.com/BWWFayettevilleNC

• KickBack Jack's at 5081 Morgantaon Road, 910-223-7676
https://www.facebook.com/KBJFayetteville
• Hooters at 501 N. McPherson Church Road, 910-868-0700
https://www.facebook.com/HootersofFayetteville/

• Carolina Ale House at 161 Glensfood Drive, 910-860-1114
https://www.facebook.com/CAHFayetteville

• H8ters at 2926 C Fort Bragg Road, 910-835-5881
https://www.facebook.com/H8tersH3

• Louie's Sports Bar at 2417 Robeson Street, 910-323-3373
https://www.facebook.com/Louiessportspub

Be sure to visit the Facebook page listed or call your chosen venue for further details on the big game.

HERWeek hosted by NC CEED and the Women’s Business Center is preparing for its annual HERWeek during Women’s History Month, March 2 to 8.

NC CEED has opened applications for HERPitch training classes which is a prerequisite for participation in the HERPitch competition. In previous years, pitch winners have been awarded $2,500 to $7,500 in grants. HERWeek is a week-long celebration where we celebrate women and their remarkable contributions to our community. On HERPITCH day entrepreneurs, who completed a PITCH course and have been selected to participate, present their business idea in a 3 minute pitch to a panel of judges for the chance to win a reimbursable grant.

Hannah de la Reyes Stevenson of Rosette Visual Art was a HERPitch winner from HERWeek in March 2023. She shared her experience of participating and winning the HERPitch.

“I came to the Fayetteville Women’s Business Center to learn about running a business and I was told that there was a contest in a few weeks to win business fund money. I was skeptical about joining with it coming up so soon. But the wonderful mentors there not only encouraged me but also trained me on how to pitch a business. I am so grateful for their patience, honest feedback, and kindness," de la Reyes Stevenson said.

For businesses and entrepreneurs interested in participating in the HERWeek Pitch Prep; How to Pitch Training, starting online on Jan. 27, or seeking further information and enrollment details, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pitch-training-session-tickets-759823150497?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

 

This training prepares you to compete in the #HERpitch Business Pitch Competition to pitch your great idea and have the opportunity to win funding with a reimbursable grant.

Learn how to create your business pitch! In this training, we will go over:
• The basics of pitching your business
• Important things to include in your pitch
• What to expect when you compete in the business pitch competition

About Women's Business Center of Fayetteville:

The Women's Business Center of Fayetteville is a dedicated organization focused on empowering women entrepreneurs and providing them with the resources, training, and support they need to succeed in the business world.

By offering comprehensive programs and events, the center aims to foster economic growth and promote self-sufficiency in the community.

To learn more, visit www.wbcfay.org.

Will North Carolina snag one of two new Major League Baseball franchises? That’s what Gov. Roy Cooper, Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon, and other civic and business leaders are hoping.

They’re prepping a bid for a team to be based either in Raleigh or Charlotte. As soon as MLB announces its process and timeline, they’ll try to make their Carolina baseball dream a reality.

I couldn’t care less, frankly. I don’t follow professional sports closely — and even if I did, my interest would be in football, not baseball. Still, it’s a free country. If MLB does decide to expand to 32 teams and a North Carolina ownership group uses its own resources to go after a franchise, fine by me.

That’s not what will happen, however. The prospective owners will demand that taxpayers subsidize their team by building a ballpark for it. They’ll argue that such a project will expand our economy and create new jobs. This is, in a word, false.

 

“Sports stadiums are provably ineffective economic development tools,” writes John Mozena, a fellow with the Better Cities Project. “Once you look past rosy economic impact predictions and the glittering stadium renderings, the evidence of decades’ worth of real-world results from across the country is crystal clear: Stadiums strike out when it comes to economic development.”

Last September, the Journal of Economic Surveys published a comprehensive review by three university professors of more than 130 academic studies of the issue. The results “confirm the decades-old consensus of very limited economic impacts of professional sports teams and stadiums,” the authors wrote. “Even with added nonpecuniary social benefits from quality-of-life externalities and civic pride, welfare improvements from hosting teams tend to fall well short of covering public outlays.”

