Some are more diligent, effective and far-reaching than others, but most mothers teach their children basic manners and help their little ones — and sometimes their big ones — understand that manners are the glue that holds society together. Without them, we could all do and say exactly what we want, no matter how we affect those around us. If we grew up in the South, manners likely involved the words “sir” and “ma’am,” and they certainly involved sensitivity to the comfort and feelings of others. 

Manners are executed by following certain rules, some of which may seem unnecessary and antiquated to some folks. For example, I learned and taught the Precious Jewels that unless he is injured or handicapped, a polite man stands when a woman enters the room. My father developed an instant dislike for an early high school boyfriend, because his mother had not taught him this rule and he subsequently failed to stand for my mother.

But I digress.

We all received guidance when we learned to speak and write, but who knew that we would require rules about polite use of our new technologies? What is more, we have texting police — in my case a Precious Jewel who pointed out my many texting offenses, which I had no idea I was committing. 

Lest I become an habitual offender, I promptly researched texting etiquette on that font of all knowledge, the Internet, and, indeed, there are rules about how to text politely. Boy! Did I ever get screensful of texting “do’s” and “don’ts,” the equivalents, I suppose, of always bringing a hostess gift and not drinking out of the finger bowl.

In case you are as blank as I was on texting etiquette, here are a few of the basics.

1. Group texting is fraught with danger. You might say something you do not want everyone on the text to know, maybe because you did not realize a certain someone was indeed there. And if you find yourself in a chat with only one of the people on the group text, the rest of the people are also seeing the conversation and their phones are beeping up a storm for no reason. (Full disclosure. Group texting and “blowing up people’s phones” has been my main offense, but I am working on it.)

2. No texting overnight. You may be wide awake, but not everyone is, and no one wants their phone dinging in the middle of the night. Nor do most of us want to wake to a screen full of texts from people with insomnia.

3. Sexting is a thoroughly bad idea whether you are a teenager or an octogenarian. Truth be told, no one really wants to see what you are made of, and you do not want public exposure (forgive me!) when your supposedly private text goes viral. Just contain yourself until you see your sweetie in person.

4. Like talking loudly or taking a phone call in a movie theater, texting is not appropriate everywhere. Do not do it where you would not engage in those other activities — say, at dinner with your boss or meeting your boyfriend’s parents for the first time.

5. Always, always proofread what you are about to text. If your phone has autocorrect, it could change what you intended to say into something you might be horrified to say. Even simple four letter words can and do morph into words charged with all manner of expletives. I know several people who have been mortified on this score.

6. Private and confidential matters are best left untexted. You never know what the person on the receiving end is doing when your text arrives or who else might see it. This is particularly true if you ignore rule # 3, and share your body parts. Someone’s grandmother might glance at the phone when it lights up with your text and keel over.

7. Since people cannot see you to read facial and body cues, be polite when texting. Use words like “please” and “thank you” which may keep you from sounding rude or short when you really meant to be concise.

8. Speaking of short, keep it that way. If it takes more than 30 seconds or so to type your text, it is probably too long and will be difficult to read on a tiny phone screen. Put your message in an email and then text to say you have sent that email.

9. Unless you are texting with someone with whom you do so regularly, sign off as you do on the telephone. This lets your texting companion know the conversation has ended so he is not left staring at the phone waiting for your next pearl of wisdom.

We all goof on manners from time to time, and I am sure I will make more texting faux pas before I master texting etiquette, but I am trying. In the meantime, I wonder what is coming next in the “who knew” department.

Etiquette for spying on one’s neighbors with drones?

Recently, I sent a letter to the Fayetteville City Council concerning my opinion (and that of many others) about the  possibility that the city would consider eliminating the Market House from its logo.  Along with the letter I sent them several photos showcasing the Historic Market House as a symbol of our city.  I’m not sure they realize how many iconic images of the Market House are in our city or the significance of this nationally recognized historic structure. 

Erasing history is never easy. Actually, it is impossible. First of all, the Civil War was not [all] about slavery. Taxation without representation comes to mind as a reason for the Civil War. Those who find the Market House offensive should read more about Fayetteville’s history and not just pick and choose those things that fit their bias and misguided debate. Matter of fact, eliminating history for others also means eliminating your own history.  

The Market House (or State House) is vital and significant to Fayetteville’s heritage and, in my opinion,  should remain a symbol of our city because of all the significant and historic  events that took place there.  The Market House for true history buffs is a hallmark for Fayetteville and our own historic treasure.  Sure, it has been acknowledged that slaves were sometimes sold or traded there, but, it is also true that it was never a “slave market,” per se. The history books tell us that slaves were sold or traded in numerous other places in and around the city including the courthouse. This being the case, it seems senseless to try to eradicate one specific building.  Why not the entire city? What’s next and where does it stop? 

Are we to ask the Veterans Administration to remove the Market House likeness from the top of the Veterans Hospital on Ramsey Street? Or disavow our two recognitions as an All-America City just because the Market House is adorning the logo?  It’s borderline silliness. 

Many are not aware that the Market House, built in 1832, was built by  black tradesmen. Do we want to diminish their legacy? And, why would we want to diminish our legacy? Can we not take great pride in the fact that it was here in Fayetteville, in the Market House that North Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution, chartered the University of North Carolina and actually ceded western territory to create the state of Tennessee?

My goodness!  It is the only national landmark in Cumberland County and there are only 40 such designations  in the entire state. 

Political correctness is destroying this city as well as America and by trying to eradicate our history, we are needlessly and senselessly disrespecting all Fayetteville citizens, especially the black residents in our community. Think about this: In the Market House hangs a plaque honoring Charles W. Chesnutt (1858-1932).  An Afro-American writer, educator and scholar, Chesnutt was born the son of free blacks who had emigrated to Fayetteville. He worked part-time in the family grocery store while getting his formal education. In 1880, he became principal of the Fayetteville State Normal School for Negroes; now, Fayetteville State University. In 1928, the NAACP honored him with the Spingarn Medal for his pioneering work on behalf of the Afro-American struggle. Today, Charles W. Chesnutt is recognized and remembered as an important contributor to the de-romanticizing trend in post-Civil War southern literature and the singular voice among turn-of-the-century realists. A plaque in the Market House honors and commemorates this man. Shall his work and contributions to the black community be taboo, disrespected and written off as “collateral damage?” I think not.  

His quote “We shall come up slowly and painfully perhaps, but, we shall win our way,” serves as a reminder that progress is constantly being made and hard work, perseverance and courage  are the keys to accomplishment.  Even the words engraved on the plaque serve as compelling and motivating directives. “They [slaves] endured the past so the future could be won for freedom and justice.”  

Why would we want to disrespect and disavow such a shrine to humanity? We really need to think this situation out carefully and unemotionally. In the meantime, we need to get on with doing important municipal  business, solving and preventing crime and improving our city’s quality of life and quit dilly dallying with history that we certainly cannot change. Let’s continue the dialogue and certainly acknowledge our historic past, but, the Fayetteville Market House Logo should remain in place to anchor, record and legitimize our city’s historic past while making sure everyone is invited to participate in Fayetteville’s future. 

Let’s move on with things addressing the greater good of the community and avoid those who only want divisiveness. Concerned residents should contact the Fayetteville City

Council with their views on retaining the logo of the Market House. I appreciate Publisher Bill Bowman for yielding his space for this editorial opinion. 

While people don’t like to talk about the agony of watching someone they love, suffer, it happens — a lot. 

Alzheimer’s is an especially brutal illness because it steals the very essence of who you are. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia. It affects memory, thinking and even behavior. It can be hard to spot at first and the symptoms usually develop slowly. In fact, the brain starts changing years before any symptoms appear. 

Once someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, there are three stages: mild, moderate and severe. Many people consider it a disease that only affects the elderly;  while many senior citizens do develop Alzheimer’s, it is not a normal part of aging. Once someone is diagnosed, they live, on average, four to eight years. 

Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and is the only one of the top 10 causes that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed. Close to two-thirds of American’s with Alzheimer’s are women. 

Doctors and researchers are working towards a cure, though. Because of its progressive nature, time is of the essence. Sept. 12 offers an opportunity to make a difference. The 2015 Walk to End Alzheimer’s opening ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the home of the SwampDogs,  J.P. Riddle Stadium, known affectionately to many as The Swamp.

The funds raised at this event will go to support the Alzheimer’s Association. Founded in 1980, the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through promotion of brain health.  

McKee Homes, a long-time Alzheimer Association advocate, has planned an event that is sure to be a good time as well as one that will make a difference in countless lives. Julie Russo, co-chair for the event, is looking for a great turn out. 

“We’ve got a lot going on during registration, which starts at 9 a.m.,” she said.  “We have Pine Forest High School Band coming to perform. Fayetteville Champions for the Children will be there, too. They dress up in superhero costumes and paint people’s faces. Victoria Huggins, the second runner-up for Miss North Carolina, will be there, too. She is also going to sing the “National Anthem”.”

Russo noted that there will be plenty of children’s games and other activities as well. 

“There is just a short window of time to enjoy this though, because the opening ceremony starts at 10 a.m..”

The ceremony features the four faces of people affected by Alzheimer’s: someone who has Alzheimer’s and is currently living with it; someone who cares for someone with Alzheimer’s; someone who has lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s; and someone who has no experience with the disease, but is an advocate for the cause. They each write a narrative that is read by the emcee. 

“We want it to be uplifting and to let people know that it is okay to talk about it. It’s okay to be uncomfortable but we need to talk about it,” said Russo. “People are living with Alzheimer’s and managing it, and it is okay for people to see what that looks like.”

Unlike other walks, this one is less than a mile and that is by design. The event organizers wanted to make sure that everyone would be able to participate and finish the walk. 

“The event is more about coming together and not as much about the walking,” said Russo. “The ceremony happens, then everyone gets a flower that represents one of the four speakers.” 

“We have a promise garden and the attendees plant the flowers before the walk starts.  So at the end of the walk, they come around and see the flowers in the promise garden.”

The walk concludes with recognition of the number of walkers that attended and an accounting of the money that was raised. “Then we end with the “Wobble Baby.” It is a line dance,” said Russo.

Walkers can turn in their money on Friday, Sept. 11 from 4-6 p.m. during Bank Night at
The Swamp.

