Hope Mills is gearing up for its biggest fundraiser of the year — Ole Mill Days — on Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17. It’s a time to celebrate the town’s heritage, make some new memories with friends and family and, for some, to relive some old memories about a time when Hope Mills was not so busy and bustling. A simpler time when the local mills drove not just the economy, but the ebb and flow of life in the area.  

“Ole Mills Days is a celebration of Hope Mills and our history,” said Dee Callahan, executive director of the Hope Mills Chamber. “It is a time for the families to get together and there are all sorts of events for the kids.” 

Callahan added that she was born and raised in Hope Mills and looks forward to the annual event.

There is plenty to see and do — and much to learn, as well. The event begins on Friday with the first street dance at 6 p.m. While the dance lasts till 11 p.m., it is the perfect opportunity to check out historic downtown’s Trade Street.

On Saturday at 7 a.m. the Run for Pink Race takes place. It’s the third year for the run and it has grown substantially every year. The event organizers are hoping for a turn out of 750 or more. It is a 5K route and walkers are welcome, as well. Proceeds benefit the Cape Fear  Valley Health Foundation Friends of Cancer. Find out more about this organization at www.capefearvalley.com/foundation/index.html. Visit www.active.com to register for the race.

The opening activities begin at 10 a.m. and include a variety of activities. The tractor pull, is a local favorite and always keeps the crowd riveted. Families won’t want to miss the Kid’s Corner and games. It is the perfect place to relax and let the little ones join the festivities. Car buffs of every stripe will have something to talk about at the car show. Other activities include a haunted house, cheerleading competition, pony rides, bouncy houses, food and craft vendors and demonstrations by dance troupes, karate studios and local musicians.

The corn hole tournament is a lot of fun, even for those who choose not to play. It’s competitive and lively and all in good fun. Registration for the corn-hole tournament is by noon and the games start at 1 p.m. Prizes will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. The cost is $25 to participate in the tournament.

The Ole Mill Days reunion has been a highlight of this event in years past. It’s a place where previous generations gather to share stories and memories about Hope Mills and what it was like as a mill town. It is a chance to reconnect with the town’s past and learn a bit of local history first hand.

One especially popular event at Ole Mills Days is the Hope Mills Chamber’s Chili Cook Off. For years, local chefs have brought forth offerings of their favorite chili recipes to the delight of the attendees and judges. The chili cook off
 is Oct. 17 and it is sponsored by the Hope Mills Chamber. 

“We have the chili cook off every year and it is our only fundraiser because the Hope Mills Chamber is a nonprofit,” said Callahan. “We have WKML 95.7 as our sponsor for the chili cook off and a corn-hole tournament that is sponsored by Up & Coming Weekly.” 

Contestants can enter their chili in the competition for $15. Cash prizes and plaques will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. Chili can be dropped off at 10 a.m. and the announcement of the winners is at 3:30 p.m. There is a People’s Choice Awards in which the public can purchase small containers of all the chili to sample. They will have the opportunity to vote for the chili that they like the best. A $100 cash prize will be awarded.   

The evening concludes with a movie night in Municipal Park.  

Even though it is right around the corner, there is still time for vendors and sponsors
to participate. 

“We are selling tents that you can purchase for $250,” said Callahan. “It comes with a sign, one table and eight chairs.” Callahan added that you can advertise your business underneath the tent and give away items but you are not allowed to sell anything under your tent.   

Admission is free. For more information, call 424-4555. If you are interested in performing at the street dance, call 426-4109.

HEADLINES: 

Providence, Rhode Island: “Dunkin’ Donuts Employee Writes ‘Black Lives Matter’ on Cop’s Cup”

Hartford, Connecticut: “Dunkin’ Donuts CEO apologizes over incident involving West Hartford Cop”

Dade County, Florida:  “Arby’s Fires Manager After Alleged Refusal to Serve Police Officer”

Newton, Kansas: “Taco Bell Worker Writes ‘Pig’ on Cop’s Order”

Lewisville, Texas:“Whataburger Employee Fired for Refusing Service to Texas Cops”

See a pattern here? Well, I see several–and in only a few short months. The most concerning is the bold and growing national trend of disrespect toward police and law enforcement officers. We also see a scary proliferation of national absentee owner franchise stores that appear to serve as a breeding ground for such hostile, outrageous and un-American behavior toward law enforcement.  

Let’s look at the latest incident that made national news in Providence, Rhode Island, when a Dunkin’ Donuts employee wrote “Black Lives Matter” on a police officer’s coffee cup. This hostile act came on the heels of another similar and pathetic incident of  hate in West Hartford, Connecticut, when a munchkin-minded employee shouted at a uniformed West Hartford police officer, “We don’t serve cops here!” in front of a store full of customers. Really?

This prompted Dunkin’ Donuts Chairman and CEO Nigel Travis of Dunkin’ Brands to apologize for the incident  with a letter to the editor in the local newspaper. He cited poor judgement on behalf of the  young crew member. Again, really?

Nationally, there is a pattern beginning to develop. Maybe, just maybe, instead of honoring and respecting the law-enforcement community and projecting a common sense commitment to treating all customers with dignity and respect as Travis proclaims, Dunkin’ Donuts may be vying to become the lead despot in a conspiracy to spark a franchise revolution for anarchy in America. 

No? Well, there are literally tens of thousands of fast food franchises in America (many foreign-owned) employing hundreds of thousands of young, mostly poor, uneducated, impressionable people surviving on minimum wage. This makes them the perfect conduit to spew such hatred, hostility and disrespect for law enforcement and humanity under the guise of familiar and respected community brands such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Arby’s, Whataburger and Taco Bell.  

Here is another thought and coincidence: All these outrageous incidents have taken place in franchise chains that are listed in the top 50 in the nation. Three, Dunkin’ Donuts, Arby’s and Taco Bell, are in the top 18. Whataburger is 40th.  It is much too easy for CEOs and local franchise owners to brush these off as isolated instances by wayward employees – especially when the safety and security of our towns, cities and nation are at stake. We are a country of laws. We must enforce them and abide by them. Lawlessness results in anarchy.  

My  message to Dunkin’ Donuts (and others) is keep your free coffee and donuts and invest that money in training your employees so they can start serving up courtesy, respect and love of country. Otherwise, get comfortable in making negative national headlines. 

Here’s another thought: In the Florida Arby’s incident, John Rivera, Dade County President of the Police Benevolent Association, called for a nationwide boycott of Arby’s unless corrective action was taken against the  perpetrators of the incident. Boycotts of a franchised restaurant are a viable option for all communities that feel their laws and law-enforcement officers are being abused or under assault. And, no offense to  Arby’s CEO Paul Brown but, giving our police officers and first responders a free Happy Meal combo is of no real consequence.

As a result of this rash of incidents, a line of pro-police billboards reading “Blue Lives Matter” are springing up all over the country.  Lamar Billboard Advertising is fostering the theme by donating 150 billboards around the country to the campaign.  They’ll run through the end of the month. I hope several are scheduled for Fayetteville. 

According to an online source, the signs sport the hashtag #thankublu. It is also the name of an Instagram account that features several photos of the signs. The bio reads: “Our only purpose is to thank and support the men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line for our safety every day.” 

Hey, that’s another great point! Police officers put their lives on the line for citizens’ safety every day. Compare that to these franchise restaurants that have a policy where they can refuse service to anyone. Well, law enforcement and first responders do not have that option.

I’ll close with this: Every person in America has a responsibility to conduct themselves in a humane, civilized and responsible manner. In America, a land of laws, everyone is obliged to comply or accept the consequences of his or her actions.  If this is not done there is absolutely no pretense, justification or absolution that will undo such consequences. Yes, black lives matter, blue lives matter and yes, yes, yes, all lives matter. And, that is what matters most. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. 

“Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality.” These words changed Les Brown’s life. He failed the fifth grade and was held back again in eighth grade. By that time, he believed what everyone was saying about him. Even the school system had labeled him as “Educable mentally retarded.” This sentence spoken to Brown by a teacher was a turning point. He’s living his dream, and works every day to help others learn how they can live their dream, too. On Oct. 8, Brown will host the WIDU Business Empowerment Breakfast as part of the WIDU Anniversary celebration. 

The WIDU Anniversary 2015 kicks off Oct. 3 and runs through Oct. 10. It is a week filled with praise, worship, entertainment, empowerment and more. Each year, Wes and Sandy Cookman, owners of WIDU radio station, pull out all of the stops for the radio’s anniversary celebration. The event list includes a Jesus Rocks youth event, We Shall Overcomeon stage, WIDU Carolina’s Best Finale concert, Together as One — a midweek service, a women’s empowerment luncheon, a unity service, a prayer breakfast, Quartet Night, the Festival of Praise and  the WIDU Business Empowerment Breakfast featuring Les Brown. 

At 70, Brown is no stranger to Fayetteville or the WIDU family. 

“It is a pleasure to come back,” said Brown. “This will be like a homecoming. I am pleased to share strategies and techniques for what people need to do to take their lives to the next level.”

While many refer to Brown as a motivational speaker, that isn’t how he sees himself. “I see myself as a person who talks about things people need to do to move their lives from right now to where they want to go. For instance, in less than 10 years, one third of the jobs that exist today will be replaced. That means that the people working those jobs will be replaced by mechanized intelligence. I talk about how you handle that,” he said.