In other words, it costs taxpayers more to subsidize a sports enterprise than they get back in benefits.

Some taxpayers don’t mind, of course. They are superfans who regularly attend games and derive personal enjoyment from following the team. But most residents compelled to subsidize the stadium don’t fit this description. The only way the math works for them is to benefit indirectly — by attracting legions of free-spending fans from elsewhere, or to raise the national profile of their community in ways that promote growth and development.

That’s always the promise. It’s rarely the result. “Nearly all empirical studies find little to no tangible impacts of sports teams and facilities on local economic activity,” the professors concluded, “and the level of venue subsidies typically provided far exceeds any observed economic benefits.”

On other issues, competing philosophical camps may hurl competing studies at each other. That’s not the case here. In 2016, three scholars affiliated with the left-of-center Brookings Institution wrote that “decades of academic studies consistently find no discernible positive relationship between sports facilities and local economic development, income growth, or job creation.”

Tim Carney, a senior fellow at the right-of-center American Enterprise Institute, made a similar point in a 2022 column. “A city or county does not see net economic growth from subsidizing stadiums,” he wrote. “This is one of the most consistent findings in economics.”

Now, I wasn’t born yesterday. And I’m hardly new to the stadium beat. Although the case against sports subsidies is solid, I knew full well that advocates of a Carolina team will lobby aggressively to grab our money to fund their pet project. Some politicians will fold quickly (as Governor Cooper already has). But others will understand that a tax dollar spent on a baseball park represents a tax dollar not spent on a core public service, or not available to taxpayers to spend on a good or service of their choice.

Fiscal conservatives should be ready for a long fight. We should block any attempt to use state revenues or regional authorities to subsidize a ballpark. And we should urge our city and county officials not to get distracted by shiny objects like sports franchises. They have far more important issues to work on.

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

"Woe is me” is much in the air these days, likely ginned up by the 2024 election cycle.

Actually, it is more like “woe is us,” as millions of Americans decry the direction they see our nation and the world taking. Here are some of our Chicken Little fears. Our culture is increasingly violent, facilitated by out-of-control gun ownership—more guns than Americans.

Covid threatened our lives, and human-induced climate change threatens to make the earth uninhabitable. Technology in general and A.I. in particular could get so smart, they could take control of everything, even if we humans fail to realize it. Our nation is on the brink of being overtaken by a possibly deranged, fascist dictator.

And what if ongoing global conflicts trigger World War III? Is it wise to turn life-threatening issues such as A.I. development, climate change, and space exploration over to the private sector?

The list of woes goes and goes.

Tyler Austin Harper, an assistant professor of environmental studies at Bates College in Maine, recently published an article in the New York Times, addressing what he terms “extinction panics.” Working from the adage that everything old is new again, Harper asserts that such panics occur about every hundred years and that this one has arrived right on schedule. The last one struck us in the 1920s.

 

The extinction panic of the 20th century has much in common with the one we are experiencing. The world had just survived a flu pandemic, estimated to have killed 50 million people across the globe. There were no effective treatments, much less vaccines to prevent it. The US economy seemed to be roaring, but it got so heated that it ultimately crashed in 1929, triggering the Great Depression.

Fueling that extinction panic was the spread of fascism in Europe, which by 1939 had blossomed into what became World War II and which ended with the world’s first atomic explosions. More than 200-thousand people died almost instantly, with hundreds of thousands more maimed and/or sickened.

It is almost impossible to miss the parallels.

Harper quotes from HG Wells’ 1928 book, The Way the World is Going, which still resonates a century later. “Human life is different from what it has ever been before, and it is rapidly becoming more different….Perhaps never in the whole history of life has there been a living species subjected to so fiercely urgent, many-sided and comprehensive a process of changes as ours today. None at least that has survived. Transformation or extinction have been nature’s invariable alternatives. Ours is a species in an intense phase of transition.”

Hard to argue with that.

Harper himself seems more optimistic than Wells. He writes in the Times, “as for machine-age angst, there’s a lesson to learn here, too: Our panics are often puffed up, our predictions simply wrong.