Anyone who raises more than $100 will receive a T-shirt. Register online at alz.org or on the day of the event. 

A few weeks ago, Up & Coming Weekly caught up  and spent a little time with Hakim Isler in the mountains of North Carolina. You may or may not have heard of him, but Isler is on Discovery Channel’s Emmy-nominated Naked and Afraid and Naked and Afraid XL survival series. Isler, an Army veteran, owns Elevo Dynamics Martial Arts Studio and Gym at 110 Person Street in downtown Fayetteville.. 

Isler mastered his survival on Season 3 by surviving 21 days in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains of India. This season, he joined 12 other survivors in the jungles of Colombia, South America. 

Of course, the question that is on the tip of everyone’s tongue is “Why Naked and Afraid?” Isler’s reasoning behind is participation is sound, and it is wound up in his life story.  

At 21, Isler moved to Ohio to attend ninja training under the American Bujinkan Ninjutsu Master Stephen K. Hayes, winner of the Century Martial Arts Lifetime Achievement Award. With a second degree blackbelt in his ruck, Isler joined the Army. There, he attended the Army’s Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape  School. From there, he continued his wilderness survival skills and discovered that inter-survival was just as important as physical survival.  

Moving back to Fayetteville, Isler opened his “DOGYM”, a 24-hour family gym and martial arts facility.

One day, a friend of his asked him why he never saw any African-Americans on survival shows. That grabbed Isler’s entrance, so he took a look at the shows and decided on  Naked and Afraid. He applied and became the first African-American on any survival show. Honored, Isler saw this as an opportunity to inspire other African-Americans to get involved in survival, which he believes has happened since he appeared on the show. 

In Season One, Isler went 21 days with his female teammate Phaedra Brothers. There, his inter-personal strength was challenged by working better as a team than as an individual. Each contestant is allowed to bring one item to help them survive. Isler showed his ingenuity with his “Tengu Ono,” which he designed specifically for wilderness survival. Today, Isler has a patent on the tool and it is produced and sold by RMJ Tactical.

This season, the Columbian jungle proved more challenging. Physically, Isler began to experience intense muscle spasms and cramps. The medical personnel on the show told him that he was dehydrated. Isler said that he was well hydrated, and instead believed that he was over-hydrated.  

At first, Isler and his teammates thought he would be okay, but as time passed, he began weighing what life would be like after the show. 

As symptoms of cramps manifested, he thought about his business, family and his students. On day seven, he and his teammates agreed that he should quit the show. After returning to Fayetteville, his physician and others told him that he made the right choice.  

When Up & Coming caught up with Isler, he was in the mountains conducting “Mountain Quest.” There, Isler and another martial arts expert, Stephen K. Hayes, tested black-belt candidates. Surprisingly, many of those candidates where young ninjas. 

Isler gets joy from teaching kids and teenagers. Nijitsu teaches them self-discipline, respect and self-control. Isler said that the word “ninja” means “one who perseveres and endures.” He is also proud that he teaches them to “think inside the box, outside the box and to ask what it was like before the box and who made the box.” 

Isler continued, “Ninja self-protection is above all about flexibility and adaptability. You have to know how to change the game and become what is needed to succeed.” 

He said on Naked and Afraid the choice of leaving the show was his way of changing the game because his priority was not television entertainment but higher priorities of life here and his overall health. 

Fayetteville actually has two veteran survivalists on Naked and Afraid XL. Although the episode of Isler leaving the show has already aired, he and Fayetteville resident E.J. Snyder (who is still on the show) will appear on the “Dirty Dozen Return” episode on Sunday, Sept. 6. Snyder is a contractor who works on Fort Bragg and lives in Hope Mills.

School’s back in session and cooler weather is right around the corner. That can only mean one thing … it’s fair time! The Cumberland County Fair runs from Sept. 11-20 this year. That’s 10 days of just about every kind of fun imaginable. From music to motors ports to animals and more, the Cumberland County Fair “seeks to provide an opportunity to showcase and preserve the history and legacy of the agricultural communities in Cumberland County; to celebrate the diversity of local arts and crafts; to promote a safe setting for fun, healthy family entertainment …  and to encourage an environment of friendly competition for all ages.”  

For the Fayetteville community, that translates in to concerts, rides, games, petting zoos, dancing, roller derby, food, animal shows, arts and crafts and fun-filled activities for the entire family. 

All week long, patrons can look forward to an interactive petting farm, Kountry K-9 Show, Motomaniacs Stunt Show, the works of chainsaw artists Rick Cox and Monster Truck Rides. Helicopter rides are also on tap each day as is the baby chic display, toddler driving school, family and consumer science education. Visit the Farmer for a Day exhibit hosted by the Cumberland County 4-H Clubs. There are also pony and camel rides, a Eurobungy trampoline, home, craft and agricultural exhibits and a Goodness Grows in North Carolina contest hosted by the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Service.

Sept. 11 is not only opening night, it is Military and Emergency Services Appreciation Night. That means free admission for all military and first responders in uniform or with a valid ID. The gates open at 5 p.m. Patrons can enjoy WKML 95.7 Live at the Fair and check out the petting farm, racing pigs, a K-9 show, motomaniac, ballroom dancing, hip-hop artist Jay Bless to name a few of the activities. From 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. it’s Midnight Madness, which means free admission with the purchase of an unlimited ride wrist band.

Sept. 12 is Paraglide and Fort Bragg Life night at the fair and features local musician Erik Smallwood on the Entertainment Stage at 1 p.m. The Jill Charles Band takes the stage at 3 p.m. followed by Upscale “N” Casual at 7 p.m. Valhalla closes out the evening’s live performances at 9 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 13 is faith and family day. There are church services on the fairgrounds at 10:15 a.m. Anyone bringing a current church bulletin will receive a $2 discount at the gate. One bulletin per person is required. This offer is valid from 1-3 p.m. The entertainment stage features  Destiny Now, Jordan River Quartet, Avery Hurt, Kim Canady and Accepted. Other events include racing pigs, Country K-9 Show and the petting farm. WKML 95.7 is live at the fair all day. The gates open at 1 p.m.

Sept. 14  is Pay One Price (POP) night. For just $10 gain entry to the fair and an unlimited ride wrist band. The gates open at 5 p.m. WAZZ will be on site doing a live radio remote. Don’t miss the Junior Laying Hen Show at 7 p.m.  Entertainment on stage includes Crossroads and Reckless Abandon.  Motomaniacs have several shows scheduled each day as well. Gates open at
 5 p.m.

Students, Tuesday, Sept. 15, is Fun, Fun, Fun student night at the fair. Students get in free until 8 p.m. with a student discount coupon. Visit the Kidsville News! Stage for all kinds of exciting entertainment throughout the evening. There are racing pigs, the petting farm, Kountry K-9 show, the Junior Market Lamb Show, Motormaniacs and more. The entertainment stage will feature Three Below Zero and Seal the Deal. Gates open at 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 16 is also Fun, Fun, Fun student night. Unique events include Little “Ewe” Jumpstart Livestock Clinic, Swine, Feeder, Calf and Steer Show and the Fayetteville Area Youth Livestock Auction Sale, sponsored by the Cumberland County Farm Bureau. Original Reflections will play on the Entertainment Stage at 6:30 p.m. Reflections II takes the stage at 8:30 p.m. The gates open at 5 p.m.

Senior citizens looking to enjoy the fair at their own pace are invited to the Snior Citizens Day on Thursday, Sept. 17. The gates open at 1 p.m. and patrons 50 years and older get in free until 5 p.m. Special events include Shimmy Mob Dance Troupe, Jackie and the Red Hat Society, magician Marie Blackman, comedian Luis Cadena, Hope Mills Rhythm Stompers, Country Sunshine Line Dancers, Roland’s Dance Studio and the 82nd Aiborne Chorus. Starting at 4 p.m. anyone with a wristband coupon from Carly C’s gets $5 off an unlimited ride wristband and $2 off admission with a 4-H or FFA club membership card or T-shirt. Don’t miss the Junior Meat Goat Show at 7 p.m., racing pigs throughout the evening  and Ring Wars Carolina Wrestling. Performers on the Entertainment stage are Erik Smallwood and Rivermist.

A Fair Fight Against Breast Cancer is the theme for Friday, Sept. 18. Cape Fear Valley Breast Care Center will offer $1 off all admissions between 5 and 8 p.m. Gates open at 4 p.m. Highlights for the evening include Beach Music Night with Jim Quick and Coastline on the Entertainment Stage, Fair Queen Pageant rehearsals, the Junior Beef Heifer Show sponsored by the Cumberland County Farm Bureau. Don’t miss Midnight Madness from 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. Purchase an unlimited ride wristband and get free admission.

Gates open at 1 p.m. for a full day of fun on Saturday, Sept. 19. The Entertainment Stage and Kidsville News! Stage both have a completely full slate with performers like Tony Gibson, Acoustic on the Rocks, The Elite Believers Mime Ministry, VZ Modeling Academy, Drew Smith Band and Back Track Band. The Chainsaw Art Auction is a must see at 5 p.m. The Cumberland County Invitational Step Show  is also at 5 p.m. The Fair Queens Pageants are scheduled for 7 p.m. 

The fair’s last day in town is Sunday, Sept. 20. The day kicks off with church services on the Fairgrounds at 10:15 a.m. The gates open at 1 p.m. for Carload Day at the Fair. There is a $20 admission per car for up to six people. The Horrell Family will grace the entertainment stage along with Glad Trio, Tony Gibsion, The Gores and Travelin’ Light Band. It’s your last chance to enjoy the fair food, play games on the midway, try out the rides, see the racing pigs, Motomaniacs, Kountry K-9s, visit the Kidsville News! stage, the petting zoo and other exhibits.

Find out more at www.facebook.com/CCFairNC.

Are you ready for some college football? Fayetteville State University is ready. The team is gearing up for a highly anticipated football season. If you haven’t been following their progress, now would be a good time to start. 

 “We are expecting to have a big season this year because the past two years we have been a game away from making it to the conference championship game,” said Lawrence Kershaw, head football coach at Fayetteville State University. “We finished in second place in the CIAA Division at 5-5 overall and 5-2 in the CIAA.” 