Brown has distilled his philosophy for success down to three keys to success:

Mindset – the resilience to handle rapid changes taking place in the world. 

Expanded skill sets — Brown noted that the skills most people have now will not carry over to the domestic economy and will not help them survive in the global economy. 

Staying relevant and successful by creating collaborative achievement-driven supportive relationships. 

“You can’t make it on your own. Seventy-two percent of corporations are striking partnerships,” said Brown. “If you want to make it today, you’ve got to find some people who have some knowledge and resources that you don’t have, to help you begin to move your life forward.”

Brown’s philosophy dovetails with the work of management consultant, the late Peter Drucker, who believed this era to be characterized by what he called the three Cs: accelerated change, overwhelming complexity and tremendous competition. 

“A lot of people are outside the job market and don’t know that they can’t even get in because it is an entrepreneur’s era,” said Brown. “At the beginning of the year 2000, 5 million jobs evaporated and there were 3 million permanent part-time jobs with no health benefits or security. People need to shift their thinking and what they are looking for and expand their capacity to navigate this economy.”

This news could sound dismal to some, but to Brown, it sounds like opportunity. Staying current in your professional field, continuously upgrading your skill set and improving yourself will lead to new opportunities and new experiences. 

“All of us have the opportunity to create a dynasty, a legacy,” said Brown. “The reason many don’t is because of our entertainment-driven culture. The average immigrant coming to this country has a four times greater chance of becoming a millionaire than the average American because they come from achievement-driven cultures. And when we change our culture from being victims of mass distraction and use our genius and talents in other areas, the possibilities are unlimited as to what we can create.”

The WIDU Business Empowerment Breakfast is on Thursday, Oct. 8 from 8-10 a.m. at the Crown Expo Center. Tickets cost between $15 and $50. Find out more about the WIDU Anniversary celebration and purchase tickets at www.widuanniversary.com.

Cape Fear Studios is a haven for local artists. It provides a place for member artists to create and sell their works. It also hosts exhibits that bring works from national and international artists to the area. To support this enclave for the arts in downtown Fayetteville, Cape Fear Studios is set to host the Celebration of the Arts on Oct. 11. 

“This is our second year hosting the event, so we don’t have a large history to go on, yet. However, last year was tremendously successful even though it was a small start. We’re looking for an even larger turnout this year,” said Ann Griffin, executive director. “No matter what, the people who attend will have a fun time while they’re here and maybe even learn a thing or two as they talk to our artists.” 

Celebration of the Arts features multiple demonstrations from member artists, activities and games that the whole family can enjoy. There is often a disconnect between appreciation of art and understanding how it is actually created. Understanding the work and expertise required to create these beautiful pieces of art adds another level of appreciation and beauty. Celebrate the Arts offers a fun window into creation. 

“The whole idea is to give the public a taste of fine art and in many cases to introduce artistic production methods to people who have never experienced some of the procedures. For instance, most people are familiar with pottery, but have little knowledge of certain methods that can go into special pieces such as Raku. The pottery demonstrations is outdoors, while demonstrations of 2-D painting, in various styles, are happening indoors. Demonstrations of jewelry making and stained glass productions are also planned. And, for the children we’ll have finger painting, spoon decorating and several other hands-on activities,” Griffin said. 

In addition to these demonstrations, a lunch of homemade soup, served in handmade bowls, is planned.

“Well, the soup is nicknamed stone soup, but stones are about the only thing we don’t put into it. It’s a wonderful combination of vegetables with chicken stock. Delicious!  The handmade bowls are created right here in our studios by our member potters. Each bowl is unique and can be enjoyed as functional dinnerware or as decorative pieces,” Griffin explained. 

This year Celebration of the Arts, a relatively new tradition, is seamlessly combined with an older, though lesser known Cape Fear Studios tradition, the silent auction. 

“All of our exhibiting members donate an original piece to the auction, which means we’ll have around 30 pieces. You can go online at www.capefearstudios.com to peruse some of the collection of fine art up for auction, “Griffin said. “This is a great opportunity to purchase fine art.” 

Celebration of the Arts is both within Cape Fear Studios, located at 148 Maxwell St., and in the surrounding parking lots. It is scheduled for Oct. 11 from noon until 5 p.m. “This is a fun afternoon for the whole family. It’s a combination of hands-on activities, plus many opportunities to watch and learn from our professional artists. Most of all it’s a fun way to help support the arts in Fayetteville and keep our arts organization active and viable.” 

For more information visit www.capefearstudios.com or call 433-2986. 

 

The Turtle Island Quartet and Cyrus Chestnut will entertain the community on Oct. 4 as part of the Fayetteville State University Fine Arts Series. 

“The Turtle Island Quartet is not your typical string quartet. That is, they perform jazz standards rather than standards from classical composers like Mozart, Haydn or Beethoven. This performance is actually a collaboration between the quartet and jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut. The program they will bring to Fayetteville is called Jelly, Rags & Monk. It  will feature music by Jelly Roll Morton, ragtime and Thelonius Monk. Interestingly, Monk was born in Rocky Mount in 1917,” explained Dr. Earnest Lamb, chair of the Fine Arts Series . 

The Turtle Island Quartet began in 1985, and has been innovating ever since. They bring old European traditions and modern American music together in seamless and unique performances that anyone can enjoy. They’ve also revived the century old, but lost tradition, of string improvisation, normally associated with Jazz music and musicians rather than string instruments. String improvisation is often  identified with more classical tunes. 

Joining the Turtle Island Quartet is Chestnut an acclaimed jazz pianist whose talent, passion, drive and creativity echoes the quartet’s. Their creativity and innovative nature lends itself well to incredible Jazz, a classic American genre still much loved today. 

“It is an art form that keeps evolving and renewing itself. This program is a perfect example — the quintet will create fresh interpretations of early jazz great Jelly Roll Morton’s and bebop giant Monk’s music for a contemporary audience. It’s like everything old is new again,” Lamb says, “I recommend just coming to the concert with an open mind and be prepared to be amazed.”

Adding another dimension to the excitement of the concert, Turtle Island Quartet and Cyrus Chestnut will also contribute to the inspiration and education of other musicians. 

“Cyrus Chestnut and the Turtle Island Quartet will offer master classes for area musicians as part of their appearance in Fayetteville,” says Dr. Lamb. 

This workshop illustrates how the FSU Fine Arts Series is such a great asset to the community. It brings high caliber artists not only for the enjoyment, but also the betterment of the community as a whole. 

This performance is just the beginning of what the Fine Arts Series has to offer this year. Dr. Lamb says, “This fall semester I’m excited about exhibition of works by Latino visual artists that will open in October in Rosenthal Gallery and the appearance of The Baltimore Consort in November.  he Baltimore Consort performs music from the 16th century and earlier. Their appearance in Fayetteville will feature music from Shakespeare’s time and will include excerpts from FSU Theater’s upcoming production of Hamlet, which opens in November. This is an exciting collaboration.”

Turtle Island Quartet and Cyrus Chestnut perform on Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. in Seabrook Auditorium, which is located on the FSU campus at 1200 Murchison Road. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit www.uncfsu.edu/arts or call 672-1571. 

The 2015 Scotland County Highland Games take place on Friday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 4, on the grounds of the John Blue Home and Historical Complex in Laurinburg. The event provides an immersion into the Scottish-American historical experience of this region. There will be plenty to see and do all weekend long.

The schedule of events includes a visit to historic Laurinburg and Scotland County on Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A Whisky Tasting and Gathering takes place at 3 p.m. at the Storytelling Arts Center in downtown Laurinburg. There is a reception for the sponsors and honored clan at 6 p.m. The evening concludes with a concert featuring Piper Willie McCallum at the Avenger Auditorium at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door only. 

On Saturday, Oct. 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the lineup includes the piping, drumming and athletic competition, Highland dancing competition, sheep dog demonstrations, opening ceremony demonstrations, Scottish athletic events, pipe bands, entertainment, clan tents, awards presentations, closing ceremonies and “Live after Five” performances by Rathkelter and Seven Nations at 6 p.m. 

Colin Grant-Adams is a performer on the entertainment stage. Food, beer and vendors are available on site. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids after 5 p.m. It is free for those in attendance at the games field.  

One of the most popular events is the Whisky Tasting. The single malts and food pairings this year are Aaran’s Robert Burns of the Isle of Aaran paired with goat cheese and mushroom on toast points; Talisker’s 10 year-old Isle of Skye paired with smoked salmon; Jura’s superstition of the Isle of Jura paired with smoked scallops and orange marmalade; Highland Park’s warrior series of the Isle of Orkney paired with salted toffee; and Ledaig 10-year-old Isle of Mull with their very own Jack’s family recipe for shortbread cookies.    

The EUSPBA Premier Piping Competition will begin at 9 a.m. and admission is free.   

The Kirkin’ of the Tartans Worship Service begins at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4 at Old Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church.   

There is a custom-made kilt raffle and the drawing is on Saturday, Oct. 3. Tickets for the raffle are $10 and only 300 tickets will be sold. Raffle tickets can be purchased via mail at SCHG, 1615 Dial Road, Red Springs, N.C. 28377.  Corporate sponsorships are available. No pets, firearms or outside alcohol are permitted. 

For more information, visit www.schgnc.org. 