Human life and labor were not superseded by machines, as some in the 1920s predicted. Or in the 1960s or in the 1980s, two other flash-in-the-pan periods of A.I. hype. The takeaway is not that we shouldn’t be worried but that we shouldn’t panic. Foretelling doom is an ancient human hobby, but we don’t appear to be very good at it.”

As for this writer, the threats seem very real and increasingly urgent. But our “species,” as Wells identified us, has indeed survived millennia by using our big brains and probably some dumb luck.
We do see what is facing us, and if we really are smart, we will choose to act on these threats, not to ignore them.

 

Last article we examined several factors you need to consider when purchasing a home. Today we are going to go more in depth concerning what house design and house features make people like or value a home most.

 

 

In national surveys, almost all buyers list the following features as important to them:
• Separate Laundry Room
• Walk-in Kitchen Pantry
• Front porch and rear porch/deck
• Hardwood floors in the main living area
• A full bath on the first floor
• Walk-in closet in the Main Bedroom
• Eat-in Kitchen
• Dining Room
• Garage Storage space.

 

Some other interesting statistics about what buyers looked for in 2023
• 67% of buyers wanted a single-family home
• 60% of buyers prefered a new home
• 85% wanted an open-concept kitchen and dining room
• 40% of buyers thought about accessibility when shopping for homes
• 42% of recent and prospective home buyers want a two-car garage
• 75% of real estate agents still say that stainless steel is the most popular appliance finish, and it's now available in different colors

 

In addition, Floyd Properties and Development Inc. has found that higher-end buyers also like these upgrade features:
• Specialty Flooring
• Arches and Pillars
• Nook Spaces
• Areas that can host large gatherings
• Kitchen upgrades such as granite or quarts countertops; large ranges with dedicated fans and hoods; butler pantries; specialty shelving
• Bathroom upgrades such as showers with multiple heads, and separate and stand-alone soaking tubs.

 

Along with these higher-end upgrades, Floyd Properties is planning some Idea Homes to explore some elite design features such as:
• Integration of the outdoors by using multiple sliding glass doors or accordion doors to open to the outside
• Range hood pot fillers
• Outdoor kitchen areas
• Advanced smart technology such as remote check cameras to adjust lights, air temperature and to lock or unlock doors.
• Special purpose rooms

 

What do you think?

Floor Properties invites the public to help design these houses and add features. Just go to https://floydproperties.com/ and give your opinion on what upgrade features you would like to see in the Idea Houses.

“People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”
— Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Cape Fear Studios is a non-profit organization. It has been the only visual arts cooperative for 32 years in Fayetteville. The mission of the Cape Fear Studios is “to involve, educate, and enrich Cumberland County and surrounding communities with the opportunity to create and freely view art.”

Bits and Pieces of Glass features distinctive and luminous stained-glass creations by Jaylene Nordgren and her students. The exhibit will be held from Jan. 11, to Feb. 20, at Cape Fear Studios, in Fayetteville.

“Stained glass has been used for thousands of years beginning with Ancient Romans and Egyptians, who produced small objects made from colored glass. Stained glass can be traced back to the 7th century with early examples found in monasteries and churches. Benedict Biscop commissioned French workers to create the stained glass for the monastery of St. Peter in 675 A.D.” according to A Short History of Stained Glass.

“In 1991, I started my journey into stained glass. I took classes from John Stoddard and Christa Moore. After several years of practice, I joined the Cape Fear Studios and began teaching. I have been teaching for over twenty years. I enjoy watching my students overcome their fear of breaking glass. They have inspired me in their various visions,” said Nordgren, Cape Fear Studios artist.

Delight in the Bits and Pieces of Glass at the Cape Fear Studios at 148 Maxwell Street. The main gallery spotlights engaging paintings, photographs, sculptures, pottery and fine jewelry by local, national and international artists. Educational workshops and classes are available to the public.

The exhibit is available for viewing on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during the hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cape Fear Studios is closed on Sundays.
Admission to Bits and Pieces of Glass is free. For more information about Cape Fear Studios and the exhibit, call 910-433-2986 or visit www.capefearstudios.com.