Kershaw added that the CIAA is broken up into two divisions and the team placed second in its division two years in a row.  

Coach Kershaw believes that he has a team that will take them to the championship this year and there are key players who will make it happen.  

“Our best offensive lineman is Quincey Dickens, two wide receivers, Christopher Hubert and  Tavon Gatlin and running back Andre Montgomery,” said Kershaw.

“The two defensive linemen who are real good are Thomas Perry and Rendell Mas,”  continued Kershaw, adding that he is also excited about linebacker, Timothy Thorb, and secondary defensive back, Kwamere Bailey.      

The team competes in the CIAA, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, which is a Division II conference mostly consisting of historically African-American colleges and universities. 

“Our expectation is to win the conference championship,” said Kershaw. “That will always be our number one goal.”  

Coach Kershaw is from from Brooklyn, New York, and this is his 20th season coaching college football. 

He played football in high school and in college at Stony Brook University in New York. He then transferred and graduated from Virginia State University. Kershaw had dreams of going pro but realized as he got older that he did not have the ability. 

“My original goal was to be a guidance counselor and a head football coach at a high school,” said Kershaw. “I have a master’s in guidance and I started coaching college football while I was pursuing my degree.” 

While football is a focus, academic excellence is a priority to Kershaw and his football players. 

“The guys we get are guys who come to school to get an education,” said Kershaw. “They have the athletic ability to help them obtain a degree and we do give scholarships.”  

Kershaw added if you are good enough you will make it. One of his former players, Marcus Reed, who played on last year’s football team, is currently playing with the Kansas City Chiefs.   

The first game of the season is Sept. 5 against Chowan University. The 2015 CIAA football championship will take place on Nov. 14.  

“We always want Fayetteville State University’s football team to be in the conversation,” said Kershaw. “I am anticipating a very successful season.”      

Unlike the British, we Americans have no royal family to follow, so we compensate in two ways. We follow theirs — Will and Kate and their precious little ones — or we create our own, usually entertainment stars and politicians. 

Like virtually everyone else in America, I am transfixed by Donald Trump — the entire package. I can hardly get enough, because there is just so much to absorb, politics notwithstanding.

The hair. The lightning fast and laser sharp insults. The undeniable billionaire status, of which he reminds us frequently.  Free helicopter rides. The beautiful women. The political incorrectness and proud maverick behavior.

And, the various families!

Trump’s birth family, a German father and a British mother with five children, made a fortune building affordable housing in the boroughs around Manhattan, though daddy Trump was known to be — shall we say — frugal. The Donald joined his father’s business at the tender age of 22, heading into real estate in flashy Manhattan with TRUMP emblazoned on most of his buildings and zooming on to billionaire-dom. I have never heard anyone refer to the younger Trump as frugal.

Along the way, he married a Czechoslovakian skier named Ivana, and they had three children. Ivana, who gifted her husband with the enduring moniker “The Donald,” lost out to a beauty queen from Georgia named Marla Maples, with whom Trump had a daughter, aptly named Tiffany. Marla ultimately bit the Trump dust as well, and the current Mrs. Trump is Melania, a former model from Slovenia. They have a son named — what else? Barron Trump. A quick Google turns up thousands of glamorous photos of Mrs. Trump including at least one modeling a fur-lined metal bikini. Ouch!

Eleanor Roosevelt Roosevelt and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy must be spinning in their graves.

Another politician in the spotlight in North Carolina is state Representative Jason Saine. I have not found any bikini-clad photos of him, but there are plenty of photos of him wearing some $19,000 worth of tailor-made clothing he paid for with campaign dollars during the first half of this year. North Carolina law prohibits using campaign funds contributed by supporters for personal expenses, but Saine maintains that he absolutely had to commission his new wardrobe because his real-life job does not require suits and ties while his legislative job does.

Wonder if the guy has ever heard of Joseph A. Bank or Men’s Warehouse?

Then at the other end of the politician spectrum comes former President Jimmy Carter, who announced to the world last week that the cancer for which he recently had surgery has spread to his brain. Poised and articulate at 90, he explained his condition and his treatment and expressed his enduring faith in God. Relaxed and smiling, he praised his wife of 69 years and urged other cancer patients to hope for the best but to accept what comes. Carter is the epitome of grace and mature manhood.

I bet he has never said anything ugly about Rosie O’Donnell.

And, finally, an update on last week’s column regarding the fate of Virginia Dare, the first child born to English parents in the New World, and the rest of the settlers in the Lost Colony. It seems that I am hardly the only person interested in this 428-year-old mystery. A Raleigh News and Observer column of past news stories compiled by Teresa Leonard recently re-ran a 1938 story suggesting that Virginia Dare is buried in Robeson County!

It quotes well-known Robesonians of the day recounting local legends about a gravesite near the historic Philadelphus Presbyterian Church, which is not to be disturbed under any circumstances. The tale is part of a larger speculation that the Lost Colonists migrated south from their original Roanoke Island settlement and eventually intermarried with the people we know today as Lumbee Indians, some of whom have blue eyes. 

Also weighing in on Virginia Dare was my friend Pam Stultz, longtime senior assistant to the Cumberland County Register of Deeds.

It seems the long-running outdoor drama about the early settlers, The Lost Colony in Manteo, traditionally uses a live baby instead of a doll in performances on Virginia Dare’s birthday, Aug. 18. The little bundle of joy in the arms of an actress in this photo from last week is actually Pam’s infant granddaughter, Carolyn Leigh.

I hope I live long enough to learn what really happened to Virginia and that tiny band of early colonists.

Who would have guessed that in over a decade America —  the land of the free — is still struggling with the issue of immigration? Illegal immigration. 

This is sad. Yet, it is the perfect example of how insensitive, corrupt, inefficient, dysfunctional and out of touch our national government has become. Needless to say, the heart of the problem originates from ignoring and refusing to enforce the laws of the land; a term our current leadership has rendered ineffectual and meaningless. 

To complicate the situation even further, legitimate solutions are not forthcoming. Sad, sad, sad. The political landscape is now further exacerbated with the debate over “anchor babies,” a term coined probably by conservatives to explain how badly America screwed up in interpreting the 14th Amendment to our Constitution and to accentuate how that provision is being misused and abused by foreigners. The 14th Amendment was adopted on July 9, 1868, as one of the Reconstruction Amendments. 

The amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection by the laws, and was proposed in response to issues related to former slaves following the American Civil War. Even as it was proposed, the amendment created controversy and has continued to do so. 

Many believe that the wording of Article I, Section 8 of the Constituion gives Congress the power to “establish  a uniform Rule of Naturalization, which would trump the 14th Amendment.” The answer to that question, of course, lies in the interpretation and determination of the Supreme Court; who knows what they would do in light of other recent decisions they have made with ties to the 14th Amendment? 

But back to the current state of events. Left-wing liberals have lost no time exploiting this circumstance to advance their positions by deploying the politically correct police to demonize the simplistic phrase as demeaning. Really? To whom? Those that are abusing it at American taxpayers’ expense? 

Everyone agrees that illegal immigrants are a major problem, and a costly one at that. Finding a solution is another matter. Amnesty is not an option — at least until the border is secure. Deportation is not really feasible. It is costly and slightly on the barbaric side.

Without a doubt, we know how to find solutions to tough problems - at least when we want to. Any illegal immigrant in America should want to be an American citizen. If not, they must leave. 

Anchor babies? A diversion of rhetoric. Sure, Donald Trump may be leading the clown parade now, but clearly his “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” message is resonating throughout America. Sure, many people say he is not qualified to be president. No argument there. But, they are also saying that after seven years of the Obama administration, so how bad could he really be?

We will see. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly,your community newspaper.

Honeybees are one of the most important insects for the environment. They pollinate 30 percent of flowering crops and 90 percent of wild plants - plants such as apples, broccoli, strawberries, nuts, asparagus, blueberries and cucumbers need bees in order to grow. It is easy to see why bees are so important for the human diet, as well as other mammals, and even plant life. Imagine a summer without your favorite fruit or Thanksgiving without pumpkins. Festivals like the blueberry and strawberry festival would be non-existent without bees. Join the Cumberland County Beekeepers Association on Aug. 29 to learn more about this tiny but important creature.

With such a vital role to play in the food chain, it’s important to keep bees and their hives healthy. Unfortunately, in recent years, hives across the nation have faced Colony Collapse Disorder at an alarming rate. There are several theories about Colony Collapse Disorder and what might cause it, but there is still no solution. 

The Cumberland County Bee Keepers association will show participants how to manage bees, take care of the hives and collect honey. Managing bees without getting stung is an art form. Beekeepers use smokers to trick the bees into thinking their hive is on fire. This calms the bees down so beekeepers can change out the different compartments to retrieve the honey. 

While many people are afraid of bees, they are usually harmless. However, there are a few things that people can do to lessen their chances of encountering bees. Wearing black attracts bees because their natural born enemies are bears. Bees will gravitate towards people wearing darker colors. Bees are drawn to the carbon dioxide, which comes from our nose and mouth. This is why beekeepers wear nets over their faces to keep the bees from stinging. 

Depending on which plants bees pollinate, the taste of their honey can vary. Sometimes the differences are subtle, but wildflower honey is not the same as orange blossom honey. There are up to 300 types of honey in the United States. Bees work all summer long to fill their hive with honey for the winter so they might survive the cold weather. 

Honey can be used in a variety of ways. For example, honey is useful as a cough medicine, to treat wounds, as scalp aid, an energy booster and to
reduce allergies. 

Come and join the Cumberland County Beekeepers Association on Aug. 29 at Carvers Creek State Park from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Exercise caution if allergic to bees they will be in an enclosed net. 

Fayetteville’s namesake, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette, came to America the summer of 1777 at the tender age of 19. He was intrigued by the colonies and their struggle for independence. So he came to America where he served on George Washington’s staff and worked to help win freedom from Britain. The colonists of never forgot Lafayette. Many towns were named after the Frenchman, but Fayetteville, N.C., is the first one to honor him as a namesake when it officially claimed the moniker in 1783 and is the only town named after him, which Lafayette visited. 

Locally, the Lafayette Society honors the memory of the Marquis de Lafayette and promotes awareness of his significant contributions to mankind and freedom through events, programs and educational activities at the Lafayette Birthday Celebration, which falls on Sept. 11-12, this year. The fact that this event falls on the same weekend as the Greekfest is by design. 