I wrote my first column about the popularity of tattoos more than a decade ago after I found myself touring the Airborne and Special Operations Museum downtown with a woman of my vintage who sported a bright yellow Tweety Bird tattoo on the outside of her calf. 

Flabbergasted as I was, I noticed that Tweety — he of “I taught I saw a puddy tat” fame — looked a bit startled to find himself permanently perched on someone’s leg. Since then, of course, I have observed thousands of other tattoos, mostly on younger people, including a recently spotted one splayed across the collar bones of young mother doing her grocery shopping. In very curly script the word “Beloved” I am still trying to figure out whether she is beloved of someone else or whether she is especially fond of herself.

In the years since I first realized the United States is in the grip of tattoo mania, I have visited two tattoo parlors where a “self-medicating” soldier was having a $1,000-plus multi colored Asian dragon inked around his left calf and where the proprietors of another establishment actually asked for more regulation from the state since they were sticking needles into folks. A country musician who asked what my “problem” is with tattoos has called me out from the stage. Two of the Precious Jewels got tattoos reading “Mom.” Blessedly, they were henna and are now long gone. I have also written about tattoo removal, a bit of a growth industry, which can be both expensive and painful and which does not always work.

After my visit to the first tattoo parlor, I asked Up & Coming Weeklyreaders whether you have tattoos and, if so, where and why. You responded in spades, starting with a good friend. She confided that she has three tattoos, each associated with a man, none of whom play
any role in her life today. She is also sorry she tattoos and tries to
cover them in certain circumstances, sometimes using strategically placed bandages.

On reader described all four of her tattoos, each of which has enduring meaning to her, even though she says she will not be tattooed again after experiencing a religious revelation.

“1) My name and a star on each side…(not the brightest idea I’ve ever had…but at least it’s not someone else’s name!)

2) Since I wasn’t satisfied with the way it looked I had some clouds and a hummingbird added around it.

3) On my ankle I have an emblem of wings, designed by myself and the tattoo artist, in honor of my brother-in-law (now deceased), because he was paralyzed after being hit head on by a drunk driver….

4) The one closest to my heart is a purple, filled in, tear drop under my eye. I lost a child years ago, no children since. It expresses my continual sorrow over that loss, which I am still here in the flesh, til I am with my precious child again.

Personally, I like certain tattoos (obviously) as a form of self-expression. But God’s word plainly speaks against it so no more for me.”

A 46-year-old librarian shared that she has two Mandarin tattoos and is at peace with them. She is also thoughtful about her decision. “…the reasons why people get tattoos are as varied and personal as the type of toothpaste they select... I thought about what it would mean to me and what it would signify to those who had their own opiniona... I think with anything considered permanent and outside the norm of society, one must think long and hard and know that just as you can’t change any part of painting by one of the master painters, you can’t frivolously decide to have your body tattooed, it’s a life altering act and should be viewed
as such.”

The tattoo rationale that makes the most sense to me came from a diabetic woman who was badly injured and unconscious. Hospital personnel treated her with glucose that nearly killed her. She has since had “I am a diabetic” tattooed on her forearm, although she does note that it does not look great “with dress up clothes.” It occurred to me that “If found, please return to…” might be helpful for wandering
senior citizens.

I have long since sworn off writing about tattoos at the behests of a friend and the Precious Jewels, but another friend tipped me back over the edge by his observation after he saw a photograph of me wearing an ornate and detailed Venetian mask.

Said friend wondered whether I had submitted to an extensive
facial tattoo.

That’ll be the day!

Ten years after those first tattoo columns and millions of tatts later, I would love to know what you are thinking now. Do you have any tattoos? Do you still love them? Have you had any removed? Why? Why? And why?

My inbox is open.

Well, you can talk until you are blue in the face about escalating Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s image and quality of life by increasing local amenities like parks, swimming pools, a river walk, a downtown performing arts center and baseball stadiums; however, the reality is that the absence of honest, local leadership coupled with an overabundance of political shenanigans, seems to be imbedded in Cumberland County. 

While local politicians (note politicians, not leaders) remain silent, local residents scratch their heads and shout out loud, “Are you kidding me?” Such was the reaction of residents last week as our local county commissioners clandestinely agreed to enlist our local legislative delegation in a plot to hijack the $5.6 million hotel occupancy tax, which is collected annually. Currently, the money is split between the Arts Council, Crown Coliseum and the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitor Bureau. No more, if the county commissions get their way. Why? They won’t say. No transparency and even less explanation. 

The commissioners, without explanation, except to say they are not pleased with the way the money is being spent, want to take the money away from the Tourism Development Authority, a board appointed by the commissioners. Hmmmm? That’s interesting. They are not pleased with the board that they appointed and are unable to deal with the situation to the point that they enlisted the legislature to change the law. That kind of judgment raises eyebrows and fosters distrust in our political leadership. It’s the near perfect example of the self-serving, backdoor politics that has stymied development in Fayetteville for decades in both our county and city. 

 Fayetteville activist Sharon Valentine wrote a great opinion piece in last Sunday’s Fayetteville Observer. She expressed her displeasure over the way the Fayetteville City Council disrespected her friend, Councilman Bobby Hurst. Hurst serves as the chair of the appointment committee, whose task was to screen applicants and make a recommendation to the city council on someone to fill the expired PWC term of businesswoman Lynne Greene. I’m not sure what the qualifications are to oversee PWC’s $500+ million annual budget, but Hurst wanted to appoint Juanita Gonzalez, who many perceive as Hurst’s unqualified plant to undermine and dilute PWC’s authority. An action, I might add, that the disputed 100-year PWC Charter was designed to prevent.  However, in a brilliant and unprecedented maneuver by the majority of city council members, local resident Evelyn Shaw was nominated for the position from the floor. Checkmate! Consequently, Shaw was voted in, Gonzalez out and Hurst was outraged.

Why?  Because the process was violated? No. Because his misuse and abuse of his political office was trumped by his political peers. He was outmaneuvered. Yet, in life two wrongs do not make a right. Nonetheless, this is bad news for the “good guys” or in this case, a community, like ours, with awesome potential and a desperate need for 21st century leadership. 

It’s not at all surprising that the three 2016 Presidential front runners are Trump, Carson and Fiorina–all notable Washington outsiders. Why? Because career politicians are more and more being perceived by the American electorate as untrustworthy, self-serving, unreliable and unaccountable. The old saying all politics are local, leaves us hoping that the citizens of Fayetteville and Cumberland County will pay attention to these recent abuses of trust and authority and encourage good people to seek leadership positions. This is the only way we can restore faith and trust in government and successfully move our community forward. Stay tuned and thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Givens Performing Arts Center is a mainstay in quality entertainment bringing international acts as well as regional and local talent to the stage. While GPAC has a strong connection to Fayetteville, that bond just got stronger.  In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in conjunction with the Visual Arts Alliance, GPAC is proud to sponsor the latest Gallery 208 exhibit, Bras for the Cause: Artful Bras. The exhibit is free and open to the public at 208 Rowan Street. The exhibit speaks to the fierce and tenacious spirit of women who combat breast cancer every day. It celebrates the triumphs of those who fought and won, while honoring the struggle of those who did not.

The timing of the Bras for the Cause exhibit dovetails perfectly with the timing of the next GPAC performance, which celebrates another uniquely feminine quandary: menopause. This particular show includes three breast cancer survivors.  Menopause the Musical is a tribute to womanhood and all the mysterious hormones that come with it. It is on stage at GPAC on Oct. 9. This humorous interpretation of the trying adventure that is menopause is an exciting, musical and hilarious for everyone. 

“It is a party, an absolute party. It is such a fun event. Everyone comes over and over — and that’s fun, too. There are women who come to multiple shows and bring their friends and their daughters. We have multiple generations of women come to the show, it is great to share. Some bring their husbands, unsuspecting men. The last show, not four minutes in, we heard a man guffawing. There is no men bashing, it’s just so charming. And they can appreciate it because they experience it, too. Not to give them credit for going through menopause, rather they go through our menopause,” saidJudy Blue who plays the “Soap Star” in the show. 

This is a musical production. The show features familiar songs from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, but rewritten as parodies to fit the struggles of menopause. Blue says that everyone has their own favorite symptom. Sharing these symptoms — like hot flashes or uncontrollable crying —however miserable they me be, serves as a bridge between otherwise radically different people both on and off stage. 

“We learn to embrace and start to understand each other. We don’t like each other at first, but not two songs in, we start to understand each other with the symptoms that we share,” Blue explains. 

In addition to candid conversation about menopause, this tour also focuses on how important an honest and supportive discussion about breast cancer is. 

“This Menopause the Musical Tour is the survivor show. The musical is the same, for those who have seen it before, but we have three breast cancer survivors. So part of the proceeds of the show go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation,” Blue says. 

Two dollars of every ticket sold will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

“It was just a natural fit for us, especially with what we have faced in our pasts. I had a lumpectomy and some radiation, and it was small. I am grateful for that. Another woman in the show had massive amounts of chemotherapy and was in it for the long haul. But she came back strong. We are living full lives. We dance around on stage for hours every night! It’s a hope, too. That’s what we want to share. You can get through it and that’s what we are here to represent.” 

Blue encourages women to become educated about preventative measures like a healthy diet and exercise and regular mammograms. There is no telling what life may throw at you. But the women of Menopause the Musical take on the challenges of life with passion, hope, understanding and sisterhood. She says that she feels most rewarded when she can share that hopefulness with the audience.

