The Fayetteville Kiwanis Club’s Annual Talent Night is on June 11 at the Caper Fear Regional Theatre. While it is indeed a night of top-notch talent and entertainment, it is also a good time for the entertainers who work so hard to make the cut. This annual event is much anticipated throughout the year and offers something for the participants as well as the community. 

The Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville is a civic organization chartered in 1921, and has been working diligently to better the community ever since. The annual Talent Night is a local tradition that dates back over 60 years. 

“Talent at the Talent Showcase is absolutely amazing,” said Bill Bowman, chair of Talent Showcase and publisher of Up & Coming Weekly. “Talented students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade perform in several categories for the opportunity to win more than $2,000 in scholarship and prizes.” The first place winner in each division will receive a trophy and $100 cash; second place winner in each division will receive a trophy and $50 cash; third place winner in each division will receive a trophy and $25 cash. Four music scholarships will be awarded for voice, strings, piano and band instrument — a $150 value. The 2016 overall winner will receive a trophy and $200 cash. 

Even though Talent Night is a night full of fun and family entertainment, it also serves a greater purpose, which is the sponsorship of the Kiwanis Youth Service Projects. Proceeds from Talent Night are used to support local youth in Cumberland County. One such program is Terrific Kids, which is the largest in the country. In this program, members of the committee present more than 31,000 Terrific Kids awards each year. This program promotes self-esteem by encouraging and then rewarding good behavior with bumper stickers, pencils and bicycles. Kiwanians work closely with teachers, who select Terrific Kids twice a month. 

The Reading is Fun Program, which is geared towards 4- and 5-year-old preschoolers provides more than 4,000 books to students across the county. Books are distributed to children enrolled in Head Start and Chapter One programs. Kiwanis members read to the children as well as donate books to them. Also The Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville, in conjunction with the Fayetteville Department of Parks and Recreation, sponsors Youth League Baseball at Honeycutt Park and Recreation Center. Kiwanians coach many of the teams, are game announcers and sell, purchase and erect outfield advertising signs. 

Auditions for this year’s Talent Night are on Saturday, June 4 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Honeycutt Recreation Center. 

“Good things last,” said Bowman. “This is a great launching point and I’m glad to be able to help foster this type of enrichment. Some of the past winners have gone on to do some exceptional things and have performed on some the world’s biggest stages, like Broadway, St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Pops and American Ballad.”

For more information about this event and others, check out The Fayetteville Kiwanis website at www.fayettevillekiwanis.org.

A panel of city and county elected officials wants to get a proposed consolidated emergency 911 service off dead center. The ill-defined plan has languished for many years mainly because of turf issues and cost. But now, it appears local governments want to get the plan off the shelf. “I’d like to get the ball rolling before I leave office,” said veteran County Commissioner Kenneth Edge. He is not seeking re-election and his term expires in December.

The City-County Liaison Committee is unanimously recommending that a joint subcommittee be established to work out details of merging local emergency 911 operations. The county’s call center is located in the law enforcement building. The city’s emergency dispatch center is located in city hall. They work closely together, but EMS calls in the city must be transferred to the county. They use separate, mostly incompatible two-way radio systems which would be expensive to replace. County Commissioner Jimmy Keefe pointed out that rapidly changing technologies will have to be dealt with. 

The three city representatives indicated there is a willingness among council members to move forward with consolidation. 

“Anytime we can share services that benefit the citizens, I think there’s going to be interest,” Committee Chairman Mitch Colvin said. He, Mayor Nat Robertson and Councilman Jim Arp are the city’s representatives on the liaison committee. County Commission Chairman Marshall Faircloth and Commissioner Glen Adams are also members along with Edge.

Other considerations for merging the systems include resolving wage differences for employees and city/county cost sharing, as well as site acquisition and construction of a building to house the equipment for an operations center of more than 100 employees. A hardened 40 thousand square-foot building that meets FEMA threat assessment standards would be needed to protect against natural and manmade forces, according to Schrader Group Architect Tom Forsberg. He is among the consultants hired by the county to research consolidation. The cost of such a building hasn’t been determined but three rural sites recommended for the facility could cost upwards of $30 million. State and federal grants are available through the Department of Homeland Security and other sources. But, local governments will likely have to share the cost which is something neither agency has discussed in detail.

It’s recommended that joint 911 operations be managed by an executive steering committee appointed by county commissioners and city council. There is no timetable for the subcommittee to be named and get to work. Commissioner Edge noted the project has been kicked around for years and isn’t likely to get off the ground soon.

    The City of Fayetteville’s dispute with its Public Works Commission may soon be a thing of the past. PWC filed  suit against the city asking the court for a declaratory judgment defining once and for all the operating relationship between the bodies. Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour, Jr. ruled that under current law PWC has the protections of a public authority. That means the city-owned utility enjoys nearly total autonomy, and its governing board does not answer to City Council. The judge’s 16-page order confirms the legislature’s intent in establishing the Public Works Commission more than a century ago. And Baddour found that “the general assembly, in consolidating and re-codifying the PWC Charter in 1979, intended for the PWC to continue to have the same authority…” 

The unusual dispute has lingered for two years, provoked initially by former City Manager Ted Voorhees. He and a 6-4 city council majority interpreted the city charter as giving council more day-to-day authority over PWC than had ever been exercised by the board. The utility commission decided to file the lawsuit to reconcile the disputed differences. Last year’s election changed the council majority and Voorhees was forced to resign following a closed council meeting. 

City Council met in closed session again last week but took no action afterward. Mayor Nat Robertson tells Up & Coming Weekly, however, that in the last minute of the hour-long meeting, Council made a decision not to appeal the judgment. The city has 30 days to decide whether to do that. Robertson says City Attorney Karen McDonald should have advised the council, in keeping with the Open Meetings law, that its decision should have been made public when the regular meeting resumed. Robertson appears to have succeeded in winning a council consensus, having said earlier that “I look forward to a renewed relationship with the PWC Board and know that we will be able to continue to work together even better since the courts have defined our roles. Council has decided to come together with PWC to find common ground we can agree on.” He says a starting point would be a review of House Bil 392, which included concessions not in the judge’s order. The bill was referred to the Senate and rests in committee pending further action which was put on hold during the judge’s deliberations. The mayor said the council vote to review and revise the house bill was “nearly unanimous.” He would not identify members who prefer appealing the decision. 

Public Works Commissioner Wade Fowler, a former City Council member, said “I believe the issue had to be settled by someone in authority. I was prepared to live with whatever the decision was,” Veteran Councilman Bill Crisp is among those who prefer appealing the judge’s decision to a higher court. The court order clarified that PWC is obligated to make annual transfers of funds to the city in keeping with an agreement that has been in effect since 2008.  Baddour declared that as a public authority, PWC is independent of city government even as it applies to budgeting. 

The North Carolina State Crime Laboratory operates full-service laboratories in Raleigh, Asheville and Greensboro. Typically, evidence from Cumberland County Law Enforcement Agencies was sent to Raleigh for analysis. Typically, the local agencies waited months to get the results of those analyses back. At one time, Cumberland County prosecutors were waiting for more than 1,300 drug samples to be analyzed. 

Two years ago, at the urging of District Attorney Billy West, city and county governments agreed to fund a local crime lab primarily to test illegal drugs. 

Two years before that, county officials broke ground on an expansion of the Cumberland County Detention Center because of severe overcrowding. The original jail was built to house 568 inmates; but regularly held more than 640 men and women. The $15 million expansion project added 316 beds to the jail, which had been overcrowded for many years. The new addition expands the jail to an inmate capacity of 884, making it one of the largest detention centers in the state with 187 sworn officers and a civilian staff of 79. On average, the daily inmate population is about 740, according to Sheriff Earl “Moose” Butler, well below capacity.

What does the crime lab have to do with easing jail overcrowding? 

“It’s one of three actions taken in recent years to manage the detention center population,” said West. 

A prosecutor was assigned to oversee jail operations and the Sheriff assigned a liaison officer to assist the D.A. The new Fayetteville forensic laboratory has provided test results in drug cases to the Sheriff and the Fayetteville Police Department in one to two weeks, explained West, who added, “Those cases represent up to 20 percent of our case load, and moving them through the courts rapidly results in a reduction of the detention center population.” 

Integrated Forensic Laboratories LLC, of Texas, was hired to operate the local lab in a downtown, county-owned building. The company says it has operated labs supporting law-enforcement work for more than 40 years. Local law enforcement is no longer dependent on the overwhelmed state laboratory for analysis of evidence in substance abuse cases. The Sheriff’s Office would like to see the local lab expanded to include DNA testing. 