“It’s two great events, one great weekend,” said Lafayette Society spokesperson Dr. Hank Parfitt. “Both are excellent  events for  a fun-filled Fayetteville weekend, and there is no reason to miss one to attend the other.”

The festivities start with Arias and Artifacts on Friday, Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Davis Library on the Methodist University Campus. The library houses letters that were written by Lafayette along with many early 19th century Lafayette memorabilia. From the library, head over to Hensdale Chapel where Dr. Gail Morfesis and Friends will perform a short concert.

Saturday, Sept. 12, kicks off the day’s events with the Lafayette Birthday Farmers Market, which runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The farmers market is located at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum and includes more than fresh produce. Visitors will find arts and crafts and other items for sale as well. Check out the Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s demonstration about local herbs and how they were used in the 1700s and 1800s.

Don’t miss the Lafayette Trail Tour at 9 a.m. The tour traces Lafayette’s footsteps during his 1825 visit to the city. New stops have been added this year and include the Phoenix Masonic  Lodge and Cool Spring Tavern. 

“The Lafayette Trail Tour is probably the best way to learn about Lafayette and what was going on in America and Fayetteville at the time he visited. You get so much history on this tour and Bruce Daws, who leads the tour, is probably the most knowledgable man in town when it comes to local history,” Parfitt said. “You will be fascinated with all the information he has to share. The Cool Springs Tavern’s docent’s  family has owned it for 200 years. The Masonic lodge is a new stop this year, too — you don’t get to go inside a Masonic lodge often. That is a real opportunity. Like many founding fathers, Lafayette was a Mason along with George Washignton and was welcomed and honored here. Tickets are $30 per person. Reservations are required. The tour includes coffee and croissants and a light lunch. Call 678-8899 for tickets and information.

The All-American Fencing Academy is set to host the Lafayette/Rulnick Open Fencing Tournament from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tournament includes foil and sabre events and is held at the All-American Fencing Academy on Donaldson Street.

Downtown shops and restaurants are celebrating the special day
with a Lafayette Birthday Sidewalk Sale. The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will feature great bargains and interesting finds.

The Museum of the Cape Fear’s Festival of Yesteryear runs from 10 a.m to 5 p.m.  Get an up close and personal look at what life was like in Fayetteillve when Lafayette was alive. The theme focuses on the Colonial and Revolutionary War periods. Come and see re-enactors as they show what life was like in the 1700s. Learn about music, toys and games, militia drills and even colonial dentistry. The living history groups include Camp Flintlock, the North Carolina Highland Regiment, and Captain Dry’s Militia Company. Visitors can check out Apprentice Alley, a hands-on experience for children to learn about many of the trades of the time. Apprentice Alley includes crafts and activities that bring history to life for children. The event is free and open to the public. Find out more about the Museum of the Cape Fear and the Festival of Yesteryear at http://museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov/Events.aspx.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., don’t miss the Lafayette District Scouting Expo at Cross Creek Park. The scouting district that covers most all of Cumberland County, and was recently named the Lafayette District. Parfitt noted that the Boy Scout rules tie in perfectly with who Lafayette was and what he represented. “The Scout’s Law lists 10 characteristics of what a scout should be. Lafayette exemplified those characteristics,” said Parfitt.

Demonstrations of scouting skills, camp games and more are planned. Scouts will show off their skills and offer hot dogs and camp food for sale. 

Stop by Lafayette Plaza at Cross Creek Park at noon  and enjoy a free concert compliments  of the Army Ground Forces Dixie-Land Band. The first 100 guest will get free birthday cake and ice cream.

“Part of the fun in this event is that you can connect so many things back to Lafayette and our freedom in this country,” said Parfitt. “When you talk about learning, the Lafayette Society renovated the area around the statue in Cross Creek Park and put in a nice brick plaza and there is a plaque there, which in about 250 words, sums up Lafayette’s life. It is a great way to take advantage of what we have in Fayetteville.”

This Wine Café will host a French wine and cheese tasting from 6-9 p.m. Then finish up the birthday celebration with an engaging presentation about Lafayette. At 7 p.m., Lafayette author and UNC professor of history Lloyd Kramer will speak about Lafayette and the Greek Revolution at the Market House. Kramer’s book Lafayette in Two Worldsoffers a look at Lafayette’s role in America and Europe  during the late 1700s and early 1800s. The event is free but donations will be accepted. 

“We have Dr. Kramer talking about Lafayette and the Greek Revolution and his support of national revolutions worldwide,” said Parfitt. “During his time he was considered a beacon of hope in people in nations who wanted to determine how they would be ruled. The Greeks were under the rule of the Ottoman Turks and that struggle went on for 10 years. Dr. Kramer is a fascinating speaker. He’s  the kind of history professor everyone wishes thy had in high school or college. He makes history come alive when he talks about it.”

Find out more about Lafayette and his birthday celebration at www.lafayettesociety.org/events.php.

For anyone who has ever loved a child, the thought of someone hurting  them or taking advantage of them is unbearable. Yet it happens every day and in some pretty horrific and unexpected ways. In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world it is challenging to oversee everything that goes on in a child’s life. But now more than ever, it is vital that parents, family members and loved ones do so. As part of a weekend-long joint initiative with several other community organizations, Groundswell Pictures is set to premier the film Not Just Pictures, a gripping documentary that addresses something most people avoid thinking about much less talking about — child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse — on Aug. 28. The movie asks the question: Are your kids safe just because they are in the house with you? The answer is not necessarily.

While technology has made life better in many ways, the slimy underbelly of it is fraught with danger and downright evil. Thanks to the Internet, it is easier than ever to produce, reproduce and disseminate CSA images, which means there are more of these images out there than ever before and they are, tragically, fairly easy to come by. Disseminating these images is a multi-billion dollar a year industry, and one of the fastest growing online businesses. In the past 10 years, more than 120 million CSA images have been bought and sold. Ninety million of them were of prepubescent children with 12 million of them of infants and toddlers. Each year the images become more brutal and more graphic. 

This film has been in the works for more than two years. Filmmakers Jan Johnson and Pat Wright have more than 50 years of combined experience making films. From TV commercials to feature length documentaries, this award-winning pair has won more than 80 international and national awards.  They have covered topics that include recovery efforts in Haiti, the effects of desegregation, the Hollywood blacklist and more. The pair decided to tackle this issue when they asked their friend and child advocate Dr. Sharon Cooper, and the executive producer of the film, what they could do to make a difference. 

“Without any hesitation she said child pornography and exploitation are issues that need to be dealt with,” said Wright. “Since then, we have been crisscrossing the U.S. and Canada talking with experts. We even attended the Interpol Conference in Bermuda.”

Many people who make and collect child pornography consider it a victimless crime — just pictures. But to the children whose lives are broken by these predators, every instance of possession and/or distribution is a big deal because every time the images change hands,  the children are victimized yet again as predators seek to make child sexual exploitation a normal thing. The victims usually know that their images are online and are powerless to remove them. So every time someone recognizes them, they relive the crime — even as adults. Every time they see someone looking at a cell phone, computer or iPad, they pray the person using the device is not looking at the CSA image of them.

It is an intimidating and terrifying topic, but there are things that parents and guardians can do to educate and protect children at risk and to find and rescue those suffering at the hands of pedophiles and child pornographers as authorities on the front lines of this battle work to find and incarcerate offenders. Not Just Pictures faces this issue head on offering interviews with experts in the field, survivors and parents of survivors and victims of Internet child exploitation. A few of the topics covered in the movie include sex trafficking, sextortion, sexting and sex tourism. 

“What we want to do is, as the name of our nonprofit says, we want to create a groundswell of change on this issue,” said Wright. “We want people to talk about and think about it and act. There are things you can do to protect your kids, but when people are too afraid to even talk about it, it thrives in secrecy. We’ve got to raise the alarm and shine the light on it.”

The world premier of Not Just Pictures opens on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at Fayetteville State University’s Seabrook Auditorium. A question and answer session is planned after the showing. Find out more at www.groundswellpictures.com. 

To truly get an understanding of what sexual abuse does to children, the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County presents Illuminations: Artwork Creating Change. This guided exhibit features artwork and journal entries created by two brothers. The boys were abused by the same person. Their works will help people understand what this crime does to children, why they react the way they do and the impact it has on their families. The exhibit is not appropriate for children under 12. Exhibit hours are Aug. 28 at 4th Friday from 5-9 p.m.; Aug. 29 from noon to 4 p.m. with a special workshop at 1 p.m.; and Aug. 30 – Sept. 12 with scheduled daily tours. Call 323-1776 for more information.

Skyview on Hay will host a free Internet safety expo on Aug. 28 during 4th Fridayfrom 5-9 p.m. and on Saturday, Aug. 29 from noon to 4 p.m. The expo offers free tips and ideas from national, state and local groups. Don’t wait to teach your children how to stay safe online. The expo if free.

At 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, world-renowned child advocate and public speaker Cordella Anderson will be at SkyView on Hay to discuss how parents and guardians can equip children to be safe online. This event is also free. 

“Technology is leaping ahead — look at kids 7-14 these days with hand-held devices and computers in their rooms. They are online and their parents have no idea the what apps the kids are using and they can’t keep them safe,” said Wright. “We put our children on the Internet without teaching them the basics of Internet safety. We need to rethink things and learn how to protect them better.”  

As the summer comes to a close, 4th Friday, on Aug. 28, is a fun way for parents to celebrate and kids to mourn the passing of the season. The shops and restaurants stay open late and live entertainment floods the streets. From art, to shopping, to history there is something for everyone. You have not truly experienced downtown Fayetteville until you have experienced a 4th Friday celebration. 

For the younger crowd, Fascinate-U Kids Museum is a must-see. This museum is uniquely designed for children. The exhibits mimic real-life scenarios like grocery stores and news rooms. Kids are invited to interact and play with these exhibits in order to learn about the real world. Admission is free for 4th Fridayevents, and the museum is open from 7-9 p.m. There is also a free craft that kids can take home. This month it is a food self-portrait. Kids are invited to be creative and make a fun and “funky” food collage. Fascinate-U is located at 116 Green St. For more information, call 910-829-9171 or visit www.fascinate-u.com. 