“We meet people afterwards that say that this is the most they have laughed in months and they go out after the show and keep that upbeat I can conquer anything mood going,” she said.

Menopause the Musical is on stage at the Givens Performing Arts Center on Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. The Givens Performing Arts Center is located at 1 University Dr. in Pembroke. To purchase tickets. call (910) 521-6361 or visit tickets.com. For more information visit www.uncp.edu/giving/advancement/givens-performing-arts-center. 

When it comes to fall fun, there is no shortage of corn mazes, haunted trails and pumpkin patches. As this season gets underway, here are several must-do activities!

Anyone looking for a frightful adventure won’t want to miss the Stoney Point Trail of Terror. Not for the faint of heart, this Halloween tradition features a stage show followed by a trek through a haunted mansion and a spooky wooded trail. Monsters, clowns, creepy creatures and more greet visitors in animated and 3-D scenes. This year, don’t miss the newest addition to the event — a chance to hunt the undead in the Zombie Rampage interactive paintball experience. The Trail of Terror is a fundraiser for the Stoney Point Fire Department. Funds are used to purchase firefighting and lifesaving equipment.

The trail runs Oct.9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 and due to bad weather is extened into November. Trail hours are 8 until 11 p.m. Admission is $15 per person (adults and children). Special VIP admissions are available for $25. The Trail is located behind the Stoney Point Fire Department, Station #13 at 7221 Stoney Point Road. For more information, please check out the website: www.undeadfd.com, our Facebook page (stoney point trail of terror), or give call at  424-0694.

Hubb’s Farm located in Clinton, hosts eastern Carolina’s largest fall festival. This year there are three mazes from which to choose: a shorter game maze for beginners and two longer mazes for the more experienced navigator. If a maze doesn’t suit you, check out the haunted trail that leads through the woods and into a sorghum field. Other activities at Hubb’s Farm include outdoor laser tag, human foosball, a pumpkin patch, a play house, a game area, a train, a sandbox, toddler town, fire pits, hay rides, concessions and more. Find out more at www.hubbscornmaze.com.

Just outside of Sanford, Gross Farms hosts 15-acres of corn mazes. There are three puzzles that include more than five miles of pathways. Each puzzle has checkpoints. Hayrides around the farm add a great twist to the outdoor adventure, as do the play area and concessions. Starting the second week in October, Gross Farms hosts a pumpkin patch where guests can pick and purchase their own pumpkins. Check out www.grossfarms.com for more information.

West Produce is located in Spring Lake. A visit to this establishment includes fresh fruits and vegetables for sale as well as hayrides and pumpkin picking. Call 497-7443 for more information.

A visit to Gillis Hill Farm features an educational corn maze where kids can learn a thing or two while having a great time. Wagon rides, pumpkins and more. Find out more about them at www.gillishillfarm.com. Fans of the Gillis Hill Farms Field of Screams will be pleased to know that this event is back, but at a different location. This year it is at the Hoke County Wagon Train (1239 Alex Baker Road, in Raeford). Message the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Fieldofscreams13/posts/911372942276697 to find out more.

Canady Farm Corn Maze and Wagon Ride offers a maze, an educational nature trail as well as hayrides. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the farm animals and shop the fresh produce. Call  624-2959 for more information.

The Gallberry Corn Maze features a maze, duck races, a train ride, bouncy houses and many more fun activities. Call at  309-7582 for hours of operation and information.

The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival hosts the Dogwood Fall Festival featuring three days of events. Historic Hauntings includes hayrides through downtown Fayetteville exploring the spookier side of Fayetteville’s history. The Haunted Asylum includes an outdoor haunted maze that promises to leave even the bravest thrill seekers shaking with fear. The Boo and Brew Beer Garden includes domestic and craft beers sold by the pint. Don’t miss the Food Truck Festival featuring a variety of food trucks offering up everything from familiar comfort food to one-of-a-kind sensations. Find out more at www.faydogwoodfestival.com/events.

Cumberland County Schools and Communities in Schools puts the spotlight on literacy at the 12th Annual Reading Rocks! Walk-a-thon on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 8:30 a.m. at Festival Park in Downtown Fayetteville.  

“We hope to have a large turnout like we have in previous years,” said Jody Hawley, chairperson of Reading Rocks. “We need thousands of walkers to join us to celebrate literacy in Cumberland County Schools.”  

The goal of the event is to raise money for schools to purchase books and other learning resources for the students. 

“We would like to top last year. Our schools raised more than $240,000,” said Hawley. Our total last year including our in-kind donations for the whole district was more than $257,000.”  

The walk begins at 9 a.m. and the route winds past historic downtown sites. High school bands are stationed along the route to perform as walkers pass by.  The schools designated as the most improved and the schools raising the most in donations will also receive recognition. The high school band that raised the greatest amount of money will lead the walk with Mayor Nat Robertson and other special guests.  Costume characters are also on site. 

“This year the spirit award has been revamped in order to get schools more involved while they are walking and showing their school spirit,” said Hawley.  

All donations are tax deductible. The countywide fund is distributed equitably among all schools to purchase books and learning tools that benefit Cumberland County students. Schools are allowed to continue to raise money through Dec. 4 in the name of Reading Rocks! 

“We are very excited about the walk this year,” said Hawley. “We know that this is the largest fundraiser for Cumberland County Schools and it is the largest event that gets so much of our community involved.”    

Sponsorship levels are available. T-shirts are $5 for youth and $10 for adults. Donations should be mailed to CCS Information Technology and Media Services, 2465 Gillespie Street, Fayetteville, N.C. 28306. 

Gates open at 8 a.m. Pets are not allowed. For more information, call 678-2613

The Child Advocacy Center’s Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction is set for Saturday, Oct. 17. Don your best party mask and come ready to have some fun. The evening includes mask contests, a deejay, dance demonstrations, a live auction, refreshments and more. 

Emily Cross is doing a lot of the planning and she is excited about the auction items this year. 

“This year the packages are bigger and we added a lot of  travel packages,” she said. “We have trips to Costa Rica, Hawaii, New York and we even have a Sonoma Wine Tour package. We already have a group of eight coming just to bid on the trip to Costa Rica. We’ve invited Fayetteville’s best chefs to participate so the food will be fantastic, too.”

Funds from the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction benefit the Child Advocacy Center, which works to alleviate the trauma children experience once a disclosure of sexual abuse or serious physical abuse occurs by creating a community of collaborating advocates. The organization’s vision is a community where children live in a safe and nurturing environment free from sexual and physical abuse. By working with partners throughout the community, the CAC provides a safe and child-friendly center that supports the prevention, investigation and prosecution of child abuse.

Last year the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball brought in $29,600. This year, the planning committee is hoping for $40,000. 

“There are so many expenses that grants don’t cover for nonprofits,” said Tim Edwards, chairman of the CAC Board. “You have to pay the staff and the rent and things like that. We are also working hard to increase education in the community because that helps stop and prevent abuse. Last year, more than 2,500 people received training in abuse prevention for children through CAC. We are trying to decrease the number of cases of abuse. Last year 661 children received services at CAC. We would love to see that go down, but that was an increase of 50 from the year before. That should not be happening.”

Founded in 1993, the CAC is instrumental in creating an environment where kids feel safe. Having one location where professionals from 19 community agencies work to interview, investigate and provide support for abused children and their families helps make an already complicated situation less frightening. It means fewer interviews, which means that victims don’t have to keep retelling their traumatic story to different people. Having all the information and resources in one place means that professionals can share information and details that help determine what is in the best interest of the children and families that come through the CAC. These agencies include law enforcement, medical care, mental health, military family services, social work, child protective services, the Cumberland County District Attorney’s office, victim advocates, education and Guardian ad Litem. This not only helps victims heal and gives advocates critical information and tools, it saves the community roughly $500,000 a year. 

“Before the Child Advocacy Center was established, children would have to go from agency to agency and retell their story every time. They were revictimized  every time they had to retell their experiences,” said Edwards. “These kids go through so much … things we can’t even fathom. If we can help them at all, we should and that is what we are trying to do here.”

The event takes place at the Metropolitan Room in Downtown Fayetteville. Tickets and tables are on sale at the Child Advocacy Center’s website, www.childadvocacycenter.com, or by calling the center at (910) 486-9700. 

I have been a warm if not avid Carolina basketball fan since high school when one of Fayetteville’s shining sports lights, Franklin Clark — then Rusty and one of my childhood friends — was a star on a Carolina team that went all the way to the NCAA finals.

But I also realized through a humiliating experience that I was not and probably never would be a true sports aficionado. That reality slammed home to me when I was part of a group of college students watching — or in my case, pretending to watch — a football game on TV. Most of the group were boys, visiting the Clarks for Thanksgiving. Someone walked into the room and asked who was playing and trying to be the coolest girl in the room, I blurted, “Alabama and Atlanta.” 

The hoots cut me to the quick even though I had no idea why people were laughing.

I have since recovered and gone on to live a reasonably productive life. I have even discovered the difference between college and professional sports.

All of that being water over the dam now, it is true that certain sports figures command our attention and affection, even if their sport does not. Michael Jackson has not played basketball in years, but we love him anyway. Another of those for me was Yogi Berra who played catcher for the New York Yankees, whose World Series games the students of Haymount Elementary School, I among them, were herded into the school auditorium to watch on black and white televisions. This was odd to me even then, but I think the principal, Mrs. McArthur was a baseball fan. 