“It’s expensive but needed,” said Sheriff’s Office Legal Counsel Ronnie Mitchell. The sheriff’s office budget request for Fiscal Year 17 includes $30,000 to begin DNA testing. The science of DNA analysis, he says, has become extremely sophisticated and requires the latest technology and trained personnel.       

A new Chief Jailer is taking charge of the Cumberland County Detention Center July 1. Captain Tandra Adams will assume the post from Major Larry Trotter, who is retiring. She is being promoted to major. Adams is the first woman and first African-American to serve as the Cumberland County Jail Administrator. She is a native of Fayetteville and has been employed with the Sheriff’s Office for 15 years, most of the time in the detention division. 

“She possesses substantial relevant experience, knowledge and skill and is highly qualified in the area of detention facility management and supervision,” said Sheriff Earl ‘Moose’ Butler. She became the first detention officer to operate in the capacity of data-section supervisor when she was promoted to sergeant. In 2014, she was selected to attend the Administrative Officer Management Program at North Carolina State University. Upon graduation, she was promoted to the rank of captain and became a certified general instructor and earned the position of School Director for the Detention Officer’s Certification Course through Fayetteville Technical Community College. 

Soldiers Adopt Local School                  

A Fort Bragg artillery unit is closing a gap at Fayetteville’s Walker-Spivey Elementary School. “According to our federal data card, we only have one military-connected family in our school,” said Principal Erica Fenner-McAdoo. In preparation for Armed Forces Day, the school reached out to its local partnership unit, the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (ADA). “The 108th ADA greatly values our relationship with the local community,” said the commander Col. Joseph McCallion Jr. 

The unit’s goal is to educationally enrich students’ lives by showing them how their education is the groundwork for a bright future. The 108th ADA tailors a unique message to each school in the Terry Sanford High School district. The connection with mathematics, science and physics can be made to students, even at an elementary age. 

“We have College Day every fourth Friday of the month and decided that our last observance should be focused on the Armed Forces,” said Fenner-McAdoo. Soldiers spoke with students about their own pathway to the military and their educational experiences. A highlight was videos and a brief demonstration on how air defense is conducted. The demonstration was student led which allowed them the opportunity to experience the application of mathematics and science used in the air defense artillery field. 

“The partnership between our school and the 108th ADA is very valuable,” said Fenner-McAdoo.

Museum Anniversary                     

The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum is celebrating its 10th anniversary this week. The Museum opened on May 26, 2006, in the restored 1890 Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad Depot located downtown between Franklin and Russell Streets. The museum has two floors of artifact-filled exhibits. 

“The history of our area is told from pre-history through the early 20th century,” said Museum Director Bruce Daws. 

Located next door to the museum, the Transportation Annex portrays Fayetteville’s story with vintage automobiles and airplanes plus a recreated 1920s gas station. 

In the museum annex, a special presentation entitled “Fayetteville’s 10” highlights famous and not so famous people, places and facts about Fayetteville. 

“These 10 years have been made successful by dedicated staff and volunteers and supportive agencies and organizations,” said Daws. 

Over the years, dozens of exhibits, presentations and collaborations have made this local history museum an important educational and recreational resource for the area. Admission is free.

Fort Bragg Medical Clinic Renamed   

Womack Army Medical Center has renamed the troop and family medical clinic inside Womack Army Medical Center in honor of Pvt. Kelly W. Byars, a native of Salisbury, North Carolina. He was a World War II combat medic assigned to the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Byars received the Silver Star Medal for his actions on Sept. 20, 1944, in Holland during Operation Market Garden. 

“When naming our medical facilities, we try to honor someone with ties to the military medical community, North Carolina, or Fort Bragg. Kelly Byars has ties to all three,” said Col. Lance Raney, Womack Army Medical Center commander. 

The newly named Byars Health Clinic serves soldiers, airmen and family members assigned to Forces Command, U.S. Army Reserve Command, the XVIII Airborne Corps and the Air Force, as well as TRICARE Prime retirees and their families. The 51,000 square foot facility has the latest amenities and technology. Byars joins Specialist Five Lawrence Joel, General Roscoe Robinson Jr., Colonel Mildred Clark and Private First Class Bryant Womack as honored Army heroes who are the namesakes for healthcare facilities at Fort Bragg.

The Best of North Carolina

Governor Pat McCrory and First Lady Ann McCrory hosted military families at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh to thank service members, veterans and their families for their service. The event is an annual tradition for Governor and First Lady McCrory. 

“Honoring and supporting our veterans, active duty military members and military families are among our most important priorities,” said McCrory. “These families are the best of North Carolina and understand better than anyone the sacrifices that accompany military service.” 

In attendance were military families from numerous branches and bases including Fort Bragg, the state’s largest installation; Seymour Johnson Air Force Base; Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point; Marine Corps Air Station New River; Camp Lejeune; Camp Johnson and the North Carolina National Guard. 

“We want to do everything we can to support our military families and thank them for their service and sacrifice,” said the First Lady. “Hosting these families at the Executive Mansion each year is a small way we can show our appreciation and support.”

An Environment of Very Limited Growth”  

“Cumberland County has not recovered from the 2008 recession,” said County Manager Amy Cannon in opening remarks before County Commissioners as she introduced her proposed FY17 operating budget. The budget reflects virtually no growth in tax revenues and in some cases, losses over the past year. Sales tax revenues are down statewide. Cannon referred to what she called a “new reality” in explaining the $430 million budget that reflects a general fund revenue gain of only 2 percent. “Cumberland County remains in a period of weak growth,” she said. But Cannon added, “This is not a message of doom and gloom.” The local economy shows a post-recession recurring average annual loss of $1.9 million. Cannon is recommending a general fund increase of $7.3 million in Fiscal 17, which begins July 1. There will be no tax increase. But there is no pay raise for county employees either. They will receive one-time $800 stipends to offset the higher cost of health care. County Commissioners are holding budget workshops over the next two weeks.

I knew I had had my fill of House Bill 2 and who is going to use which bathroom during a recent trip to New York.  

A friend and I spent an afternoon at the incomparable Frick Museum on 5th Avenue.  It is a mansion whose turn-of-the-20th -century industrial baron owner left it in trust so that the public could enjoy his fabulous art collection, and millions do.  On top of the Frick’s own  collection, there was also a special portrait exhibit, and my travelling buddy and I were enjoying ourselves immensely.  Even though we had informative headsets, we decided to take a docent-led tour—two, in fact--and headed through Frick rooms with a lovely New York lady, who heard us chatting.  

“Where are you from?” she asked.

“North Carolina,” we said.

“How embarrassing!” she blurted.

It was my most personal experience with how far North Carolina’s new reputation for intolerance and discrimination has traveled, and I was indeed embarrassed in front of the docent.  I am also embarrassed in the state where I have lived all my life, and I am far from alone.

We have all heard the TV comics making our state the butt of their clever jokes, the news stories about businesses not locating in North Carolina, conventions and family reunions choosing other states for their gatherings and superstar entertainers from Bruce “The Boss” Springstein to Itzhak Perlman staying home in protest of HB2.  A quick Google reveals spoofs on North Carolina’s new slogan, changing “NC-Nothing Compares” to “NC-Nobody Cares.”  Folks in Mississippi now are quoted as saying, “Thank goodness for North Carolina.”

What many of us do not know, though, is that HB2, now law, is not really about which bathrooms we use, even though that is the provision that has drawn the eyes of the world to North Carolina, and not favorably.

HB2 is actually about what most political issues are about—raw power and who is in going to wield it.  Bathroom privacy, something every human being holds dear, is a smokescreen for the heart of the legislation—OOPS!—the new law.  HB2 takes away the right of employees who feel wronged by their employers to sue in state courts. 

We may, of course, file our grievances in the federal system, a more expensive and more distant option.  It also limits the authority of local governments to enact ordinances that apply in their communities, regarding minimum wage, sick leave, plastic bag bans and other issues individual communities face.

It is a clear message to the people of North Carolina and to our elected local government officials about who is really in charge, and it ain’t us.

The majority in the North Carolina General Assembly wants you to know that it is firmly in charge.

Did the majority conceive of and draft HB2?

Probably not.

In the murky political background is a think tank devoted to crafting bills for legislatures throughout the nation. The American Legislative Exchange Council, which the New York Times dubs, a “stealth business lobbyist,” dreams up all sorts of legislative templates in hopes that some state will enact them, and many do. 

The North Carolina General Assembly has been an eager customer for what ALEC is selling.

In case you have any doubts about the legal heft of the bathroom bill and who goes where, remember this.

Even if we had enough bathroom monitors or law enforcement officers to make sure everyone uses the potty facility related to his or her birth certificate, which we decidedly do not, HB2 provides no direction.  If a bathroom monitor believes that there is a biological man in the ladies room or a biological woman in the men’s room, all the monitor can do is suggest the person go somewhere else.  