The Headquarters Library is also getting in on the 4th Friday festivities with an event that deftly combines art and science. It will host the Cape Fear Mineral and Gem Society. The event is sponsored by Systel and includes refreshments. The Cape Fear Mineral and Gem Society will have a large display of fossils, rocks and gems. There will be stones perfect for making jewelry, gemstone trees and cabochons. Members of the society will answer any questions and talk about all of the amazing minerals and gems on display. The members will also have hand-crafted items available for purchase. Look for the Cape Fear Mineral and Gem Society in the Pate Room of the Headquarters Library from 7-9 p.m. The Headquarters Library is located at 300 Maiden Lane. For more information, call 910-482-7727 or visit www.cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplsite.

Coinciding with 4th Friday is the last Fayetteville After 5 of the season. These free concerts are the ideal way to relax and enjoy some of the last of the warm summer evenings. For this concert, Natural Wonder, a tribute to Stevie Wonder, and Trial by Fire, a tribute to Journey, will perform. Gates open at 5 p.m. and entertainment begins between 7 and 7:30 p.m. The concert is scheduled to end between 10:30 and 11 p.m. No outside food or beverages are allowed in the park, but patrons are invited to bring chairs of blankets. This concert is also military appreciation night. The concert is held in Festival Park located at 225 Ray St. For more information, visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com/p/Events/211 or call 910-323-1934. 

The Cape Fear Studios Gallery opens an exhibit featuring Benn Greene-Colonnese. He creates unique structural sculptures and functional pieces by molding, casting and grinding glass. He takes his inspiration from natural and man-made sources. This exhibit runs until Sept. 15. Cape Fear Studios is located at 148 Maxwell St. The gallery is open from 6-8 p.m. on 4th Friday. For more information, visit www.capefearstudios.com or call 910-433-2986. 

My eastern North Carolina grandmother drew me into the mystery of Virginia Dare before I started school. I was instantly riveted and have remained so ever since. Virginia was the first child born to English parents in what was then called “the New World.” She was born in 1587 on Roanoke Island, now part of North Carolina. Three years later when her grandfather returned from an extended resupply mission to England, Virginia and her family were nowhere to be seen —  nor were any of the other colonists.

Being a North Carolina girl like Virginia, I was convinced that it was my mission in life to solve that mystery, and what is more, I was absolutely confident that I could — and would — do just that. My enthusiasm continued into grade school, where I actually had a classmate named Virginia Dare Mason. After I figured out my schoolmate was not THE Virginia Dare — I was very young — I decided my Virginia was a direct descendent and probably knew the secret of what happened to the original Virginia but was not telling.

Clues have been scant. 

The newly returned Englishmen found the word “Croatoan” carved into a fence post and “Cro” carved into a tree. Over the last 428 years, people like me have speculated that the small band of 100 or so colonists were attacked by the local Native Americans, or more kindly, that they went to live with them and were ultimately assimilated. Some contended the colonists went south to Hatteras Island. Some said they went inland. Some said they were wiped out by disease, and one or two suspected abduction by space aliens. The truth, though, has been that no one from 1587 until now ever had much more than a theory. 

Now there seems to be actual evidence, not exactly Virginia’s crib with her DNA on it, but something we can touch nonetheless, and I could not be more thrilled!

Maps from Virginia’s day exist and have been studied for more than four centuries. Three years ago a Durham-based group of people like me called First Colony Foundation announced that scholars had taken another look at a map drawn by Virginia’s grandfather, an employee of Sir Walter Raleigh. Recent close examination revealed symbols that could refer to forts or secret emergency locations that the settlers would have known about. The symbol led researchers to an area in Bertie County, west of where the settlers were last seen and where rivers that could be used for transportation converge. 

The focus is now around a residential and golf course development, which conjures up thoughts of the discovery of King Richard III’s long-missing body being located three years ago beneath what the British call a car park in Leicester, England, but we will not go there in this column.

The front page of a recent Raleigh News and Observer had yet more good news. First Colony Foundation archeologists have been digging and have found pottery shards, a hand-wrought nail and artifacts associated with clothing, everyday items from the 16th century and consistent with similar finds in England. Researchers speculate that the colonists left their Roanoke Island settlement for whatever reason in two waves — first a small group of men and later a group of men, women, and children, presumably including Virginia.

Perhaps we human beings have genes that drive us to solve mysteries like what happened to baby Virginia and King Richard. We have long known that Richard died on the battlefield at Bosworth Field and that his head was later displayed to prove to both friend and foe that the king was indeed dead. Earlier this year, what was left of him was given a dignified burial, and Leicester continues to do brisk business in kingly tourist trade, including a special “Return of the King” beer.  

But Virginia? Who knows? Did she perish from harsh living conditions as did many infants in that era? Did she grow up and have children so that her blood still runs in someone, somewhere? Will we ever know or will we go to our own graves still channeling Virginia?

We will know, if the folks at First Colony Foundation have their way. Phil Evans, president of the foundation, is hopeful. “We’ve gone from known to unknown to a new known,” he says, referring to the recent finds in Bertie County... There’s a lot more unknown to be discovered. The future before us is one of still searching, still researching.”

I am cheering them on from Fayetteville, hoping that my childhood dream of Virginia being found will come true, even if I am not the one to do it. Knowing the fate to Virginia and the rest of the Lost Colony would enrich the history of the nation that came into being in part because of this tiny band of colonists.

Really, though, I just want to know what happened….

Well, I must admit I appreciate City Manager Ted Voorhees pursuing a downtown baseball stadium. A project, if it comes to fruition, that could actually unite our community rather than divide it. Unfortunately, he and city staff cannot resist the bureaucratic temptation to 

spend taxpayer money needlessly and foolishly.

Agreed, due diligence must be done on a project that could cost as much as $50 million. However, gallivanting off at taxpayers’ expense to Sugarland, Texas, near Houston, to tour a minor league baseball stadium seems a bit excessive, no? Especially when they can tour a half dozen comparable stadiums within a few short hours from Fayetteville. Go figure. 

When I inquired about this to two city hall insiders, both replied the same way: They said city staff feel compelled to spend their budgeted travel allowance. Bureaucrats! This scenario becomes even more ridiculous when you consider that the ballpark in Sugarland sits on the southwest side of Houston, Texas, which has a population of a whopping 2.2 million people. Sugarland’s sales tax, by the way, is 8.25 percent with a hotel occupancy tax of around 13 percent. Not to mention that the cost of building their stadium was $37 million in 2011. In 2016, this project would probably come in at $45-$50 million. All this being known, it begs the question: Why travel to Houston?

Yes, a baseball park in downtown Fayetteville does have potential– within reason. We must approach this reasonably and we must eliminate the silliness such as the editorial that was recently in the Fayetteville Observer written by Tim White. This August 16 editorial shows how grossly out of touch we are when it comes to being reasonable about such things. Ignoring our own history seems to be our local pastime. Someone needs to inform the Fayetteville Observer, Tim White, Ted Voorhees and Rochelle Small-Toney that “Build it and they will come” is only a fictional phrase from Kevin Costner’s movie Field of Dreams. Baseball players do not really enter and exit cornfields. Nor do corporations, businesses and fans follow and support multi million-dollar stadiums. Really.

 I love baseball, and as much as I would love to see a baseball stadium in downtown Fayetteville, I think we need to slow down and think this one out, in the meantime, let’s support the local sports teams we have. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

 

Better Health is a local organization that is dedicated to helping Cumberland County residents attain a healthier lifestyle. 

“Better Health was founded to help address the unmet healthcare needs of Cumberland County residents through education, referral and assistance. We work closely with many other agencies in town to ensure that we can help our community stay healthy,” explained Amy M. Navejas, the new executive director of Better Health. 

“Our clients run the gamut from those in financial hardship who had an unexpected need for medication to professors wanting to learn more about managing their diabetes.” 

On Aug. 29, Better Health is set to host its second annual Diabetes…Dodge It! Dodgeball Tournament as a means of raising operating funds.

Navejas began as the new executive director on July 1, and quickly immersed herself into her new role. She has a personal connection with some of the programs, so passion for her work came naturally. 

“I love our diabetes program. My father has Type I diabetes and was diagnosed at 13 years of age, so I grew up being taught the signs of blood glucose problems. I also saw my father manage his diabetes very well and he is living a very normal, healthy life with diabetes. Seeing others learn to do the same and go from a daunting diagnosis to new found confidence is very rewarding,” she said.

“I have a true passion for children. Our Eat Smart, Move More program is phenomenal,” she continued. “We go to local schools, camps and after school care programs to teach healthy eating habits and exercise. The kids love it! We just can’t underestimate the importance of engaging kids in healthy lifestyle choices and the preventative impact that has. I love seeing the kids practicing tai chi poses and trying new veggies!”

Staying healthy and having fun all come together in the Better Health second annual Diabetes…Dodge It! Dodgeball Tournament. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Better Health diabetes program, which includes clinics three days a week as well as educational and exercise classes. 

For those unfamiliar with the game, Navejas provided insight noting, “Each team has six players and up to three alternates. Each team will play at least two matches. Each match has three games. The winner of the match is the best two out of three. Now if one team wins the first two games, the third game is not played. Each game can last five minutes, but typically that does not occur.”

Another benefit to the tournament is that it provides a fresh new perspective on fitness; one that is far more approachable and fun. 

“It’s an amazing, fun opportunity for everyone to be active! Exercise can be fun — think outside the box. Being fit doesn’t have to be running marathons and doing sit ups. That can be daunting for some people. Exercise can be at any level and for all ages. Most importantly, it can be fun!” Navejas said. 

The tournament is on Aug. 29 at 9 a.m. at the Freedom Courts Sportsplex located at 3126 Gillespie St. For more information or to register, visit http://betterhealthcc.org/forms.html or call 910-483-7534. Teams must register by Aug. 15 and team members must be 14 and older. The registration fee is $100 per team. There are also sponsorship opportunities available.