Unless you have been visiting somewhere lacking CNN coverage, you know that Yogi Berra died late last month at 90. He is mourned by many both for his skill, endurance and understanding of baseball and for his renderings of the English language. Some say he butchered proper English, but who is to say that Yogi was just having a little fun with the rest of us.

Here are some of Yogi’s most famous quotes, which have come to be called Yogi-isms. You do not have to be a Yankee’s fan, a baseball fan, or any fan at all to appreciate what he is saying.

“Never answer an anonymous letter.”

“I usually take a two-hour nap from 1 to 4.”

“You can observe a lot by watching.”

“The future ain’t what it used to be.”

“If the people don’t want to come to the ballpark, nobody’s going to stop them.”

“Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.”

“Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.”

“I always thought that record would stand until it was broken.”

“I am not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school the way I did.”

“It ain’t the heat. It’s
the humility.”

“I don’t know (if they were men or women fans running naked across the field). They had bags over their heads.”

“I never said most of the things I said.”

“The towels were so thick there I could hardly close my suitcase.”

“Take it with a grin of salt.”

“I never blame myself when I’m not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn’t my fault that I’m not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?”

“You should always go to other people’s funerals. Otherwise, they won’t come to yours.”

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

“It’s déjà vu all over again.”

“We made too many wrong mistakes.”

“If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up
someplace else.”

“It gets late early out here.”

“I am a lucky guy and I’m happy to be with the Yankees. And I want to thank everyone for making this night necessary.”

“A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.”

“I think Little League is wonderful. It keeps the kids out of the house.”

You gotta love the fellow who came up with these and others, whether he knew what he was saying or not — and I suspect he did. He wowed us with his athletic prowess and knowledge and his words left us wanting more.

One of his most famous Yogi’isms was this:

“It ain’t over till it’s over.”

He was right, of course, but Yogi Berra will live on for Americans as long as we are able to read and enjoy a good chuckle.

We should all be so lucky.

Healthcare is a hot topic of debate around the world. Here in the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention touts the success of The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, in a report released in August. The National Health Interview Survey, noted that just “9.2 percent of the population, or about 29 million people, had no coverage during the first three months of 2015. That’s down from 11.5 percent in 2014, 14.4 percent in 2013, and 16 percent back in 2010.”

While Obamacare was directed at ensuring people have health insurance, it also ensured access to care when it is needed. That is probably the most important thing for most of us. If we are sick or one of our family members falls ill, we want to be seen by qualified healthcare providers in a clean, safe environment. That doesn’t seem like a lot to ask. But in North Carolina and in many other states, it is.

A report released in March by the Association of American Medical Colleges indicates that by 2025, a shortage of as many as 90,000 physicians will impact the United States. That is not good news.

Currently across the nation, people wait anywhere from seven to 66 days to schedule an appointment with a family physician. In Southern states, the average wait is around two weeks. That’s okay if you are just monitoring your health, but two weeks is a long time when you are sick. These wait times often force people without true emergencies into emergency rooms or quick care clinics that are popping up throughout the nation, including in local drug stores. This is not an ideal means of seeing to your health because there is no follow-up. 

Here, in Cumberland County, where we have three hospitals and a plethora of physicians of every kind and variety, yet the lack of access to care is very real — particularly for those who are assigned to military clinics on Fort Bragg. With its flagship hospital, Womack Army Medical Center, routine healthcare at Fort Bragg is  provided at family practice clinics that are spread across the post. Active duty personnel and their families are assigned to clinics based on their unit. Retirees and their families are then thrown into the mix.

During the troop build-up, many retirees who pay for their healthcare through Tricare were forced off the post and into the civilian sector. About two years ago, those folks were brought back into the fold at Fort Bragg as  a cost-reducing measure. Most were satisfied with the change, but that was then.

As I have noted previously, I have never had anything but stellar care at Womack and its clinics. The care has never been the problem — it has always been getting to the care. TRICARE Standard guarantees certain access standards for care. For urgent care, appointment wait times cannot exceed 24 hours. For routine care, appointment wait times should not exceed seven days. For specialty referrals and wellness care, the standard is no more than four weeks. That puts the access to care in line with that of most in our region.

That would be great if that were the case. There is a shortage of providers on Fort Bragg. I will use myself as an example. Several weeks ago I was sick; running a fever, congested, throat-on-fire sick. I tried to make an appointment. I couldn’t. Why? Because a large number of providers at my clinic left, and I am an orphan in the system. I am assigned to a clinic but have no provider. So I called to see if I could get a same day appointment. No joy. The nurse I spoke with realized I was very sick and got me referred off post to a local FastMed. This past week, I needed another appointment. I called to book one. Again, because of my orphan status, appointments were not available. I called again. I was told I could not book an appointment until late December. This is October. That’s 12 weeks before I can attempt to make an appointment to be seen. This doesn’t even come close to meeting access to care standards.

I am not alone. My friends and co-workers face the same problem. In talking with the provider at FastMed, yes, I was referred off post again, I found that the FastMed office is seeing a tidal wave of military families who are in the same boat — even three- and four-week-old infants. Talking with another provider at the drug store, I heard the same thing.

The healthcare shortage is real in Cumberland County and on Fort Bragg; it is truly a sad state for healthcare and those who need it.

Summer is always a time for fun and all things country; country music that is.

WKML 95.7 has stuck by the slogan “Today’s Country” for more than a decade. On July 16, the  station is set to host its first New Artist Showcase in the parking lot of the Crown Complex. Artists such as country duo LoCash, Drake White and the band Outshyne will be perform, bringing the sounds of summer to Fayetteville. This is the first in a series that will bring a new round of entertainers to the area while showing the community a good time.

Locash is a country music duo consisting of Chris Lucas and Preston Brust. The pair co-wrote Keith Urban’s single “You Gonna Fly” and Tim McGraws single “Truck Yeah.” Drak White debuted on the charts with his 2013 song “It Feels Good.” Not just a singer but a song writer, too, White has opened up for acts like Eric Church, Luke Bryan and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Outshyne was formed in 2007 when a group of high school friends got together to sing. Their debut album Startin’ Over  is currently receiving rave reviews from critics. Outshyne continues to put out singles that climbs the charts.

While music is at the center of this event, there will be plenty of activities and vendors to make the day memorable. Guests are encouraged to enjoy the fun with games and multiple food trucks. Other activities include dancing and onstage contests that fit the good natured and entertaining spirit of WKML. 

As the community’s country music station, WKML is always looking for ways to engage the community and bring that sweet country sound its listeners love a little closer to home. \

Ashley Wilson, radio personality at WKML said, “We just want to remind people we can have a great time locally. I love country music and I especially enjoy it when I don’t have to travel far for a great time.” 

Bringing fresh talent to the area is something the station sees as an opportunity not just to have a good time but to reach out to listeners and make the entertainment a little more personal. 

“With this being the first of our summer series we are using this as a test run. We hope to make this an event something we have every year,” she said. 

Don’t let the warm weather slow things down. There will be refreshing activities and entertainment throughout the event that will keep the audience cool no matter how hot the music gets. 

“This event, although a showcase, we are also calling it a parking lot party or beer garden. We are expected to have different activities to help cool off due to the hot weather,” said Wilson.

The parking lot parties will be apart of a series of events each month of summer leading into fall. Each parking lot party, of course, will have a different twist and be led by WKMLs signature slogan “Todays Country.”

Tickets are $10 and are on sale now. The gates open at 6 p.m., and music will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for all-access members of WKML and Crown Insiders. Tickets are available at the Crown Complex Box Office or online at www.crowncomplexnc.com. Find out more about this event at http://wkml.com/events/wkmls-parking-lot-party.

Listening recently to members of both the Republican and Democratic Parties, the public seems to be getting fed up with career politicians and their do nothing “business as usual” attitudes at all levels of government. Most of the displeasure is coming not from what our elected officials are doing, but rather what they are not doing: being honest and working hard to serve the people and not themselves. 

This behavior is becoming the new normal... and that’s scary. Example: Sure, the North Carolina General Assembly finally passed the budget, but, at what cost? Coming in nearly three months over due at a cost of $50,000 per day makes you wonder where their priorities are. Do the math. How many low wealth North Carolina counties could have been helped with the distribution of several million dollars? No, this is not responsible governance on the state level. I would recommend that the July budget deadline be enforced allowing for only one temporary spending law to be passed. 

After that, except for basic expenses, they should not be paid. The system, as it is, only rewards bad behavior at taxpayers expense.

On the local level, we need to hold our elected officials accountable. We, as voting residents, need to get energized and start asking the tough questions and stop settling for ambiguous promises short on actual facts and details. We need to get more vocal in calling out politicians who continuously do the wrong things for the wrong reasons.

The Fayetteville community needs real leaders in place to move us into the 21st century. Leaders who motivate and inspire people and desire to make Fayetteville a better community. 

We know who they are, so get ready to vote.  

On a side note, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a true American hero, Fayetteville native Ed Reeder. Reeder, a graduate of Pine Forest High School, went on to play football at Appalachian State University and then entered the U.S. Army. While in the Army, Reeder was part of the elite Army Special Forces, leading troops throughout Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. 