There is no crime and hence no penalty.

HB2 provides no guidance about what to do and no penalties for being in a bathroom for people of a different birth gender.  The best the monitor or officer can say, is “Could you move over to the bathroom next door, pretty please?”

Yes, the Frick Museum docent embarrassed me, and I am deeply saddened by the cumulative beating—however well deserved—North Carolina is taking in the national and international arena.  I hope we recover our formerly sterling reputation in my lifetime, but I am not holding my breath.

In the meantime, I pass along one of many bathroom designations floating around on the Internet.  Some have stick figures wearing both trousers and a dress.  One of those designs features a hand aiming a gun at his/her foot.

You probably have your own favorite of these visuals.

Mine is on this page.  

It has everything to do with the personal liberties of those of us fortunate enough to be Americans.

Well, for the most part, the controversy between the City of Fayetteville and PWC is over, and it looks like the 100-year plus utility charter has been deemed valid, defining PWC as an independent public authority. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour. The lawsuit is finally over, and most everyone I’ve talked with seems to think the City will not appeal the ruling. This is a good thing. Matter of fact, it is a very good thing.

 It is unfortunate that this entire two-year ordeal started when the City Council voted to renege on their commitment to pay for half of the sewer line construction from the “big bang” annexation in western Cumberland County. They wanted PWC to pay the entire cost. This idea was mostly championed and pursued by then City Manager Ted Voorhees and several unnamed sources who many feel exerted undue influence and pressure on the newly-elected, inexperienced and naive council members. I would have said unknown sources, however, as the ordeal matured and played out, it became pretty conspicuous who had Voorhees’ ear. So, they were not unknown, just unnamed. In the end, this proved to be the catalyst of Voorhees’ undoing, forcing him to resign his position in April after less than four years on the job.

What is really unfortunate is that when all of this ordeal is finally over, what will the price tag to the taxpaying residents of the City of Fayetteville? Some are estimating $300,000 while others say it will be much closer to $400,000. Really? What reckless irresponsible management. And to think we almost voted to extend the current city council terms to four years. Think about this: How many potholes could have been mended on city streets? How much could we have subsidized and facilitated new sewer line hook ups for city residents? How much of this money could have been spent addressing Fayetteville’s clean drinking water needs or initiating storm water improvements throughout the city? Perhaps this money could have been used for infrastructure or sewer services to facilitate bringing Shaw Heights within the city limits. You see my point - and most probably have felt the frustration.

Well, it’s over now. I applaud the PWC Commission and staff for their tenacity and dedication to their jobs, as well as the mayor and the level-headed members of our city council who really studied the issues and chose to do what was necessary to move this community forward. Hopefully, the excessive price tag of this venture has provided us with valuable lessons that will accelerate our growth and prosperity in the future. We can only hope. Time will tell.

 Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

The National Defense Authorization Act for 2017 includes a plan to overhaul and improve TRICARE for active duty service members, reservists, retirees and their family members. It incorporates several provisions proposed by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC). Tillis originally offered the proposals to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) in February. He says the establishment of a high performance military-civilian integrated health delivery system is integral to the amendment. “Our service members make enormous sacrifices in defense of our freedom, and they deserve access to the timely and quality healthcare choices that work best for them and their families,” said Tillis. The TRICARE system will increase collaboration between the military and private sector, ultimately improving health outcomes for TRICARE beneficiaries,” he added. The Tillis proposals would improve healthcare and enhance the treatment of beneficiaries as local military treatment facilities create working relationships with private sector healthcare systems. A news release from Tillis’ office said formal relationships would foster innovation in military treatment facilities, enhance operational medical force readiness, improve access to specialized medical care and strengthen care coordination through integration of all activities of these new health delivery systems. 

Summer Means Storms               

As reported elsewhere in this edition, hurricane season is almost here. Cumberland County Emergency Services cautions that residents should be prepared by updating their emergency plans and supply kits. County Commissioners joined the governor in approving a proclamation declaring Hurricane Preparedness Week. The season officially begins June 1 and runs through November. Traditionally August through mid-October is the most active time for hurricanes in North Carolina. “It’s important to act now before storms strike,” said Emergency Services Director Randy Beeman. 

A disaster-preparedness kit should contain enough non-perishable food and a gallon of water per person, per day for at least three days, preferably up to a week. Other essentials include: a manual can opener, copies of insurance papers and ID in a sealed, watertight plastic bag; a basic first-aid kit; portable weather radio and extra batteries; prescription medicines; personal hygiene items and some cash in case electricity stays out for a while. If you have pets, don’t forget their needs. Stay informed during a storm by having a battery-powered radio for weather and evacuation information. Know evacuation routes and the location of public shelters. To sign up for the county’s severe weather CodeRED notification service, visit co.cumberland.nc.us or call 678-7641.

Citizen Commission Rules Changes     

A standing committee of Fayetteville City Council is unanimously recommending that Council modify the process by which citizens are named to local boards and commissions. Longtime Councilman Bobby Hurst has chaired the five-member appointments committee for more than eight years. He, plus Mayor Nat Robertson and Council members Bill Crisp and Chalmers McDougald voted unanimously to provide that applications for membership received after the administrative deadline not be considered. However, the proposed City Code revisions would allow nominations to be received from the floor when council considers nominations for vacancies on citizen advisory boards. Councilwoman Kathy Jensen did not attend. She told Hurst she forgot about the meeting. Other proposed changes in the City Code are that the mayor and four members of council will make up the committee. They would be appointed by the mayor. The recommendations will be considered by the full council at its work session June 6.

Playground Pooper Busted                        

Cumberland County school authorities decided they’d had enough after repeatedly finding human feces on the Rockfish Elementary School playground. Staff had to clean playground equipment frequently. After a few weeks, the Hope Mills school officials decided they had enough of the serial pooper. Cumberland County security coordinator Bruce Morrison had cameras installed around the playground. They caught the culprit on video and notified the sheriff’s office. Eighteen-year-old Robert Christopher Elliott and his younger brother were nabbed and arrested for defecating on public property, according to Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Sean Swain. Both were charged with second-degree trespassing. The older brother also faces misdemeanor charges of injury to real property and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Hurricane season is upon us. Hurricane Fran was one of the most destructive storms to hit our state. It struck North Carolina 20 years ago this year, on a path similar to that of Hurricane Hazel 40 years earlier. Both occurred toward the end of the hurricane season and had remarkable similarities. Both storms glanced Fayetteville causing millions of dollars in damage. On October 14, 1954, the National Weather Bureau issued a warning for the Carolinas, with the caveat that the worst of Hurricane Hazel was expected to stay offshore. Instead, the storm took a northwest turn and headed toward land. It killed at least 400 people in Haiti before striking the North and South Carolina border as a Category 4 hurricane. On October 15, Hazel moved inland on a northerly trek through Eastern North Carolina into Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. It brought gusts of 100 mph and caused $281 million (1954 USD) in damage. Ninety-five fatalities were attributed to Hazel in the U.S. She struck Canada as an extratropical storm, raising the death toll by 81 people, mostly in Toronto. Hazel is still regarded as the North Carolina storm by which all others are judged. Its name was retired from use for North Atlantic hurricanes. 

Hurricane Fran came ashore south of Wilmington on Thursday night, September 5, 1996. It developed as a tropical wave two weeks earlier. Fran peaked as a 120 mph Category 3 hurricane but weakened slightly as she made landfall near Cape Fear overnight. Then Fran moved into interior eastern North Carolina. The storm’s center took a path across the towns of Delco, White Lake, Roseboro, Dunn and Buies Creek. Although weakening, Fran still brought hurricane-force wind gusts and tremendous damage to trees and power lines across a broad swath of eastern North Carolina. Wind gusts were measured at 100 mph in Greenville, 81 mph in Goldsboro and 80 mph in both Fayetteville and Raleigh. 

The storm continued to weaken inland and was only a tropical depression the next day. Memories remain fresh for public safety crews and PWC linemen who went to work immediately after Fran had passed. Fayetteville firefighters had been told by their chief to remain in their stations if and when winds hit 60 mph. The New York Timeswrote on Sept. 6 that “As the storm moved inland, it maintained its strength as a hurricane, with its highest winds about 80 M.P.H. as it passed just east of Fayetteville, N.C., about 1 a.m. today. It continued to cause widespread damage and spin off tornadoes while moving north.” Five shelters were opened in Fayetteville, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. High winds took down trees and toppled them across power lines all over Fayetteville. Electrical power and cable TV was out for several days.

According to the Associated Press, of the 37 deaths caused by Fran, 21 occurred in North Carolina. Most of them were caused by accidents from fallen trees, including trees falling on houses and automobile crashes into fallen trees.  Total insured losses were estimated to be about $1.275 billion. Eventually, Hurricane Fran curved east-northeastward and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone as it continued up the Atlantic seaboard, again hitting Ontario, Canada, early on the morning of Sept. 9. 