Farmers markets unite the producer and the consumer in a totally unique way. At the supermarket it is difficult to know where everything originated, how it was treated or how fresh a product is. But at a farmers market, you shake the hands that tilled the Earth, that grew the vegetables that grace your dinner table. The produce and various other products at the local farmers markets are a reflection of the landscape and the local people. There is a time and place for supermarket, but it is a tragedy to lose touch with the people and the land that feed the community, especially when there are so many in options in the area. Fresh, healthy, affordable food is closer than you might think. 

Murchison Road Community
Farmers Market

The Murchison Road Community Farmers Market was created by Fayetteville State University students in 2014 and is made possible thanks to a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farmers Market Promotion Program. The program is aimed at creating a healthier community by eliminating the food desert that surrounded the Murchison Road community. Before this market, there was no fresh produce readily available in the Murchison Road area. The market runs from mid-May through the end of November every Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 1047 Murchison Rd. in Bronco Square. There are several family farms that sell produce, herbs, jams, preserves and fresh local honey. For more information, visit www.mrcommunityfarmersmarket.com. 

Sandhills Farmers Market of Spring Lake

The Sandhills Farmers Market of Spring Lake is another option for local fresh fruits and vegetables. This market is supported by the Sandhills Family Heritage Association. In addition to fantastic local produce and products, this market has a strong focus on the traditions and heritage of the land. 

“African Americans in the Sandhills region of North Carolina have a long tradition of economic self-sufficiency that is tied to the land. SFHA has rekindled that entrepreneurial spirit by promoting community-based economics,” the website explains. The market is designed for underserved producers with limited resources. It is costly to start a business. It takes liquid funds and resources that many just don’t have access to. These barriers often prevent people from engaging in entrepreneurial ventures. This market is an affordable alternative that benefits the producers and the consumers. 

The market features produce, handcrafted items and canned goods — all connected with the culture and history of the land. Every third Saturday, the market hosts special activities for children. Closely related to the Sandhills Farmers Market is the 10 Percent Campaign. Supporting the campaign means promising to spend 10 percent of the money that is already designated for food locally (like at a farmers market!) instead of at a major food chain. This pledge supports the local economy, community and farmers. The money not only buys healthy, delicious food, it is an investment in the community. The Sandhills Farmers Market is held at 230 Chapel Hill Road in Spring Lake on Saturdays, July through September, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 910-497-0628 or visit http://sandhillsfamilyheritage.weebly.com.

City Market at the Museum

City Market at the Museum Starts on April 18 and runs through December. It is held at the Fayetteville Transportation and Local History Museum at 325 Franklin St. from 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 1p.m. There is no telling what you may bring home from this market, but it is sure to be good. 

The vendors at this market are a mixture of farmers and artisans. Next to fresh corn, sweet potatoes and tomatoes are soaps, baked goods, pottery and hand-crafted jewelry of all mediums. This market is a perfect reflection of all the local community produces. The produce is a reflection of the land and the handcrafted goods are a reflection of the people. In order to truly understand the culture of the community both are necessary. 

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/CityMarketAtTheMuseum or call 910-433-1457. 

Community Supported Agricultural Co-op

In the busy modern world it can be difficult to take the time required to visit the farmers market, especially when the days they are held don’t mesh with soccer practice and piano lessons. Luckily, there is an even easier way to get your local fresh produce. Sustainable Sandhills partnered with the Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative to bring healthy, preservative-free produce practically to family doorsteps with the Community Supported Agriculture Cooperative. 

Co-op members subscribe to receive fresh produce boxes either weekly or bimonthly and these boxes are distributed to three drop-off sites by volunteers. These produce boxes offer seasonal fruits and vegetables and treats such as goat cheese, fresh breads, heritage grains and much more. This program helps to make fresh healthy foods more widely available in an environmentally friendly way by cutting down on the distance that food travels and the energy that is consumed to get it there. For more information, visit www.sustainablesandhills.org/#!csa/czpq or call 910-484-9098. 

On Aug. 14, WKML presents the second New Artist Showcase Parking Lot Party of the season. The Parking Lot Parties serve a dual purpose for the local country music community: It provides a platform for new talent to be heard and to gain performing experience, and it provides the audience with an evening of new music and good times. It is an all-around fun time and great event. 

Opening the Parking Lot Party is Dakota Bradley. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Bradley’s first love was sports. But when he discovered an old guitar hidden in the basement of his home, everything changed. He found his calling. Since then Bradley has immersed himself in music, starting his first band in eighth grade. That group even won a “Battle of the Bands” contest. Music is his passion and he is pursuing it relentlessly with a joy and excitement that is evident when he performs. 

Jackie Lee is also scheduled to perform. He was born in Maryville, Tennessee, in 1991, and began his music career at the tender age of 6 working with Carson Chamberlain. His style is that of a contemporary country rocker, but his powerful vocals lend themselves well to the classic crooning love songs that define country, as well. He takes inspiration from the great classic country stars as well as the newer country rockers, which gives him a unique and versatile style. 

Lauren Alaina is the headliner. The past American Idol contestant’s love of music was evident to her family from an early age when she constantly sang along to music in the car and in their home. They realized she was blessed with a rare talent. Early on, her talent was recognized by the community and fostered by her family. Her youthful passion and ambition brings an energy to the stage that can’t be manufactured. 

In addition to these fantastic musicians, look for plenty of other entertaining activities for fans and families to enjoy such as corn hole toss. Various food trucks will offer a range of foods and a beer garden filled with refreshing brews will provide all the delicious snacks and libations necessary for an excellent party.

The Parking Lot Party is at the Crown Coliseum Complex, located at 1960 Coliseum Dr. Tickets are $10 or $5 for WKML All-Access Members and Crown Insiders. Tickets are available online at CrownComplexNC.com, at the Crown Box Office, or by phone at 1-888-257-6208. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating. The Parking Lot Party is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and last until 10 p.m. Dakota Bradley will open at 7 p.m., followed by Jackie Lee at 7:30 p.m., ith Lauren Alaina preforming at 8:30 p.m. The final New Artist Showcase Parking Lot Party of the season will be held on Sept. 18 during the County Fair. For more information, visit www.wkml.com. 

 

Those of us who are products of the 1950s often reflect on the good old days; wishing we could return to the time when Eisenhower Republicans were held in high esteem. It was a different time, an enviable time of prosperity and harmony. At least it was where I grew up in Upstate New York. 

I still consider myself fortunate that I was educated in a state where I attended kindergarten in the post-World War II era. Folks my age who grew up in North Carolina didn’t get an early childhood education. When I went to junior high in the mid-’50s, my school had an indoor Olympic-size swimming pool. When I graduated from high school in 1959 with a Regents Diploma issued by the State University of New York, I had the equivalent of a first year education at Duke University.

I was fortunate to have been reared in an upper middle-class family. My dad was an executive with General Electric, and of course, my mom was a homemaker. We lived a privileged Ozzie and Harriet lifestyle. And yes, I do wish we could relive those days, which of course, we cannot.

But in one way, I am still able to thanks to a dear friend who I met in the 1960s when we both served overseas in the military. Jerry was in the Air Force and I was in the Army. He happened to be a native of Fayetteville, and we were reunited here after leaving the service. To this day I’m amazed that when we get together for breakfast or dinner, he always bumps into people he knows. He has never met a stranger. He went to school with my late wife at Alexander Graham Junior High and Fayetteville Senior High School. 

What’s funny about my friend is that in many ways he is still stuck in the ‘60s, and I sometimes envy him. Jerry doesn’t use an ATM card except to get cash out of the machine. He writes checks when he pays household bills and he carries cash in his wallet. He still reconciles his checkbook each month. How many of us do that anymore? He doesn’t believe in online banking and he mistrusts the government. He carries a flip phone and doesn’t text. He has a real home phone, too, and turns off his cell phone when he’s at home. He doesn’t have a Facebook page.

Jerry tells me his dear wife puts his clothes out for him each morning. I was aghast when he told
me that, but then he explained it’s because his eyes are color deficient. He’s not color blind,
but close. 

My friend drives a 12-year-old car of which he is very fond. He and his bride have a wonderful traditional marriage. He holds on to old fashioned values that were ingrained in those of us who grew up back in the day. Those values include honesty, loyalty and commitment. 

Is there anything else you could ask of a friend?

 

Well, duh! No one who lives in the United States has missed the news that lifestyle choices affect our health, but just in case you have missed one point or two, I have made up an easy-to-take quick quiz. Please choose the healthier of each of the two options listed below:

• Bacon cheeseburger with fries or kale salad with salmon.

• Binge-watching Netflix series or a brisk two-mile walk.

• A double chocolate milk shake or unsweetened green tea.

• A pack of cigarettes a day or an air purifier in your bedroom.

• Sleeping in on Saturday morning or hitting the gym for an hour or so.

• Riding the elevator to the second floor or taking the stairs.

• Driving around the parking lot until you find a parking place near the store or parking at the far end of the lot and hoofing it to the door.

• A six pack of beer before dinner or one glass of red wine.

• A tanning bed or daily sunscreen.

The list goes on and on, but no doubt you made a perfect score on this easy quiz. The correct answer is the second option every time. It turns out, though, that life expectancy depends not just on the choices we make.

It also depends on where we live.

Recently released data compiled by researchers at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation finds that just as urban areas offer more choices, amenities and overall wealth than rural areas, people who live in urban communities are generally healthier and have longer life expectancies than their neighbors in rural areas. 

Let that sink in for a moment. 

Short of an untimely accident, our own life spans depend not only on our own choices about how we live, but also where we lay our heads at night. For example, the study finds that a person born and raised in Raleigh has a life expectancy of 80 years, while a similar person born in Martin County, a rural area 75 miles away from Raleigh in eastern North Carolina, can expect to live to 73. Equally startling is the finding that life expectancy varies within communities. A person living in an affluent North Raleigh suburb can expect to blow out 88 candles, while a similar person in poorer southeast Raleigh might need only 76 candles.

The entire picture is, as they say, complicated.

Life expectancy in the United States has been rising over much of the last century for all sorts of reasons, including access to healthcare and personal lifestyle choices. More subtle factors are at work as well. 

People without ready access to fresh food — those who live in so called “food deserts,” are more likely to eat larger quantities of processed foods and to suffer from obesity and its dangers. People who live in areas without safe places to walk or with few recreational options are less likely to reap the benefits of regular exercise. 