Reeder is thought to be the foremost expert in the Army on Afghanistan and has built relationships that few could have. Throughout his time in the Army, he has continued to call Fayetteville home, and along with his wife, Adrienne, have been wonderful citizens of our community.

Last Wednesday, Reeder, now a three-star general, retired at Fort Bragg. His ceremony was attended by a veritable Who’s Who in Army special operations, where heroes abound. All of them came to honor our hometown boy. Eddie, we are proud of you and wish you nothing but success in your future and look forward to what you continue to contribute to our community!

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

 

I know I am going where others fear to tread, and, believe me, I do so with great trepidation.  

But here I go anyway, diving headfirst into the roiling waters of defining marriage, what it is and what it is not. This turns out to be a more complicated topic than any of us might have thought, one
 that has interested people throughout recorded history and an institution that has evolved over time.  

The latest fervor of interest erupted surrounding the US Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this year that the legal protections and benefits of marriage cannot Constitutionally be withheld from same-gender couples.

Several years ago, I read Stanford scholar Marilyn Yalom’s excellent and readable look at marriage in the Western world primarily from a woman’s point of view, A History of the Wife.  She also wrote the equally compelling History of the Breast, but that is another column entirely.  

On marriage, Yalom rightly notes that for most of human history, marriages were made for reasons other than romantic love. From the very earliest unions centuries ago, marriage conveyed property and power, executed mergers of familial interests, provided heirs to carry on family names and resources, and guaranteed homemaking and other services to men. They were business deals, not sacred unions. Religion entered the marriage arena somewhat later.

Yalom’s book jacket asks these questions.

“How did marriage considered a religious duty in medieval Europe become a venue for personal fulfillment in contemporary America? How did the notion of romantic love, a novelty in the Middle Ages, become a prerequisite for marriage today? And, if the original purpose of marriage was procreation, what exactly is the purpose of marriage for women today?”

What indeed?

Study after study tell us that men benefit more in marriage than do women, that men are happier in marriage than women, and that women—and increasingly in our country older women—seek divorce more often than men. What does all that tell us about marriage in our culture?

It tells me that each marriage is different and that none of us know what is going on in anyone’s marriage but our own. It also tells me that the institution of marriage continues to evolve. My grandmothers’ marriages were different than my own, and I expect my children to have marriages encompassing different roles and responsibilities as well. Marriages involving multiple wives are not unusual in many cultures and were once legal in our own, courtesy of America’s homegrown religious denomination, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which the practice still exists, albeit underground these days. My grandmothers probably never heard of a woman who did not take her husband’s family’s surname, while my children’s generation views that as a choice for women, not an obligation.

Yalom largely skirts same-gender marriage issues, which were not as publicly pressing when her book was published in 2001 as they seem in 2015. Many others have weighed in, though, including our nation’s highest court. Many of those who have point out that while different religious traditions have their own takes on what marriage should be, it is also a secular legal institution which must treat all individuals equally. In other words, legal marriage’s protections and benefits are available to all adults who seek them regardless of skin color, religious beliefs, national or ethnic origin, or gender. Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, herself a veteran of four marriages, recently thought her beliefs outweighed the law of the land as defined by they US Supreme Court, and we all saw what happened to her.

Whatever one’s beliefs and experiences with marriage may be, marriage has always been and remains a deeply and profound personal experience.  Each union is unique, and the experiences of the two people within a marriage are, for better or worse, theirs alone.  Almost everyone who has ever been in a marriage reports that some days, some weeks, some years are better than others and that over time marriage soars to great highs and falls to sad and painful lows.  

And still, the institution endures for all sorts of reasons, and
human beings marry each other every day in our country and throughout the world. 

Romantic love is clearly a large factor, but so are the desire for companionship, the need for physical and financial stability, the yearning for children, religious and cultural protection, and reasons private and known only to those entering marriage. Marriage is a uniquely human creation designed to give structure to our desires and stability to our common life together.  However flawed as the institution may be, it endures because we want to bind ourselves to each other.

The International Folk Festival is an annual celebration hosted by the Arts Council of Fayetteville that celebrates the beautiful diversity in the community. The festival features food, music, dance and many other traditional celebrations of culture. It is a fantastic way to learn about both traditions around the world and your neighbors that keep these customs alive. 

The International Folk Festival starts on Friday, Sept. 25, with music and a presentation by North Carolina artists with Latino and Hispanic roots in front of the Arts Council, which is located at 301 Hay St. The festival focuses on education and appreciation. It provides a platform for the many different cultures represented in Fayetteville to share their beautiful traditions.  

Saturday, Sept. 26, the event begins at 10:30 a.m. with the Parade of Nations. The parade takes place on Hay St. 

“We expect the entire parade to be live-streamed by WRAL. Last year we had people, family members, all over the world watching the parade,” Mary Kinney, marketing director for the Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County said. 

The streets will be flooded with bright traditional dress and lively music. Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th, Festival Park opens at noon and closes at 6 p.m. Visitors can look forward to food, crafts, music and dance from all over the globe. There are also special presentations for children. The parade, all presentations and entrance to the festival are free to the public.

This year the International Folk Festival has a strong focus on technology. In addition to the returning WRAL Global Scavenger Hunt there is an entirely new area. 

“We are introducing an area called the Global Tech Café. This is hosted by the Cumberland County School System English as a Second Language  program. The students, parents and staff from ESL will share tools and resources that they use. The tools may include iPads and periodically live video streams from around the world. They will also be demonstrating apps and websites that they use themselves,” Kinney explained. 

This focus on technology is embraced throughout the entire festival. 

“We will have selfie stations, which will represent places all around the world like Big Ben. It’ll be a lot of fun, people can take pictures of themselves as if they are in Africa. These are scattered around the park and we encourage people to take selfies and share them on social media,” Kinney said, “The world is connected with technology. It only makes sense that the Arts Council’s International Folk Festival be just as connected. We need to recognize the roll of technology culturally. “

In addition to all of the new exciting aspects of the festival, the beloved favorites are here to stay. There is music, dancing, vendors, artistic presentations and, of course, food. 

“Something that you can’t do every day of the week is have egg rolls and ox tail on the same plate. I love the blending of cultures. You can cheer for Belize one moment and then Indonesia the next. You can listen to African drumming and a few steps away is bilingual storytelling … it is amazing the sense of the range of cultures represented,” said Kinney. 

For more information, visit www.theartscouncil.com/iff.php or call 910-323-1776. 

It is easy to talk about change. Talking about change and taking action to make  a change are two very  different things. Wes and Sandy Cookman are about making change — change that matters. Wes and Sandy own WIDU 1600 AM. The couple, along with their sponsors and church, business and media partners, works diligently throughout  the year to have a positive impact on their corner of
the world.

The radio station programming includes news, talk radio, church services and gospel music. But keeping listeners informed and entertained is just the tip of the iceberg. For the Cookman’s, using the airwaves to reach the community and keep the listeners informed is serious business and they designed the station’s programming to reflect their priorities.

“The Fayetteville Morning News Hour” was launched in 2011. The show features regular contributors that include Margaret Dickson, Troy Williams, Sara Vanderclute, Nancy Shakir, Chris Fitzsimon and Carin Savel. This program is the only local news program that is feature-length. While local news reports are aired throughout the day, The Fayetteville Morning News Hour offers local news in addition to editorial commentaries and local news reports and weather.

Weekdays from 8-9 a.m. “What’s Going On” features local guests who discuss a variety of important issues that impact Fayetteville and the surrounding area. Some topics that are routinely covered on this show include public education, crime and punishment, religion, government and social justice.

The “Wake Up” show is an important part of the station’s broadcast lineup. It offers listeners locally produced news and talk. The programming is relevant and engaging. The entertaining cast of radio personalities, ministers, public officials, journalists and community-minded citizens cover a variety of topics. The WIDU website describes the show by saying “… Wake Up truly believes that people will make the right decision if given timely, accurate information, and it lives by the motto every day — Knowledge Based, Issue Driven.” The show runs Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In addition to programming, the team at WIDU, along with sponsors and partners, believes in being active in the community, working for positive change and making a difference. Their efforts recently raised $25,000 for a homeless shelter. 

Each year WIDU hosts an anniversary celebration that features worship services, prayer breakfasts, concerts, motivational speakers and more. This year, the WIDU Anniversary celebration runs Oct. 3-10. It is a spiritually powerful event that continues to grow each year. Entertainers include The Williams Brothers, Tasha Cobbs, Bishop Marvin Winans, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Tim Rogers and The Fellas, LeAndria Johnson, Doc McKenzie, Luther Barnes, Lisa Knowles and so much more. Motivational speaker Les Brown is slated for a business empowerment breakfast.

Find out more about WIDU and its programs throughout the community at www.widuradio.com. Find out more about the WIDU Anniversary Celebration at www.widuanniversary.com.

The Gilbert Theatre is kicking off another exciting season this year, with some big changes and big shows debuting.  

The shows this season span a wide range of genres. Young Frankenstein is on stage through Oct. 4 and promises to deliver a quirky and entertaining time for the audience. 

There is truly something for everyone at the Gilbert
this season. 

“The Gilbert has a strong tradition of presenting material that is edgy and outside-the-box — so to speak,” said Robyne Parrish, the artistic director and co-education director at Gilbert Theater. 