Drive through any neighborhood in Fayetteville and you’ll be able to pick out the rentals because many of them stand out like sore thumbs. The grass this time of year is a foot high. Weeds have become small trees, and the shrubbery, if there is any, is overgrown. State and local governments have little authority to make rental occupants clean up their yards. The property owners can be held responsible, but it’s a daunting task for city code enforcement officers. Six officers are tasked with the chore of keeping up with Fayetteville’s estimated 90,000, according to Code Enforcement Director Scott Shuford. Rental housing, Shuford says, consumes 90 percent of their time. Three others look after commercial properties. 

According to the 2010 census of Fayetteville’s occupied housing units, almost half were rentals, which is far higher than the approximately one-third of units across the state. A census update indicated renter-occupied homes increased over the following two years by another 2 percent. That equates to nearly 47,000 homes in the city that are occupied by renters. Many of them are managed by professional property-management firms. There are dozens of companies specializing in rentals. Dozens more real-estate firms have rental management divisions. And there are private citizens who look after their rental houses.

A casual scan of prominent property management websites is revealing. Peachtree Properties, that “conducts routine inspections to ensure the tenants are keeping the home and lawn in an excellent state of repair.” Most others don’t even mention lawn care. Fayetteville businessman Ed Melvin owns and personally manages 52 rentals. “It’s the property owners’ responsibility to make sure their tenants know what is expected of them,” said Melvin. He says he wouldn’t be opposed to stricter city ordinance regulations requiring property owners to maintain higher appearance standards. “I introduce myself to the residents on both sides of my rental properties and give them my business card. I ask them to let me know if anything happens that I need to know about,” Melvin added.

Fayetteville Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin would like to see the city’s Unified Development Ordinance beefed up, and he himself is a landlord. “I have six houses, one of them is a duplex,” Colvin told Up & Coming Weekly. As a City Council member he’s keenly aware of his responsibilities to keep his properties clean inside and out. The county health department can also enforce laws governing environmental and health issues that result from unkempt yards. Colvin is on a one-man crusade of sorts to get Fayetteville cleaned up. His business is on Murchison Road about midway between Bullock and Jasper Streets. He tells how he has approached vagrants who regularly seek handouts in the area. He’s gotten to know them, and has put them to work cleaning up roadside trash. “I’ve offered to pay them five dollars a week to simply pick stuff up,” he said. And, it’s working. He sees them patrolling along that section of Murchison Road gathering up what inconsiderate drivers toss out of their cars. The men go so far as to tell others to leave the stuff alone … that they’ll take care of it. Maybe Colvin’s hit on something!

Melvin has 53 rental house and apartments. He personally takes care of tenant needs if they’re unable to do for themselves. The vacancy rate grew as well, to 13.6 percent of the Fayetteville’s estimated 89,642 homes and 14.7 percent statewide.

As a real estate investor, Cyndi McKinney limits the amount of properties she manages, because she personally performs your move-in, move-outand routine inspections — an important factor when considering someone to manage what is likely to be one of your largest investments.

She selects tenants based on credit checks performed by Equifax, verification of income from pay vouchers and employment and previous landlord verifications

McKinney actively markets your home for rent in the Fayetteville Observer, the Fayetteville NC MLS Multiple Listing Service, Fort Bragg and Pope AFB housing offices and her company website. She also arranges repairs and estimates promptly- — with owners’ approval

With the past month’s dreary weather giving way to sunshine in the coming weeks, and the building excitement inside classrooms all across the county, it’s a sure sign that summer is almost here and that SwampDogs baseball is just around corner! In fact, the opening day is on Wednesday, June 1.

The 2016 season coincides with the Fayetteville SwampDogs 16th season playing in the Coastal Plain League. The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 20th season in 2016, the CPL features 16 teams playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL has had nearly 1,300 alumni drafted and 81 of those – including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander – make their Major League debut; while another notable alum – Russell Wilson – won Super Bowl XLVIII.The SwampDogs are one of the most successful franchises in the league’s history, making the Petitt Cup Playoffs eight times in the past 11 seasons, reaching the championship round three times. The SwampDogs boast 90 alumni taken in the draft and have produced six players who have gone on to play in Major League Baseball including slugger Mark Reynolds and David Aardsma. 

The SwampDogs have managed to make a name for themselves and have earned the right to host the 2016 Coast Plain League All-Star Game this season. This is the fourth time Fayetteville has hosted, and the first since 2011.The Coastal Plain League All-Star Game is a two-day extravaganza, starting with the Home Run Derby and Fan Fest, to be held on Sunday, July 10. The All-Star Game is on Monday, July 11, and will be followed by a Fireworks Extravaganza.

“We are extremely excited to be bringing the All-Star Game back to Fayetteville,” said SwampDogs General Manager Jeremy Aagard. “This is a tremendous opportunity for us to showcase all the great things Fayetteville has to offer to a huge audience.”

Players from each of the CPL’s 16 teams will compete in the All-Star Game, and representatives from each of the teams will be on hand for the experience. The two-day extravaganza will also bring fans, family members of players and hundreds of other visitors to Fayetteville including scouts from all 30 Major League teams.

“It is with great pleasure that we announce the Fayetteville SwampDogs as host to our 2016 Coastal Plain League All-Star Game,” said CPL COO/Commissioner Justin Sellers. “From Lew Handelsman to Jeremy Aagard and their entire staff, the SwampDogs are a staple not only in the All-American City of Fayetteville, but in the CPL. They have proven time and again to make a night at the ballpark a memorable experience for their fans and we look forward to seeing what ‘fun’ they have in store with our All-Star event! This will be a great couple of days to highlight the best players in the league and to showcase the SwampDogs, their loyal fans, and the City of Fayetteville!”  

This game features the cream of the crop of collegiate baseball players all coming together for one star-studded game.

“We want to put on a show like nobody has ever seen before,” said Aagard. “And because of the support of the community, we’re going to be able to make this All-Star Game an event nobody will ever forget.”

The Coastal Plain League All-Star Game will be broadcast regionally on Time Warner Cable Sports. Tickets are available for both nights of the extravaganza now, and can be reserved by contacting the SwampDogs at 426-5900.

The All-Star Game is only one of the many special events that are planned for this season. Highlighted by five firework extravaganzas the 2016 season at The Swamp will be one you don’t want to miss with memorable promotions each night throughout the entire summer.

The home opener kicks off the festivities on Wednesday, June 1 with the Magnet Schedule Giveaway presented by Freeman & Barrett, CPAs. 

The first firework night of the year is presented by Mountaire Farms on Saturday June 4. Healy Wholesale will also be giving away a gift that night to the first 500 fans over the age of 21. 

Military Appreciation Night presented by Lee Hyundai will be celebrated with fireworks on June 16. 

Hendrick Chrysler Jeep Fiat and Disaster One bring back the annual Honoring America Firework Show which is accessible to the entire public following the game on July 3, and is punctuated with the biggest firework spectacular in all of Fayetteville Independence Weekend. 

And the final fireworks spectacle of the season is on Fan Appreciation Night with fireworks on Aug. 5.

The fourth pyrotechnic display will coincide with The 2016 Coastal Plain League All-Star Game, Home-Run Derby and Fan Fest. The festivities conclude with a firework celebration after the game.

Some new and unique nights in 2016 include Star Wars Night, Leave it to Bieber Nigh, and a Super Sweet 16 Party celebrating the SwampDogs’ 16th season in Fayetteville.

The 10th Annual Striking Out Cancer night will return July 16 with one-of-a-kind pink game jerseys being auctioned off to benefit Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Friends of the Cancer Center.

The SwampDogs are also partnering with A Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Aug. 4 for Bringing Memories Home Safe. A special purple jersey, worn by the SwampDogs, is set for auction after the game to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.

Weekly promotional nights are also planned at The Swamp:

Mondays: Kids Eat Free- Kids 12 and under get a voucher for a hot dog, chips, and a drink with purchase of a ticket every Monday home game, all-season long.

Tuesdays: Tuesday Mania Presented by Dogwood Reality- Hang out in the ballpark Tuesday nights with backyard games, prizes, and learn more about the potential home of your dreams.

Wednesdays: Winning Wednesdays- Win big on Wednesdays when prizes could be won wherever you look. Under your seat? You have a chance. On your hot dog wrapper? Could be! You never know how you’re going to win on Wednesdays at The Swamp!

Other returning fan favorites include Summertime St. Paddy’s Night and the 12th Annual Family Fun Night with the Fun-Go Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Bob 96.5 FM. The complete promotional schedule can be viewed at GoSwampDogs.com.