It gets more complicated and worse. People who live in places with poor schools are less likely to learn healthy living habits, and those with low-paying jobs are less likely to afford fresh foods, even if they are available. People who live in unsafe housing face a number of health issues, including unsafe paints and other pollutants. The list goes on and on.

The folks at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation stress that their findings are general information, not applicable to specific individuals. Rather, they hope policy makers at the local and state levels will use the data in making public policy decisions. Says Derek Chapman of Virginia Commonwealth University who helped produce maps detailing health and well-being discrepancies by place, “Our goal is really just to help local officials, residents and others understand that there’s more to health than healthcare. We’re really advocating that health be part of the discussion when talking about public policy.”

Chapman probably does not follow decision-making in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, but he is absolutely correct in saying public health concerns should be part of the decision-making process concerning where Fayetteville locates swimming pools and how Cumberland County addresses stunning and embarrassingly high rates of sexually transmitted diseases, especially among young people.

Easy answers and quick fixes do not exist for the complex and intertwined factors that contribute to or detract from good health and longevity. As Chapman puts it, “Improving health requires having a broad range of players at the table. Education and income are directly linked to health. On an individual level, having a higher educational level usually leads to having a better job, better insurance, but your income and education also determine the kind of neighborhood in which you can live.

City council members, county commissioners and legislators, are you listening? 

Good things last and Up & Coming Weekly’s Best of Fayetteville readership survey is celebrating its 18th year paying tribute to Fayetteville’s Best of the Best. It is a prestigious award bestowed once a year to the best people, businesses and organizations that have contributed overwhelmingly to defining excellence in service, workmanship and contributions to the quality of life of the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community. It’s an honor that is marketed, advertisedand promoted all
year long.

The  September 16 Best of Fayettevilleedition of Up & Coming Weekly will serve throughout the year as a priceless newcomer’s guide, service directory and recreation and cultural event resource. Every page is touting with confidence the Best of the Best of what the Fayetteville community has to offer.  

The rules, format and guidelines of this sanctioned, time-tested survey are stringent to secure and maintain the integrity of the program. These rules are time tested, monitored and audited to provide residents, local businesses and organizations
 the recognition and tribute they deserve for
 their dedication and perseverance in their quest
for excellence.  

Every category winner has achieved the highest level of excellence in what they do; and for 18 years we have willingly told their stories, acknowledged their accomplishments and even revealed their secrets. All, without a single regret.  

No ballot stuffing here, no popularity contest or dubious chances to sway the end result. Each winner is distinguished in its own unique way. There is no faking it when the community selects you as the Best of the Best. This means that you are preforming at the highest level of excellence as recognized by your peers. After all, in a competitive world and tight economy, only the best survive and they deserve your business.

In building a better community, leaders know that success must be built on a sound foundation. In this case, the foundation is the community’s best people, businesses and organizations, all striving for extreme excellence. Remember, the Best of Fayetteville is a year-round celebration! 

Speaking of celebrations, Up & Coming Weekly is also celebrating our 20th anniversary. Can you imagine the award party we will have this year? So mark your calendars for September 15th from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at the newly renovated Kagney’s on Bragg Blvd. It’s a party! In the meantime, thank you for reading 

Up & Coming Weekly. 

I can email with the best of you, and these days I text more often than not, but I remain a technology Luddite with most other emerging technologies. Pinterest and Instagram are mysterious, and many of you are no doubt happily using the Internet in ways I have yet to learn and probably never will.

Recently, though, I decided to try the feature on my smart phone that allows me to dictate text messages by clicking on the microphone icon. My sister goaded me into it, but that is another story. My first audio text went to one of the Precious Jewels, whose rather unusual family name begins with “S.” I dictated my message and closed with “Mommy loves S…” and hit “send.” 

My message swooshed out with no punctuation whatsoever — I had not yet learned I need to say comma, period or question mark, and it closed with “Mommy loves saving.”

Obviously, Precious Jewel responded with “Loves saving what?”

The Internet — the parts I know about — are full of hysterical parent-child texts, some that reflect the generational technology gap and some of which reveal the dangers of auto correct in all its vulgarity. Some of them cannot be printed in a community newspaper, but most of them make me laugh out loud all by myself. 

My list is evolving, but here are some of my faves:

From a Mom: “What does IDK,LY&TTYL mean?”

Child: “I don’t know. Love you. Talk to you later.”

Mom: “OK, I will ask your sister.”

From a Child: “Mom wants you to get her prego.”

Dad: “Well, I can’t. I had that problem solved years ago.”

Child: “OH MY GOD DAD! Ew! TMI! I will be forever grossed out. Mom wants you to get her Prego. The cooking thing.”

Dad: “OK, sweetie.”

From a Child to Mom: “So how’s your new phone? You finally got a smart phone…Mom?”

Mom: “Howdoyoudoaspace?”

Mom to Daughter: “Good morning beautiful :) Your imaginary boyfriend.”

Daughter: “Thanks, Mom….”

Mom: “Vaby, u r 14 now, i think its time we talk @ sex…”

Child: “K, mom, tell me what you want to know…”

Child: “Could you send me Uncle Bill’s address?”

Mom: “I cabby foud Muir gladness giver. Canny text nose.”

Child: “Huh?”

Mom: “I found my glasses.”

Child: “Got an A in Chem!!!”

Mom: “WTF, well done!”

Child: “Mom, what do you think WTF means?”

Mom: “Well that’s Fantastic!”

Mom: “Your great aunt just passed away. LOL”

Child: “Why is that funny?”

Mom: “It’s not funny David! What do you mean?”

Child: “Mom lol means laughing out loud!”

Mom: “Oh my goodness!! I sent that to everyone I thought it meant lots of love I have to call everyone back”

Child: “Hey mom. I’ve decided I’m coming out.”

Mom: “Oh Michael, Dad and I always knew you were gay, but I am a tad shocked you texted me. I love you no matter what!”

Child: “MOM I AM NOT GAY!! I sent my text before I could finish. I’m coming out to see you and Dad in May!”

Mom: “LOL. We love you no matter what kind of coming out you do!”

Child: “Mom. Where are you????”

Mom: “Leaving walmart. Halfway home..” Why sweetie?”

Child: “You brought me to walmart with you…”

Mom: “OH DARN! Be there in a bit…”

Dad: “Hey honey, how’s your day?”

Child: “Good. I’m having the best weed of my life.”

Dad: “Oh me too…where did you gets yours from?”

Child: “NO NO NO I meant week!! Wait what Dad?”

Dad: “Let’s not tell mom about this conversation.”

Child: “Hey Mom, where are you?”

Mom: “Da Store. Y?”

Child: “I reallyyyy want that new cereal Krave.”

Mom: “I’ll think abt it. I get/do what I want.”

Child: “Mom, you’re not a gangster.”

Mom: “Imma straight up G. hommie.”

I am perfectly willing to concede that some of these may be Internet creations written to amuse, and they do. Others ring true to this mother, who has made more email and texting boo boos than she cares to admit and which the Precious Jewels delight in pointing out to their errant Mom.

That being said, I close with this one from a well-meaning but befuddled Dad.

Dad: “You left your phone at home.”

I could have sent that one myself.

 

Fayetteville’s city manager, Ted Voorhees does not need to make statements that might suggest low level paranoia. On July 14, Voorhees  attended a community watch meeting at MacPherson Presbyterian Church, where his recent comments were at best impolitic and at worst deliberately accusatory.

The comments centered around the community’s public utility, PWC, which has been a bone of contention for much of the past two years. At the meeting, Voorhees, responding to general audience criticism of slow sewer extension work, suggested that PWC was purposely delaying sanitary sewer-line extension work to make him look bad.

That is ridiculous when one considers how little, if any, the city manager’s role is in executing PWC’s construction activities. Nonetheless, Voorhees took the opportunity while in front of a receptive audience to further his argument that he, the city manager, should be in control and in charge of the PWC. 

He further noted that all four of the PWC commissioners, who are appointed by the city, should be fired. The clear implication was that things would move faster if he was at the helm. Such posturing by a non-elected official is unseemly and definitely not within his job description. But suggesting commission members are setting him up is unacceptable conduct and it attempts to impugn the character of commission members, all of whom are well-known and respected in the community.

This latest dust-up between Voorhees and the PWC is nothing more than petulance by the city manager. This is not the first, and probably not the last time, we have seen this unprofessional, unseemly side of Voorhees, who tested his hand and influence shortly after assuming the city manager role. 

One of his first moves after entering city hall was directed at PWC. We all know how well that worked out for him. A stand-off between Voorhees and the PWC Commission resulted in a lawsuit between the city and the utility, which quickly brought to light that support for uprooting the PWC 100- year-old plus charter was not as forthcoming among city council members as Voorhees may have anticipated. 

In the kerfuffle that has followed, a bill was introduced by Rep. John Szoka that will provide more, not less autonomy to the PWC. This bill and a similar one in the N.C. Senate will produce a blended legislative document that will end the fight but not the hardened attitudes. 

The bill should have been an excellent example for Voorhees of being careful what you wish for — you might just get it.

With traditional Cumberland County Schools are gearing up to start classes on Aug. 25, Up & Coming Weekly met with Cumberland County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Frank Till, to find out what students and families need to know for this coming school year.

UCW: Tell our readers about the good things going on in Cumberland County Schools — accomplishments and milestones from last year as well as things they can look forward to in the coming year. 

DR. TILL: We are modernizing some things and recently, because of the military  and the transient nature of the community, we want to make sure that the curriculum is standardized from school to school. What that will allow us to do is follow up and better remediate students with problems.

Another thing we are doing is working on our website so that we are going to be able to present videos to parents on our parent link. They  can go online and see things that will help them and their kids. The videos may be about broad things like the new grading policy or they might suggest how to help children with  homework.

UCW:What are your top three priorities for Cumberland County Schools this year? 

DR. TILL:Sudent achievement is always number one, reading at early grades and at the higher grades we are focusing on AP classes.

We discovered that tardiness is beginning to impact achievement, which affects students long-term, so we are doing a campaign encouraging parents to get kids to school on time and to help them stay in school. We are going to work with judges and police and child services as well to try and get our kids to school on time and have them in school the entire day.