“Young Frankenstein is dark and satirical — in keeping with our Gilbert vibe. But it is still a fun musical that can be enjoyed by the whole family! It’s a Wonderful Life is of course a family favorite, but it deals with many dark issues and is a wonderful character study of what it means to be human and the exploration of the human condition, at its very core, is one of our biggest objectives when selecting plays.Titus Andronicus is one of Shakespeare’s bloodier plays and the Gilbert does not shy away from such material. Many of our shows this season have strong roles for women: Hedda Gabler, Women of Manhattan and the Vagina Monologues... Women of Manhattan is a wonderful dark comedy by one of my personal favorites…It has a Sex in the City feel to it - and like Vagina Monologues — deals with the struggles women face on a day to day basis.”

With a lineup like that, it is hard to pick a favorite because each show is
special in its own way, but one that is near and dear to Parrish’s heart is the
 holiday production.

“This season is jam packed with amazing shows. Probably the most exciting for me is to see how It’s A Wonderful Life turns out as we will be bringing this show to the community for the first time in Fayetteville history. After 10 years of A Christmas Carol, it was time for a change and the audience was polled to see if they, too, would like a new experience. They chose It’s A Wonderful Lifehands down. I am also personally directing this show. I am familiar and in love with the film and can’t wait to see the stage version come to life. Ken Griggs will grace the Gilbert stage for the first time in the role of George Bailey,” said Parrish.

With such varying productions it will be intriguing to see how the directors choose to use and interact with the unique space that the Gilbert Theatre offers. 

“The intimate space provides the audience with a most personal experience. You feel as though you are enjoying a play right in your own home. With no wing or fly space to speak of, we have to put on our thinking caps and get extra creative which always leads us to make exciting choices in regards to staging and scenery.  This generally produces innovative, edgy and never seen before theatrical elements and design,” Parrish explains. 

The change to the holiday play this year is exciting for the entire community. Despite the change in tradition, Parrish thinks that it will be easy for local audiences to emotionally identify with It’s a Wonderful Life. 

“I think it will be exciting for our audiences to see these well loved films come to life on stage. Alive and in color! It’s a Wonderful Life in particular is probably something most of our Fayetteville community can connect with. Bedford Falls is a small town with local business struggling to keep afloat and the whole town has to come together to ensure
the success of such a lifestyle. I think we can all see the connections in this,”
Parrish said. 

For more information, visit www.gilbertheater.com

It’s a wonderful thing to love your job — and if that means helping people in the process, so much the better. Jennifer Lescaleet is the program manager at KidsPeace and one of the things she loves most in the world is helping the foster kids that KidsPeace serves. The organization’s mission is to give hope, help and healing to children, families and communities and it’s something Lescaleet takes seriously. 

As with many nonprofits, there always seems to be a shortage of funds and a long list of needs. That doesn’t stop the staff and board at KidsPeace from doing everything in their power to help the children in their care. On Thursday, Oct. 1 the KidsPeace Second Annual Chairity Auction is set to raise funds and provide hours of fun in the process.

“We are so excited about the auction,” said Lescaleet. “Last year we were thrilled to have 18 chairs to auction off. This year we are up to 47 chairs. That just says so much about this community and how caring and supportive people are here.”

Thanks to generous donations from the Restore Warehouse and New and Nearly Thrift Shop, the chairs were provided to the artists at no charge. 

“We tried to get wooden chairs that were similar to each other,” said Lescaleet. “When you hear of a foster child you often hear about them being scuffed up and bruised emotionally and sometimes physically, too. We relate these chairs to that … “

There is a parallel here that works beautifully for the KidsPeace cause. The artists represent the foster families and the chairs represent the children. The artists taking in the chairs represent the foster families that give so freely to their foster children.  

“When families take in foster children they don’t always know where the kids have been, what they have been through and what they are getting,” said Lescaleet. “We wanted to connect the fundraiser into what happens here. After you put some love and help and healing into someone … it symbolizes exactly what we do — just like the artists that put effort into the chairs. They took something that was bruised and a little banged up and turned it into something beautiful and unique. That is what happens when children are matched with the right foster parents.”

The chairs up for auction are as unique and beautiful as the children and families that KidsPeace serves. Lescaleet noted that some of the chairs are more works of art than utilitarian, and as each one has been dropped off she has been unable to choose a favorite. 

“They are all just so different and beautiful,”
 she said.

Leading up to the event, the public is invited to visit www.ChairityAuction.com to vote for their favorite chair. The night of the event, the 20 chairs that received the most votes will be auction in the live auction at the end of the evening. The rest of the chairs will be auctioned off in the silent auction that runs throughout the evening.

The festivities kick off at 6 p.m. and include food, drinks and live entertainment by Fayetteville’s own Erik Smallwood. 

“Erik played at last year’s auction and he was a big hit,” said Lescaleet. “We were delighted that he agreed to come back this year.” 

While Lescaleet and the staff and board at KidsPeace are excited about the auction, what they are most excited about is being able to help the kids in their care. 

“At the end of the day, all of this goes to the kids,” said Lescaleet. “It is one thing to place a foster child into a home where they will be loved and accepted, but it is another to be able to invest in them and enhance their skills and strengths.”

 Some kids that come to KidsPeace have never known what it is like to be loved. So if Lescaleet finds out that they like writing or reading or music or drawing, that is an opportunity to reach out and make the child feel special. Some of the KidsPeace kids have never experienced the joys of Christmas, so every year the staff puts on a Christmas gala where the children can get dressed up and feel special. Other kids don’t know how to interact safely with other children and public school is not an option for them at first. 

“We invest in them and put them in a private school setting and transition them to public schools,” said Lescaleet.

While there is a big need for foster parents, KidsPeace is serious about making sure that foster children are matched with families that suit them. This helps build bonds and encourage loving relationships. 

“The fewer disruptions in a child’s life the better off they are,” said Lescaleet.  “If we can keep them in a safe and loving home consistently that is better for them in the long run. Whatever we can do for them, our kids are our family. We take great pride in making sure they know that.”

It is not uncommon for KidsPeace families to adopt the kids that are placed in their homes. 

“There is integrity behind this and we are doing what we can to impact children’s lives in a positive way. We love the idea of being able to have funds on hand to make a difference,” said Lescaleet. “Not everyone can or wants to be a foster parent, but by attending this auction or decorating a chair or going to the website and voting, you are making a difference.”

Tickets for the KidsPeace Chairity Auction are $20 at the door and $15 in advance. Find out more about KidsPeace at kidspeace.org or by calling 223-0949. Tickets are available at www.kidspeace.org/events/kidspeace-2nd-annual-charity-auction.

 

Four hundred years ago, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra wrote two novels, the first was El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha, which was published in 1605. The second, El ingeniosco caballero don Quijote de la Mancha was written in 1615. Known collectively, as El Quijote, the novels have stood the test of time and remain a beloved classic not only in print, but also on the stage.

To celebrate Cervantes, North Carolina is hosting the I am Quixote: Don Quijote De La Mancha Festival throughout the month of September. The festival, which is a collaborative project is open to all artists, art organizations, schools, libraries, universities, art advocates, cultural groups and others who are interested in celebrating the life and work
of Cervantes. 

While the majority of the festival will take place in the Triangle Area — think Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill — events are scheduled throughout the state. A key event in the festival takes place in Fayetteville at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, as Man Of La Mancha opens the CFRT season Sept. 17 through Oct. 15.

First produced in 1964, Man of La Mancha is a musical with a book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh. It was originally adpted from a non-musical teleplay I, Don Quixote, which was inspired by Cervantes’ books. 

The play opens with Cervantes serving time in prison during the Spanish Inquisition. While in prison, Cervantes shares the story Don Quixote, who put the night on trial. So the play is really a story within a story and is told through the eyes of the prisoners.

Tom Quaintance, the CFRT artistic director, is at the helm of this production. Quaintance noted that while the book is a classic and that most people think of the play as a musical, it is actually much more.

Quaintance looks at the play through a different lens. “It really comes down to the core philosophy, can one man really make a difference,” explained Quaintance.

When Quaintance decided to add the show to the season line-up, he went to New York looking for cast members who could bring the story of chivalry and trials and triumph to life. He returned with Patrick Oliver Jones, who plays Don Quixote and Leenya Rideout, who plays Aldonza, Quixote’s love interest.

Both of the actors have worked on the show before, and both found the experience quite life changing. 

Five years ago, Rideout had the opportunity to perform in the production. It wasn’t a show she was particularly excited about and it had never made her bucket list of shows in which she would like to perform. When rehearsals started, Rideout determined to dive in and really concentrate on the show. At that point, it became life changing for her - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Recalling that time in her life, made Rideout particularly excited to work on the production again. 

For many, the principal song, “The Impossible Dream,” is a beloved standard, one which has inspired others to keep trying, to not give up. 

The principles are joined by local artists, Jeremy Fiebig, Taylor Kraft and Paul Wilson.

The show starts on Thursday, Sept. 17 for two preview nights, both of which begin at 7:30 p.m. and are $15 per person.The opening night party with the cast is on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $28. On Thursday, Sept. 24, the theatre will host a community night at 7:30 p.m., with tickets also costing $15. The show runs through Sunday, Oct. 11. The show is suggested for individuals 15 years of age and up.

For tickets and information, visit the theatre website at www.cfrt.org or call the Cape Fear Regional Theatre Box Office at 323-4233.