There are a lot of fun things planned for the season, but what is truly going to make it great is a summer of great baseball. To that end, the SwampDogs have signed some of the best baseball players in the country, including top hitters, fielders and pitchers. The SwampDogs 2016 season is going to be one for the books, so head down to the Swamp to cheer the team on.

For more information on the Fayetteville SwampDogs, visit their team website at www.goswampdogs.com and follow them on Twitter @GoSwampDogs and like them on Facebook at Fayetteville SwampDogs Baseball. Where baseball is fun!

For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com and follow them via Twitter @CPLBaseball.

Cumberland County’s Headquarters Library is turning 30. A celebration is set for Sunday, June 12, in the Pate Room of the library from 3-5 p.m. 

The downtown library was opened at 300 Maiden lane in 1986 and replaced the main library on Anderson Street, which opened in 1931. The County set a referendum in 1968 to build a new library but, it failed. In 1982, a second bond referendum also failed but the need was greater than ever. County government agreed that if a citizen committee could raise some money, the county would match it with the rest of what would be needed to build the library. In 1983, the citizen’s group raised $700,000 and County Commissioners authorized a bid for construction of the library of $4.667 million. Construction was started in September 1984, and the building opened on June 1, 1986. 

“A modern library has more open spaces. We depend more on technology and less on books than we used to,” said Branch Manager Jane Casto. But she added, “the World Book Encyclopedia is quite useful for many patrons.”  

The public is still checking out books and DVDs, and librarians help patrons in many other ways, including using data bases. Librarians can even be booked for one-on-one consultations for up to 45 minutes by appointment. In the information services department, there are five fulltime librarians and another five in the local and state history division. Several full-time paraprofessionals assist them. 

“We have a very well established online presence for folks working from home,” Casto said. 

For those who actually go to the library, there are 40 computer work stations in the adult lab, with another six computers in the children’s lab. Half a dozen laptops can be checked out for use in the building, according to Casto. WiFi is available for those with their own laptops and smart phones, and all services are free.  

Casto and Library Director Judy Risacher like to say “We welcome everyone on library property.” Street people have accepted the open invitation for several years now. 

“We encourage them to come in,” said Casto. “We have rules, but we want to maintain a welcoming environment,” she added. 

One reason the downtown library is popular among vagrants is the convenient access to wash rooms. They’re located in the vestibule outside the interior of the building. Two security guards are on duty at all times when the library is open. They enforce the rules, one of which is that groups of four people or more who are being loud or blocking the entrance are asked to disperse. 

The 30th Anniversary celebration is in the Pate Room of the Headquarters Library. Refreshments will be served and a video of an historic time line will be shown, according to Casto. 

On May 29, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the Army Ground Forces Band will join together in the annual Symphonic Salute to the U.S. Armed Forces. This is the fourth annual concert collaboration between the two professional groups. They come together once a year to honor the past and present members of the armed forces and their sacrifices for Memorial Day. They do this by performing classic patriotic music. 

“The concert will showcase musicians from both groups performing together on stage,” Julia Atkins, the director of artistic operations and marketing for the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, explained. “Some of the music you will hear that evening will be John Williams’ “Summon the Heroes” featuring the Herald Trumpets, “God Bless America,” “America the Beautiful” and other well-known, patriotic tunes. There will also be the performance of the Armed Forces Medley — a piece that combines all military service songs. People who are past or present military are asked to stand to be recognized when their service song is played.”

In addition to honoring the military members in our community, this free concert is also a great opportunity to come together to enjoy incredible music and beautiful weather. For the past four years, the event has been met with incredible support. “The community has really enjoyed this concert over the past few years. We feel that the audience has grown each year we hosted this concert -— last year we had close to 3,000 people in the park for this concert. It’s a great time of year to just be outside with family and friends enjoying a concert. It’s great for all ages,” Atkins said. The music is beautiful and inspiring, as is the location. There is no age too young to celebrate a love of one’s nation and for the brave community members who sacrifice to protect it. This personal bond to members of the armed forces is particularly true for the Fayetteville community. 

Both the Army Ground Forces Band and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra are comprised of exceptional musicians. Their skill and professionalism create season after season of amazing concerts. It may seem difficult to merge two different and distinct groups, but these great musicians prove otherwise. “Our rehearsals run rather smoothly, our musicians enjoy playing with the Army musicians and vice versa,” Atkins says. “We usually start planning this concert in the early fall, and we love planning this concert together because we know that it’s a concert that really helps bring the community of Fayetteville together.” 

The only foreseeable challenge could be the weather. The free event is an outdoor event at Festival Park. Audience members are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on during the concert. “Though, if for some reason the weather isn’t great, the concert will not be cancelled. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors to Huff Concert Hall at Methodist University,” Atkins explained. The concert is  on May 29 at 7:30 p.m. 

Known for its commitment to excellence, diversity, inclusion and willingness to take artistic risk, the Cape Fear Regional Theatre is bringing the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Hedwig And The Angry Inch to Fayetteville May 26 –June 5.

But is Fayetteville ready for Hedwig? CFRT Artistic Director Tom Quaintance and Hedwig Director Edward Carignan think so and have assembled a talented group of performers ready to deliver.

“The play has a big heart,” Quaintance said.  “It is a fantastic story with a great character and a beautiful message.”

The story is accessible and may appeal to a much broader audience than expected, Quaintance said. It may even surprise some people who think the Fayetteville community is not ready for the tale of a woman leading a rock band called The Angry Inch.  Well, to be honest, there is a bit more to the story.  But isn’t there always?

Hedwig is a transsexual punk-rock girl from East Berlin touring the U.S. with her band as she follows a former lover who stole her songs. During the musical, we learn of Hedwig’s love for an Army soldier stationed in Germany (before the wall came down) that brings her to America, and another former lover who breaks her heart and goes on to become an international rock star.  

It is also a story about Hedwig (played by J.J. Parkey) and her current partner Yitzhak (played by Ruthie Stephens) and how that relationship helps Hedwig come to terms with her experiences. That part of the story is one the director finds interesting to share with the audience.  

“It’s a healing process between them… this cycle of abuse, mistreatment of lovers,” Carignan said.  

Carignan has done this musical five times with the same two lead actors, and seeing them grow as performers is something he finds rewarding.

The production is far from stale, Carignan said, as each performance is tailored to the location where it is being performed.

“It [the performance] is based on the time you’re in and the place you’re in,” Carignan said. “I think that’s what hooks people, the show isn’t set, changes keep it exciting.”

“We break the fourth wall,” Stephens said of the actors’ interaction with audience members as Hedwig tells her tale through song, inserting local phrases, jokes and subject matter.  

Part of localizing the production includes keeping abreast of local politics Parkey said. “I’ve done research and I’m staying up to date with HB2,” Parkey said.  “It would be silly for us to ignore that.”

Stephens believes the musical offers a shared experience that can help break down stereotypes. She said that some have a problem with transgender people because they’re afraid, they don’t know anyone who is transgender.   

“It’s important that they get to meet someone from the trans community,” she said.  After seeing Hedwig, audience members can “come away feeling like they met someone who’s a human being.”

Hedwig, as a character, has to be knowledgeable of the environment, Parkey said.  It is one of the things he likes most about the show.

Adding a few local ties draws the audience in to this story that is “funny, heartwarming, at times silly” according to Quaintance. “It’s an incredibly entertaining night out.  The audience will walk away with a deeper understanding of the human experience.”

At the forefront of that experience is Hedwig with glitter, glam, makeup and heels. 

“It’s a vulgar character but as she tells her story, you end up on her side,” Carignan said.  “By the end of the show, people are won over.”  

Parkey was won over the first time he performed as Hedwig in college.

“It is the most challenging thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “I enjoy putting myself in tough situations and figuring it out.”  

In school, Parkey, who says he was meek and an introvert, was encouraged to play the boy next door, and nerdy characters. “But I felt that was not me.”

“Hedwig has redefined who I am as an artist,” he said. “By being able to take on her voice it has taught me how to have my own. I think I’ve learned how to be confident and daring as a person and as a performer.”

Written by John Cameron Mitchell with music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, Hedwig has a celebrated soundtrack.

“This is, I think, the greatest rock score in the history of musicals,” said Quaintance.

The musical has gained a “Rocky Horror” type following, and CFRT invites the audience to wear costumes to a Hedwig costume party for the May 27 performance. Party events are scheduled before and after the performance.

Hedwig And The Angry Inch contains sexual content and mature language. It is recommended for theatre-goers at least 17-years-old.  For more information, call 910.323.4233 or visit www.cfrt.org

Childhood taunt updated: “Vlad and The Donald sitting in a tree/K-I-S-S-I-N-G/First, comes love/ Then, comes marriage/Then, comes The Donald with a baby carriage.” The original childhood ditty morphed into the unsettling thought expressed in the version set out above. The new limerick was triggered by a disturbing mural. Across the sea in Vilnius, Lithuania, a mural is causing a disturbance in the Force. An artist named Mindaugas Bonanu painted a mural on a restaurant showing The Donald and Vladmir Putin kissing each other.