Then, mentoring our students is another priority. We will continue to try to find people in the community who will give an hour a day to mentor. This is not tutoring; this is about mentoring. We want people who will come in and talk with the kids and see how they are doing, find out if they are having any problems that we can help them with, things like that. We are encouraging people to do more of that.

A fourth initiative we are excited about is that we are working with the chamber to recognize local businesses that are willing to give our employees discounts. It is already starting to grow  and I am optimistic.  It is a great way to get our employees to shop local and it makes it easy for local business owners to support educators and those that work in the education system

UCW:In February, the state released rankings for the 2013-2014 school year. Three Cumberland County schools received As, 16 received Bs, 28 received Cs and 22 got Ds and one received an F.  Did this information inspire any changes in local schools? 

DR. TILL:For us, it was something we did better on than most districts in that we had only one F. We measure growth over proficiency for our students. That way you don’t punish someone in a neighborhood with a lot of poverty or reward someone in a wealthy neighborhood. So we can focus on getting children an equal education across the board.

If we get every child to their expected growth for the year, these other things take care of themselves. We are always looking for ways to help our students succeed so the rankings don’t affect the way we do things.

UCW:With three years of Common Core behind Cumberland County students, what are your thoughts on the Common Core Curriculum? 

DR. TILL:I support Common Core. I think it has been misinterpreted, though. It was a state initiative. The states came up with it, and the military supported it, because as kids move around there needs to be a common standard. We also need to be able to determine how North Carolina compares to other states. Without a commom  standard you can’t do that. The real problem with Common Core has been with the  assessments. North Carolina has terrible assessments. I was on a task force and we were not able to change anything but the fact is, we are over assessing the kids. 

In a 90-day period, there were assessements of some kind on 72 days last year. We are finding there is no match with assessments; there is a disalignment with the testing. Cumberland County Schools is working on that. 

UCW:The schools are set to move to a 10-point grading scale this year. Why the change and what does it mean for local students and teachers? 

DR. TILL:That was a state initiative. The conversation was a part of a discussion including how our students compare with students  from our state and other states when they are applying to colleges. Many other states are on the 10-point standard so when students from North Carolina were competing for college seats, our grading scale put them at a disadvantage. In the high schools we needed to be more aligned with what other states were doing. 

Then they began to talk about phasing it in. We had some problems because we realized that if I was 10th grader and you were a 9th grader  and we both got 92s, as a 9th grader you would get an A and I as a 10th grader would be at a B. So the state decided to implement the 10-point scale across the board. 

UCW:There is talk about budget cuts and cutting local teaching assistant jobs. How many jobs are at stake here and what will that mean for teachers and students? 

DR. TILL:We don’t know. The legislature hasn’t passed a budget yet. If the state senate budget passes as is we will have to cut a significant number of teacher assistants. That will cause problems not just in class rooms, but also with bus drivers and a lot of other things. To lose them would hurt us. They are also talking about cutting teachers. We already don’t have enough to go around. We would be short teachers and under a penalty for oversized classes. That could cost us millions. Nobody knows when the budget will pass  so this could happen even well into the school year. There doesn’t seem any rush in Raleigh. 

UCW:How has the military’s shrinking budget affected Cumberland County Schools? Are you anticipating any big changes this year due to the shrinking military presence at Fort Bragg? 

DR. TILL:Last year we lost about 1,000 students because of the downsizing and that hurt us. This year, enrollment is only down at one school so far and we don’t know why.  We hope last year was the big year.  Thanks to Gen. Ray Odierno, the military took military students and local schools into consideration when it came time to make more cuts. They are cutting something like 850 military personnel from Fort Bragg next year and that should not hurt us as badly. 

We got a major grant from the military and we feel like we have done a lot to show we care about military  children.

UCW:The Cumberland County Schools System does a great job of meeting students and families where they are and working with them to create success. What do our readers need to know about special programs and schools in Cumberland County? 

DR. TILL:In all schools,  if parents come in  we can sit down  and talk with them about how to help their students. We need to form a good partnership with the home. Many kids spend more time on video games than they do excersizing. Their health is going down. We need to get them playing more and doing homework.

Nutrition is a factor, too. This year, we have 32 schools  that serve breakfast and lunch at no charge. We need a declaration from the community that we need to commit to creating healthy kids. Healthy kids go further in life.

We are really working on tardiness and making sure that kids are in school on time and that they stay the entire day. We have parents that don’t want to wait in bus lines so they check their  kids out early everyday.

 We are having examples of children that come late more than  100 days because the parent sets their  own time schedule. These kids are not learning like they should. You can’t learn to read if you aren’t there when we are teaching reading. 

UCW:How can parents/guardians help students and their teachers have a successful year? 

DR. TILL:Help your student be on time. Make sure they get plenty of rest. Have them  do something educational  like read a book every day. Limit video games. Watch what they read and watch on TV. Be more engaged in what they are reading. 

UCW:Where can our readers go to find out more are CCS? 

UCW: Go to our website at http://ccs.k12.nc.us. We are making it more friendly for families. Make sure to have an email address with the school so you can check grades online on a  regular basis. There is a lot of information there and like I mentioned before we will be featuring videos on a variety of topics. 

UCW:Is there any thing else that you want our readers to know about CCS? 

UCW:We are supportive of our students and their families and make it our theme.  On lateness- every moment counts. We only have so much time to get kids ready for work and for life as adults and we don’t want to cheat them. We want to partner with parents and families and work with them to create successful students and productive citizens.

The Army Ground Forces Band is known for the many ways it supports the community. From 4th Friday concerts to ceremonies to free summer concerts, the band brings a wealth of talent and enthusiasm to the Fayetteville entertainment landscape. With a fun-filled night of music with Cumberland County’s smallest residents in mind, the Army Ground Forces Band presents Kid’s Night on Friday, Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. at Festival Park in downtown Fayetteville.  

“This is our first annual Kid’s Night as part of our summer concert series at Festival Park and it is geared towards our youngest fans and getting them involved,” said Dae Kim, commander and conductor of the Army Ground Forces Band. “It will be an interactive evening of stories set to music and fun activities.” 

Kim added that the purpose of the event is to allow the Army an opportunity to interact more with the community, become good neighbors and say hello. 

The fun-filled event will begin with kid’s activities that include bouncy houses, an obstacle course, pin the musical note on the staff, face painting, an instrument factory, arts and crafts and a kid’s march along with the marching band featuring a ceremonial drum major. Story time will follow in the concept of a mini concert. Refreshments will be available for purchase.     

The Army Ground Forces Band is a 54-soldier ensemble that is highly competitive and highly trained. Musicians in the band have graduated and attended some of the best conservatories of music in the country. 

“We are active duty service members and our mission is to be the musical ambassadors of the American combat soldier to the American people,” said Kim. “Our band performs more than 200 performances per year.”  

Kim added that the soldiers are one of the top three musical ensembles in the active Army.   

The history of the band began with the Mexican War where its members fought heroically, becoming the only Army band to receive a combat distinction from the President of the United States. The band’s history includes service in the Civil War, the War with Spain, the Philippine Insurrection and both World Wars. The band performs numerous concerts in support of local, regional and national events such as centennial celebrations, festivals, inaugurations and both city and state commemorations.  

“We anticipate 100 or more kids and encourage parents to bring a blanket and a picnic,” said Kim. “Come out and join us for an evening of fun just for the kids.”   

The event is free and open to the public. For more information call 570-7223.  

Children have no choice but to rely on the adults in their lives to provide safety, food, water and a nurturing environment. Unfortunately, and for a myriad of reasons, those responsible can’t or don’t always rise to the occasion, leaving the most defenseless among us powerless to defend themselves and with no voice or advocate to fight for their cause. That is where the Guardian ad Litem program can help. This team of two attorney advocates, four program supervisors, a program assistant, a district administrator and a group of trained and committed volunteers stand beside abused and neglected children who have been petitioned into court through no fault of their own. Guardian ad Litems provide legal representation for the children and “assist juvenile court judges in making sound legal decisions affecting children’s lives. Volunteers need no particular educational or prior training, just a sincere desire to champion our children’s best interests.”

Unfortunately, this is no small task. While the program has helped many children achieve happy endings, that is not always the case. While each representative, caseworker and volunteer is committed to doing right by their charges, the numbers are staggering. Last fiscal year, Cumberland County Guardian ad Litem served 17,189 abused and neglected children representing them in 38,043 court hearings.

“We are always looking for advocates to help on behalf of abused and neglected kids in our community,” said Dwight Torrey, Cumberland County Gaurdian ad Litem district administrator. “People may see things on the news but they don’t consider that the kids have a life afterwards and we are with them after they are not on the news anymore. We work to provide permanence for them and find a nurturing home and family.”

While the Guardian ad Litem program is designed to advocate for children, sometimes there are gaps in the system that leave needs unmet. In 2012, the Guardian ad Litem Foundation was established with the intention of being able to fill short falls in services provided to kids in foster care that cannot be paid for by Medicaid or other state and federal funding. 

“There are instances when funding is not available and the foundation was established to raise funding to support the Guardian ad Litem cause,” said Jane Sutherlin, spokesperson for the foundation. “For example, there was a teen who needed braces — not for cosmetic, but for health reasons. The mom had braces put on while the teen was in her care, but did not follow through on needed treatments. Medicare paid for placement but the braces  were never able to serve their function. They broke and had to be removed. She still needed braces but Medicare paid once to put them on and would not replace them.”

Other scenarios include cases where insurance denies mental health therapy for a child that needs therapy. Because the insurance won’t pay, the child won’t get the therapy they need.

“There are so many needs out there that most people don’t realize,” said Sutherlin. “But funding through the state is shrinking and there are 700 in foster care in Cumberland County.”

Like many nonprofits, the foundation is always looking for funds, for volunteers, for exposure. To date the only donations received have been to cover the costs of legal fees to set up the organization. Legend’s Pub is set to host a fundraiser for the foundation on Aug. 14, and Sutherlin is hopeful that this will enable the foundation to start fulfilling its mission. 

“This is our first fundraiser and we are excited that Legends has agreed to do this. We will be appreciative of whatever they can offer,” said Sutherlin. “We need to let the community know we are here. If someone has $5 to donate it is a place they could give to that will make a difference in the life of a child.” 

To find out more about the foundation, or to make a donation, email ccgalf@gmail.com.