The Cirque du Soleil has stayed in the headlines for years. Local residents will get a taste of the stunning and daring circus-style gymnastics that make Cirque due Soleil so successful as the Givens Performing Arts Center bring Cirque Montage to its stage.

This show is unlike any other. It has the stunning and daring circus style gymnastics of Cirque du Soleil but joins them with theatrical aspects like those of a more traditional play. 

“Patrons should expect to experience a theatrical circus show. This is not the typical circus, it actually has a lot more actual theatre aspects, a story line, a lot of comedy and audience participation,” explained Michael Manzanet, the producer and creative director of the show. 

Manzanet, a former performer with Cirque du Soleil, is excited to bring the show to the area. While with Cirque du Soleil, his act involved leaping and swinging from a trapeze with bungee cords secured around his waist. He describes soaring out over the audience at dizzying heights, all while managing his fear of heights. He called it both terrifying and invigorating. Manzanet moved more towards performance arts. 

“There is a lot less rigging and a lot more theatrics. The focus is on the performers, not so much on the technology,” he says. 

The focus on the actors does not mean that the show is any less gasp worthy. When asked to describe his favorite moment in the show Manzanet said, “There are lots of wow moments. There is this moment at the end when Reagan, a character in the play who eventually finds her way that is very moving. The audience follows her the entire show and then realizes that she never gave up on her dream.“

Putting on such an incredible show takes a massive amount of work. Touring adds a special level of complication. There are certain pieces that each performer needs for their gravity defying acts. Constantly moving all of theses pieces to new and different venues takes a lot of work. 

“We have to get really creative. Every venue is unique. We have to individually modify the set to fit any venue. Each setting is different but the show is very flexible, we can make it fit any height. Our free aerial apparatus is a key piece for our show and the apparatus can go up and down to fit any height. The set is made of a stretch fabric 50 feet wide and 10 feet high. The entire set can break down to fit into pieces to fit any theatre but provide the feel of a larger venue, which makes it easier to move.“ 

He added that all of hard work is worth it to see the joy and excitement of the audience. 

The Givens Performing Arts Center located at the University of North Carolina Pembroke is bringing some amazing performances to the community. The 2015-2016 season features We are The Music Makers!, En Vogue, Menopause, The Musical, Flashdance: The Musical, David Benoil: A Charlie Brown Christmas, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Ailey II, The Hit Men and Once. All of these incredible shows encompass many different styles of performance. There is truly something for everyone this season. 

Cirque Montage is on stage at the Givens Performing Arts Center on Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $36 to $21. Tickets for all shows can be purchased by calling 910-521-6361. For more information, visit www.unco.edu/giving/advancement/givens-performing-arts-center. The Givens Performing Arts Center is located at 1 University Drive in Pembroke. 

Warning: This column, while gluten free, contains terribly cheesy puns. If you are offended by low and unsuccessful attempts at humor, kindly go  directly to the crossword puzzle.

Vlad Putin has cut the cheese. Then he cut the Spanish ham and the  Polish apples out of the Russian diet. Vlad has blacklisted products  from Europe and America in retaliation for the ongoing sanctions imposed by the West after his Ukranian invasion. 

What kind of guy hates innocent cheeses? As a wise man once told me about someone else, “The man ain’t got no God in him.” 

Vlad is an anti-Cheddarite. He is a natural-born cheese killer. Perhaps as a child he was abused by a Gorgonzola cheese. Vlad’s deep seated dairy fears cause him to see Muenster cheese as a monster threatening Mother Russia. Clearly, Vlad suffers from Post Traumatic Cheese Disorder.

Vlad exudes serious food issues. It wasn’t enough for Vlad to eat the Crimea and swallow the eastern Ukraine. He is binging and purging western food products to show the decadent capitalists he can’t be swayed by the West’s puny sanctions. Vlad is taking out his wrath on guiltless cheeses and cheese smugglers who have dared to bring Edam into the Eden that is Russky territory.

As Willie Nelson would say, “Mammas don’t let your babies grow up to be Russian cheese smugglers.” The Russian secret police, the FSB, recently proudly announced it had crumbled a “criminal cheese ring” that had smuggled in more than 500 tons of cheese worth more than $30 million on the Russian blue cheese black market. 

Before the smugglers could yell “Cheese it, the cops,” the FSB arrested six Cheese Heads of the Gorgonzola crime family. These cheesy criminals are now facing up to 10 years in the slammer with no expectation of early release for Gouda time.

In early August, Vlad ordered a bulldozer to crush a giant pile of cheese near the town of Belgorod, Russia. To make his point to his loyal Western-imported cheese-hating Russian citizens, he had the cheese squashing televised nationally. Vlad’s Anticheese League spokeswoman, Svetlana Zaporozhchenko was quoted as saying, “The destruction has been completed, and after it (the cheese) is destroyed it is buried.” 

Perfectly good cheese, tortured and then buried alive. Vlad has become the ISIS of Parmesan, mindlessly destroying innocent cheeses. After the offending cheeses were buried, Putin presented the world with a Feta accompli. The UN Security Council has denounced Putin’s war against cheese as acts of fromagicide and culinary crimes against humanity. This situation is double plus ungood for Russian cheese lovers who are having to use inferior Russian cheeses to make their pizzas. The horror. The horror.

Rudolpho Asiago, chairperson of the European Union’s People for the Ethical Treatment of Cheese (PETC) has issued a strongly worded statement condemning Vlad’s Cheese Pogrom as “violating all international standards of dairy product decency.” Mr. Asiago called for a worldwide movement to condemn Russia to stop the exploitation of cheeses and “Give cheese a chance.” 

Mr. Asiago urged the world community to remember that “Cheeses have rights, too. Russia must stop all acts of cheese cruelty and comply with the standards set by the International Cheese Liberation Front. Only prejudice allows us to deny to cheeses the rights we expect for ourselves. Whether the cheese is based on cow, sheep, or goat milk, prejudice against cheese is unacceptable. If you wouldn’t eat Limburger cheese, why eat Monterrey Jack, Swiss or Brie? “

Let us consider the words of Monty Python as applied to the cruelty that is Putin’s anti-cheese campaign. “Every cheese is sacred/Every cheese is great/If a cheese is wasted/Mozzarella gets quite irate/Every cheese is wanted/ Every cheese is good/Every cheese is needed/in your neighborhood.”

You can turn the page. Or you can adopt a cheese today. Don’t let the cheese stand alone. Only you can prevent fromagicide.

When Up & Coming Weekly Publisher Bill Bowman came to me in late 1999 with what he considered to be a wonderful idea, I did what I always do when talking to Bill. I tried to ground him.

It has been said many times over the years that Bill is the idea guy who keeps floating great ideas, and I am the person with the string who reels the balloon in. There is probably a lot of truth in that statement, more than I want to acknowledge. But I digress.

When he came to me with the idea of the Best of Fayetteville, his excitement was palpable. He was so excited and so passionate about it. So I had to listen, and, I have to say, it has turned out to be a good idea.

Bill was enamoured with the idea — not because of the money — but because of what it signified. The Best of Fayetteville is a means to honor and pay tribute to those businesses and organizations that contribute to making Fayetteville an amazing place to work, live and raise a family. Listening to Bill talk about his plan, I saw the goodness of allowing local residents to honor those folks who made life better in our community.

Having said that, it was not without its problems.

The first thing we had to tackle was ensuring that the voting was fair and that the ballot box was not stuffed. We spent quite a bit of time and energy talking to and listening to other media sources that had similar programs in their communities. We took the best practices and wrapped them all together to ensure that our Best of Fayetteville was as legitimate as possible.

That’s why we have several rules. You must fill out a percentage of the ballot for it to count. There has to be legitimate addresses and phone numbers on the ballot. We look at the handwriting to ensure that the same person didn’t fill out a gazillion ballots. Then, we even go a step further and have the ballots audited and verified by a CPA.

Some folks think we take it to the extreme, but why pretend that we are talking about the best of the best if we aren’t?

Once we were satisfied that the ballots were legit and our categories were right, we started doing our research and looking at what kind of information we could share with the community about our winners.

I will not lie. The weeks surrounding the Best of Fayetteville are far from my favorite. They are in fact, weeks that make me want to run screaming into the night. But, in 15 years I haven’t done that — yet. But it’s always an option I keep open and hold over Bill’s head.

Going from 36 pages to close to 90 in one week is a challenge. Not only does it mean a lot more writing, it also means a lot more layout. And, or course, a lot more of everything. More arguments with the sales staff over deadlines. More arguments with Bill over those last 15 ads he wants to place and more arguments with the printer who wants it all yesterday. 

By the time the Best of Fayetteville Party rolls around, I am too tired mentally, physically and emotionally to do more than stand and smile with a glazed look in my eye. That’s why my annual assignment at the party is to be nice. It can be a chore.

Having said all of that, my favorite thing about the Best of Fayetteville is what I learn about our community. I’m not just talking about the winners, but also about the folks who vote. Seeing how others look at our community, what they like, what they dislike, how they view things in the community is eye opening every year. And, I will admit, that sometimes I am really surprised. 

What’s the biggest scandal? Who is the most respected politician? What’s the biggest waste of money? These are all questions that can bring about a diverse number of answers; although sometimes everyone is on the same page.

While the Best of Fayetteville might not bring out the best in me. It is probably one of the best ideas Bill ever had. But, do me a favor, don’t tell him. I will never hear the end of it.