Bonanu’s inspiration for the Donald’s lip lock with Putin was a semi famous photograph from 1979 of the world’s ugliest dictator, Leonid Brezhnev kissing East Germany’s dictator, Erich Honecker. At the time this was described as a “socialist fraternal kiss” to commemorate the 30th anniversary of East Germany. This photograph went the 1979 equivalent of viral. It showed up as posters plastered to the western side of the Berlin Wall with the caption “My God, help me survive this deadly kiss.” 

As we all know, The Donald and The Vladster are involved in a political bromance. Each one has issued admiring statements about the other half of their bromance. Ponder for a moment the gooey things they said about each other. Putin on The Donald: “Mr. Trump is a very bright and talented man. The absolute leader of the presidential race.... He wants to move to a different level of relations, to more solid, deeper relations with Russia.” The Donald on Putin: “He’s got a tremendous popularity in Russia. They love what he is doing, they love what he represents... It is always a great honor to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond.” 

Being unable to rise above elementary school logic, I recall the old schoolyard taunt, “It takes one to know one.” Putin and The Donald are kindred spirits. If you like Putin’s dictatorial reign in Russia and Ukraine, you might love The Donald’s Presidency. There is a weird right wing affinity for Putin that shows up on Facebook frequently in the form of manly pictures of a shirtless Putin riding a horse bareback and President Obama riding a bicycle wearing a bike helmet. In the eyes of the far right, Putin is a macho man; Obama, a sissy man from Kenya. It appears the far right is looking for a king to make America great again by returning to the 1950s when men were men, women knew their place and black people had their own separate-but-almost-equal water fountains. You have to be careful what you wish for because sometimes you might get it. 

Aesop told a fable about the frogs who wished for a king. The story might shed some light on the right’s fascination with Putin and its desire for a strongman to make America great. Once upon a time there were a family of frogs who lived in a pond. The frogs saw that humans had kings. The frogs figured that although their pond was good, that it would be even better if they had a king. They asked Zeus to send them a king. Zeus told them they really didn’t need a king but the frogs were insistent. Zeus liked the frogs and decided to indulge them by sending them a king. He dropped a log into the pond telling them the log was now their king. The log made a huge splash. The frogs were scared and hid in the bull rushes. After a while the frogs realized the log wasn’t moving. The bravest frog came out and touched the log and skittered back into the weeds. The log did nothing. The brave frog came back out and touched the log. Nothing happened. Finally the frog jumped on top of the log and the rest of the frogs soon followed. The log wasn’t much of a king.

The frogs complained to Zeus that they needed a real king. Zeus became irritated and sent a heron to the pond to be the king of the frogs. The frogs were happy at first with their new king Heron as he was a good looking bird with fine feathers. Then the Heron started eating the frogs. This hungry new king was not what the frogs expected. They pleaded with Zeus to take back the Heron. Zeus replied choices had consequences and they would have to live with the Heron as their king. 

There may be a moral somewhere in this story that applies to the 2016 Presidential election. Or maybe it’s just a story about frogs. 

Charlotte Blume 2015 Fayetteville Music Hall of Fame Award

I think my father started it years ago, but in our circle when a family member or friend does or says something so quintessentially “them,” someone is sure to say: “Thank you for being you!” 

It could be said lovingly, as when a protective mother never fails to say “be careful!” or even “don’t die” every time someone near and dear leaves home. It could be delivered with slight edge, as when an exceedingly thrifty friend habitually and alarmingly pushes expiration dates found in her fridge way over beyond the edge. It was used every time a much beloved and eccentric aunt dropped off birthday and holiday gifts at their recipients’ doors with no fanfare and no card. We always knew who left them, because they were unique. I received a single avocado on a recent birthday and knew precisely who left it at my garage door.

Thank you for being you, indeed.

Our politicians — love ‘em or loathe ‘em — can be counted on to be themselves in certain situations. President Obama, blessed with terrific  comedic timing, is generally a stitch at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. Presidential hopeful Donald Trump is dependable as an equal opportunity offender — insulting women, immigrants, Muslims and anyone who somehow offends him.  

We are thankful they are “them” — I guess.

Mary Karr, a memoirist and poet, wrote a recent essay for The New Yorker, in which she declared her love of very high stiletto heels that she ultimately donated to a Dress for Success program, although I have my doubts that such footwear will make any professional woman a success, with the world’s oldest profession being a possible exception.

Said Karr, “This spring I donated to Dress for Success a box of high heels that I — over decades — almost bankrupted myself for: Four-inch sandals with leafy vines that twine up your leg, five-inch leopard pumps that I could lurch about five feet in. The money I spent on them might have freed me to retire by now.”

Karr could obviously be trusted to teeter into most occasions, and however belatedly, to have the good sense to come back to terra firma. No doubt her friends and family are thanking her for being her.  

A recent Up and Coming Weekly, my most latest absolutely, positively final reference to the mysterious popularity of tattoos, especially the colorful, large scale ones, generated this response from a reader who refers to herself as the “Tattooed Librarian.”  She and I have corresponded on and off for five years, and she wrote to tell me about a recent acquisition.  

“I wanted to share with you what I am believing for now is ultimately my final tattoo done only days ago. This makes 12 in all (an even number is reason enough for making it my last.). My final tattoo, as I have been reading, in tribute to Prince, who was found dead on April 21st. I know I am not alone, due to reading of others also paying tribute to Prince by getting various tattoos associated with him and in honor.

“Well, I wanted to share with you my actual tattoo. Also, I wanted you to know why I chose to tattoo my arm with the symbol he used, instead of being known by his name years ago. Thus, also I am attaching a copy of the piece I have written with hopefully an explanation to give voice to how I feel about my honoring his memory in this way and what it means to me. Prince was someone I grew up as an icon, he is of my era, a Baby Boomer.

“I hope all is well with you. I thought of you because I continue to remember your interest in those who tattoo themselves. You really should consider someday getting a small one. We won’t tell.”  

The Tattooed Librarian did indeed include a selfie of her new Prince symbol tattoo — pictured here, as well as a fond tribute to the dearly departed entertainer whose life and work obviously touched her and millions of others.  

To my email friend, the Tattooed Librarian: I appreciate your writing to me over the last several years.  You have been a consistent and articulate voice, explaining why many people choose to ink their skin. I now understand that for many people, including you, tattoos are more than decoration. They commemorate or memorialize someone or an important life event. I certainly did not understand that the day I first became interested in tattoos, the day I was dumbstruck by large yellow Tweety Bird tattooed around a woman’s calf and peeping between the laces of her high heel sandals.  

And so, a hearty “thank you for being you,” to the Tattooed Librarian.

I would still love to know, though, exactly what Tweety Bird commemorates….

Fayetteville Observer reporter, Paul Wolverton, did an excellent job last week reporting on the developing trend of a dwindling population in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. (Saturday 5/21/2016). He did a yeoman’s job providing a shocking and alarming wake up call to all our civic and elected officials that Fayetteville and Cumberland County communities are not on the same progressive growth track as the rest of North Carolina.

Matter of fact, we are trending in the wrong direction. As Wolverton reported, according to the Census Bureau, Cumberland County lost about 2,500 residents since July 2013. Of these, nearly 2,200 residents were City of Fayetteville residents. He has provided every resident of the city and county with a candid and objective “report card” on just how well our elected officials and civic leaders are doing in leading, managingand developing our community. 

Well, folks, with North Carolina prospering and neighboring Cape Fear Region communities that surround Fayetteville and Cumberlandshowing consistent and substantial growth year after year, one must conclude that this report card sports a failing grade. At best, it serves as an objective and unbiased indicator that what we are doing — or not doing — as a community is serving as the catalyst for change. And, in this case, a change for the worse. 

So, thank you, Mr. Wolverton, you have done your job by providing insights into a situation that if not addressed aggressively and soon, will have a disastrous outcome for our city and county in the very near future. 

So, where do you start in finding solutions to reverse this exodus from Fayetteville and Cumberland County? What needs to be done? What actions need to be taken or what priorities need to be established? Do we need higher paying jobs or do we just need jobs? Do we have competent economic development leadership? Do we need to address our high crime rate or lower the local homicide rate? Do we need a cleaner and more beautiful community?

Do we need City and County elected officials coming together and collaborating with each other for the betterment of all residents? Should we consider addressing sewer line hook ups, storm water and clean water concerns as quality-of-life issues? Do we need stronger leadership or a more business friendly and supportive Chamber of Commerce? Do we need a more vibrant downtown? Do we need more recreational and quality-of-life facilities? Do we need to get dozens of panhandlers off our street corners? Do we need to define and address area homelessness? 

Should we expect and demand more positive and unbiased reporting services from our news media? Will a new Performing Arts Center curb the exodus from Cumberland County, or a baseball stadium housing a major league farm team? Are beautified gateways the answer? Are lower taxes needed? Higher taxes? How good are our public schools? Are we paying our teachers a fair and just salaries? Are our local educators setting the right examples for our children?

When will Fayetteville work on developing a “brand” it can be proud of? Do we have the right people in the right positions to reverse this community’s exodus of population?

Oh, so many questions. However, people who really love and understand this community know everything listed above is relevant and doable. The only thing stopping us is our inability to get out of our own way. We must eliminate the silos, insist on electing sincere and competent leadership and then allow them to lead. This means allowing them to succeed – or maybe even allowing them to fail. A good leader puts his ideas out there with a prudent plan for execution and success. Unfortunately, we have a reputation for killing a good idea before the person presenting it has a chance to make his case. The result? Lots of talk, lots of conjecture, lots of highly paid consultants that produce studies that are for the most part, totally ignored. Folks, these are not the characteristics of a progressive community trying to endear itself to the public, business or industry. 

Anyone reading this newspaper knows we love Fayetteville and Cumberland County and have made a successful 20-year business out of accentuating and promoting its history  and its cultural and community assets. No one is in a better position to evaluate, identify and analyze why we are losing our population and how to reverse this horrific trend. Well, here it is in an extremely simplistic explanation: We are losing our population to other regional communities because the perceived value, beauty and enjoyment of living in the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community is being overshadowed, outweighed and diminished by the number of actual and perceived negative factors of living here. The good news is: we have the leadership and resources to turn this trend around. We need to get them in the right place with the right priorities and support their initiatives. 

I heard Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson speak recently and he expounded on a nearly endless list of programs, opportunities and initiatives that would affect this community positively. All we need to do now is: Get it done!

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. 

Horrible things happen that most teenage drivers don’t see first-hand. TV and movie depictions are either cleansed of reality or somehow send a convincing message that it just isn’t real. Too many young people decide they are safe because it wasn’t them or their friends or their parents. And then one night, a North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper shows up at their home, and they learn that a car wreck killed their brother or sister or best friend forever.

Last year, the North Carolina Highway Patrol investigated vehicle collisions that killed 71 teens, ages 16 to 19. That’s 71 classmates, 71 friends — not in the same school, but part of their generation, gone. Drinking, texting and speeding does that.

Highway Patrol Trooper Derric Reed brought a sobering message to seniors at Cape Fear High School eagerly looking forward to prom night and graduation ceremonies. The Keys to Life Program, used by law enforcement across the state, is one of the best ways to demonstrate to kids how disobeying the law creates consequences beyond what they ever imagined. 

Students filed into the Colts’ gymnasium, giggling and joking as teens do, but they quickly became silent watching in horror a gruesome video of teens hurtling around in slow motion inside a car as it collided with another. Groans were heard when photos of severed limbs appeared on the screen. Then, there was tough talk.

A judge repeatedly told the kids he would take their driver’s license if they blew anything above a zero on a Breathalyzer test or got caught holding a buddy’s beer. He wouldn’t hesitate to impound their car, even if it belonged to the parents. 

An Emergency Medical Service worker said that looking down and typing LOL (laughing out loud) on a cell phone was an impairment equivalent to drinking four beers. Trooper Reed pleaded to students to put the phones down and not to drink.

The teens saw two “collided” vehicles and a teen drunk driver portrayed by a theater student, wandering in a daze around the crumpled metal and lifeless bodies of her friends. 

Paramedics were first to arrive at this mock accident scene.  They quickly checked the pulse of the two teens who were thrown from the car.  The paramedics covered them with white sheets. 

Members of the fire department arrived, sirens blazing.  They cut off the roof of one car to release injured occupants. Emergency Medical Technicians bandaged them, moved them onto stretchers and hoisted them into ambulances.

Uncomfortable with the strong message that this dreadful thing could happen to them or to someone they love, a few teens nervously snickered as they watched from the bleachers. 

A state trooper used a Breathalyzer to test the driver. Inebriated, she was handcuffed and placed in a State Highway Patrol car to be taken to jail.

The trooper talked to her like it was a real event, and she nearly cried. Even though Alisha Bradshaw was acting, it felt like the accident was all her fault.  She saw the deadly consequence of drinking and driving, and she was glad to bring this message to her fellow students. 

The Keys to Life Program has become a major tool in getting the attention of high school students in Cumberland County and across the state.  Studies show that teens often make risky decisions because the brain isn’t fully developed until the age of 25. As has been said, one picture is worth a thousand words, and this visual depiction of a deadly accident scene makes a bigger impact on teens than words alone. Gov. Pat McCrory supports programs like Keys to Life that help keep school students safe.

Many thanks go to the members of Cumberland County’s Emergency Medical Services, the sheriff’s office and 911 communications center along with the Vander Fire Department and the University of North Carolina Hospital’s life flight.  These emergency workers know firsthand the importance of teens driving safely and responsibly. Kudos go to these emergency workers who took valuable time from their jobs to make the biggest impression possible on the 2016 graduating class of Cape Fear High School.     

Garland Denny was a patriotic, selfless and persistent local veteran.

Denny dedicated his retirement years to promoting several outside-the-box, creative ideas to increase funding for veterans’ services without increasing the tax burden, wisely recognizing that Washington bureaucrats don’t have all the answers.

One of his ideas was to create a “Stamp Out PTSD” semi-postal stamp. The semi-postal stamp would sell for more than the cost of first-class postage, with the difference being donated to PTSD treatment and research.

There are currently two similar semi-postal stamps in circulation, one for breast cancer research and one for endangered species. 

You might think having a new stamp created for such a great cause would be a simple enough task for Washington to handle, but you would be wrong. Even though Congress gave the United States Postal Service full authority to create new semi-postal stamps in 2005, the USPS had always declined to use that authority.  

Last summer, in support of Denny, I gathered 55 colleagues from the U.S. House and Senate and together, and we wrote the Postmaster General asking her to update USPS rules regarding semi-postal stamps with the hopes of accelerating Denny’s Stamp Out PTSD project. 

Acting upon my request, the USPS has just announced revised rules allowing for consideration of new semi-postal stamps to raise money for charitable causes, such as  Denny’s Stamp Out PTSD stamp.

Unfortunately, Denny passed away last October. However, his legacy lives on through his son, Chuck Denny, who has taken up his father’s mission and is working to submit an updated proposal based on the new USPS rules. My office is helping gather the necessary support from various government offices.  

Garland Denny was tenacious in his mission to support veterans. If he were still with us, I’m confident he’d already be on the phone building support for this new opportunity, and the Postal Service would be flooded with calls and letters urging the creation of the Stamp Out PTSD semi-postal stamp. 

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, up to 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom experience PTSD. Among those who served in Desert Storm, roughly 12 percent experience PTSD, and the number increases drastically for our Vietnam veterans. Garland Denny made it his mission to make sure these brave Americans receive the proper treatment.

Garland Denny is a reminder that one committed American can make a big difference. Selfless patriots like  Garland and his son are what make this country great, and while their mission is not yet complete, we will continue to push forward until we Stamp Out PTSD.

Michelle Ingram loves jazz and she loves to laugh. She left Fayetteville 28 years ago and cultivated her love of jazz in places far and wide. “I have a lot of musician friends from Colorado, California, Florida and it was fun to go see them perform,” she said. 

Ingram recently returned Fayetteville and was pleasantly surprised at everything there is to do here. “It was like Fayetteville just exploded. Places that I remember as fields and dirt roads have shopping centers and housing developments on them now,” she said. While Fayetteville is definitely not the place she left almost three decades ago, Ingram is eager to be a part of the positive growth that has redefined the city — by bringing some of that jazz she loves so much to the community. “I moved here and my friends would call and they asked if there is a jazz club here,” said Ingram. “And they were surprised when I told them there is not. Actually, I was surprised, too, because there is some amazing talent here. I think a lot of people are unaware just how much local talent there is here or how good the local jazz artists are. Or maybe because a musician is local they don’t think of the performer as a big name. But if you look at where they have been and who they played with, they are big — and they are that good.” 

With a passion for jazz and comedy, connections in the music world, a deep pool of local talent, a growing city with a thriving music and arts culture, and experience promoting music events and venues in the past, it was clear to Ingram what she needed to do. She started Michelle’s Jazz and Comedy Entertainment and started putting together the inaugural season of Fayetteville’s Jazz and Comedy Showcase.

Instead of opening a jazz club, Ingram intends to host shows at different venues around Fayetteville. “I am thinking there will be a concert or comedy show every two months or so,” said Ingram. It will be enough that people can look forward to quality entertainment, but not so much that they become uninterested.” Her goal is to host a jazz festival in Festival Park in the summer of 2017 in addition to concerts and comedy shows throughout the year.

The first performance is scheduled for June 18 at the Metropolitan Room. The entertainment roster features an opening performance by Pete Everett and the Total Package Band, which is a touring international band playing original, jazz-infused rhythm and blues, funk, jazz and gospel music.

Poet Kwabena Dinizulu is set to perform also.

Vocalist Theo Valentin and bassist and musical director Mike Ely will perform as well as special guests Sam Rucker and Willie Bradley. Valentin sang her first solo for an audience in her church when she was just 5-years-old and her passion has never waned. She performed in high school and attended Norfolk University in Norfolk, Virginia, majoring in voice and minoring in piano. She’s been performing ever since.

Saxophonist Sam Rucker is known for connecting to the audience with his music. With two albums under his belt, Rucker’s original songs are not only encouraging, they are entertaining as well.

A son of Fayetteville, trumpeter Willie Bradley has a degree in music education and performance. He’s played with  pros including  Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Frank Foster, Max Roach, Betty Carter and Nat Adderley.

Grammy-award winner Norman Connors and the Starship Orchestra will headline the show. A native of Philadelphia, Connors showed an interest in jazz at a young age. He met music legend and his personal idol, Miles Davis, when he was just 13. By his early 20s he’d signed a record deal with Buddah Records and scored several hit songs including “You Are My Starship” and “Valentine Love.” His later songs include “Take It to the Limit,” “Black Cow” and “Passion.”

Set in a jazz night club setting, Ingram chose the Metropolitan room for its cozy feel. “There will be appetizers, which are included in the price of the ticket, and the tables will be for four instead of eight to make this an intimate experience.” 

There are two show times of 7 and 10 p.m. 

Next in the series is the 100 percent Outrageous Clean Comedy Show on July 30.  “Comedy shows are really enjoyable — laughing is important,” said Ingram. “Sometimes big shows come to town, but at the end of the day, if you can go to a small venue and have a good laugh, that’s just as good.  So I try to bring more clean comedy to the area. I guess as you get older maybe you don’t want to hear the profanity as much.” 

This event is at the Embassy Suites Hotel Ballroom. Entertainers include Dave Martin, Elaine Postman, Michelle Miller, Chris Petty and Ray Thomas. 

Ingram says she is in this for the long haul and is pouring her heart and soul into the project with the intention of having a lasting positive impact on the community. 

“I’m no one-hit wonder. I know other promoters have come and gone and maybe have left a bad taste in people’s mouths, but I am here to stay.” 

Other shows scheduled this year include:The Hit Ladies of Comedy Show at the Embassy Suites Hotel Ballroom on Oct. 1; The Latin Jazz Explosion at The Metropolitan Room on Nov. 5; and The Heart of Christmas at The Crown Theatre on Dec. 3.

For more information, visit www.michellesjazzcomedyent.com/home.html.

I must make one caveat before I begin this review. I love the music of Johnny Cash. I learned a lot of it as a small child riding in the truck with my Dad — who also loved the music of Johnny Cash. That being the case, I will admit that I have been looking forward to this show since the Cape Fear Regional Theatre announced it’s season. This could be a very good thing for the CFRT or a very bad thing. 

I’m happy to say, it was a very, very good thing. 

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash is just what the title says. It is a musical walk through and celebration of the Man in Black; his struggles, his victory and most importantly, his music. And it is the music and the musicians who were cast in the show who truly make it a must see. 

At the helm of the production is the Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s Founding Artistic Director Bo Thorp. Baxter Clement, who also portrayed Johnny, is the musical director. The two, who have collaborated in the past, pulled together an outstanding cast and brought a stellar show to the stage.

As mentioned in our preview, the show you will see when you buy your tickets (and you really want to buy tickets for this show) is not the show you would have seen if you visited Broadway. There are no jazz hands, instead, you have a raw, honest look at Johnny Cash — warts and all. Thorp and the talented cast changed up the show. They became intimate with Cash’s life and told the story in a simple, honest manner.

They also knocked it out of the park.

Clement, a Southern Pines guitar store owner by way of Broadway and stages and concert halls all over the world, is very believable in the role of Cash. Having seen him as Buddy Holly at a previous River Show, I kind of wondered if I could buy him as Johnny Cash — a much different musician than Holly. He pulled it off masterfully. The audience loved him.

Clement set the bar high for the rest of the cast, and they didn’t disappoint. Malerie Goodman, a Fayetteville resident, was born and raised in Bakersville, California, the “honky tonk capital of the west,” played June Carter Cash, who was more than Johnny’s wife, she was his soul mate. Clement brought the playfulness that Carter Cash was known for to life, and  gave a spirited performance.

Carolanne Marano, also of Southern Pines, is a professional dancer/actor. She not only choreographed the show, but also played the role of Johnny’s mother. She high-stepped and sang her way into the audience’s hearts. Of particular note was the breathtaking song she sang following the death of Johnny’s brother. She rang every drop of sorrow from every note, and left me in tears. It was a magical moment on the stage.

Also creating a magical moment on the stage was the Cape Fear Regional’s own Ken Griggs. Griggs is master of the stage, and in this show got a chance to show off his musical chops, playing a number of instruments and singing. His magic moment came near the end of the show when he performed Cash’s patriotic “Old Ragged Flag.” The song is really a spoken work, which Griggs brought passion and patriotic fervor to. Griggs, who retired from the military a little more than a year ago, has a passion for Soldiers and is a patriot. When he turned and saluted the flag... well, what else can I say... magic.

James Villone and Kendra Jo Brook amazed me by their diversity when it came to playing. Each changed instruments two to three times and mastered all of them. Villone, also of Southern Pines, plays multiple instruments and in fact teaches at Casino Guitars, Clement’s store in Southern Pines. But he has earned his musical chops on stages all across the southeast performing solo or as a member of a country band. This was his first outing into musical theatre, but I hope it is not his last. Brook, a native of Montana, who came to the CFRT by way of New York City, fiddled her way into the hearts of CFRT patrons.

You have one more weekend to see this great show. It’s one you don’t want to miss!!

Five years after his release from prison, James Butler, 49, of Fayetteville, is looking for a job. 

Butler spent eight months behind bars for assault. Previously, he worked as a machine operator after getting out of jail, but he got in trouble again, when he was charged with DWI. He is now on probation. Thanks to a new program in Cumberland County, Butler’s prospect of finding another job is better than you might think. 

On May 13, he attended a Cumberland County community resource meeting for ex-offenders, wearing a white shirt and tie and polished shoes. Butler wanted to learn more about the program for individuals who have been convicted of felonies. 

“Most ex-felons say that their greatest desire upon release is to be given a fair chance to succeed in America,” Dr. Tracey Andrus writes in Corrections.com. “When businesses close their doors to ex-felons, and private and public entities refuse to allow them a chance to work, what other recourse do they have?” 

He is Director of Criminal Justice at a private historically black college in East Texas. He looked closely at this topic because African Americans make up approximately 47 percent of the inmate population in the United States.  

The local meeting, sponsored by Project Fresh Start, focused on helping individuals who have been convicted of felonies to find employment and affordable housing. Ex-offenders who are released from prison and acquire gainful employment and have the support of their loved ones are much more likely to stay out of prison longer and in many cases never return, research shows. 

County Commissioner Charles Evans, himself a convicted felon, organized Project Fresh Start. He was convicted of drug possession and embezzlement and was on probation for eight months until he paid $3,000 in restitution. Evans has been elected to public office four times since then. 

“Sometimes we make mistakes, but those mistakes shouldn’t follow us the rest of our lives,” said Evans. 

In 2011, he persuaded his fellow county commissioners to “ban the box” on job applications. That means persons seeking work with the county can apply without revealing if they have a criminal record. They even go through their initial interview without being asked if they’ve been convicted of a felony, according to county Human Resources Consultant Laura Blackley. Once a background check has been completed, applicants are asked about the crimes they were convicted of and how long it had been since they were released. They’re asked what they’ve done with their lives since then, according to Blackley. If everything checks out, the applicants’ backgrounds are matched with the job they’re seeking. The City of Fayetteville has also banned the box.

A couple of dozen former felons attended the meeting and were told “Cumberland County believes in you,” by County Commission Chairman Marshall Faircloth. 

Other local and state government agencies participated in the meeting, encouraging offenders to apply. They included the county re-entry program, the North Carolina Works Career Center, Cumberland County Public Library, the Department of Social Services, Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority and Fayetteville Area System of Transit.