Jeff Thompson first came to Fayetteville as a soldier in 1962. He eventually left the Army, and like many soldiers before him, Thompson stayed and made a life for himself here. 

“I fell in love and married a local girl in 1963,” said Thompson. The couple raised three children.

From the very beginning, Thompson enjoyed observing the community. He is fascinated with the relationship that the community has with Fort Bragg and understandably so. Upon leaving the Army, Thompson worked at WFNC. 

“I spent most of my career there, although I did go to Charlotte for a short time in the ‘70s,” he said. “I left the radio station in 2001 because it was sold to Cumulus, the current owner. I spent most of my time at WFNC working with Wendy Riddle and I worked with Jim Cook for a time, too.” 

Margaret Dickson remembers Thompson from her days working at her family’s radio business when she was a teenager. As the news director, Thompson was her boss and Dickson still fondly refers to him as such. 

“The thing that stands out to me, and we have been friends now for decades, is that he is totally honest about everything. You may not like what he tells you, but he is telling you what he honestly understands about the situation and what he believes to be the truth,” said Dickson. 

It’s a trait that can be hard to come by, and one that Dickson greatly admires. 

“He is also very courageous. He doesn’t mind taking a stand on something that is not popular. He stands by what he believes,” she said.

Thompson’s fascination with Fayetteville never waned and his commentary on different topics appeared in The Fayetteville Observerand went out over the airwaves at WIDU where he’s worked since 2009. Now Thompson is the news director at WIDU and his writing is set to appear in Up & Coming Weekly on a biweekly basis.

At 73-years-old, Thompson has witnessed plenty of changes in the community. He credits the revitalization of Downtown Fayetteville as one of the best things to happen to the area. 

“It started when they decided to take down the 500 block of Hay Street and do away with so many of the establishments that brought about the Fayettenam moniker that we are still fighting to overcome,” he said. “It was the Airborne & Special Operations Museum that really turned things around though. That is an anchor for the area that just adds so much to the downtown experience and has such a strong connection to Fort Bragg, which is a big part of Fayetteville’s identity.”

In his more than 50 years in Fayetteville, not much has escaped his eye, which, over time, has given him insight to many of the issues facing the community today. 

“Jeff is as experience a news person as you will find in Fayetteville. I cant think of anyone else who has been at it as long as he has,” said Dickson.  “He knows our history and the people who made that history. He has relationships with people going back many, many years. I think in our mobile age it is really a blessing that our community has a person who has observed our community for so long and understands our community and understand its history. It is wonderful that our communitty has the resource that is Jeff Thompson.” 

An advocate for making Fayetteville a better place, Thompson believes it is important that Fayetteville understands her place in the state and in the nation and that the city leaders work to capitalize on them. Thompson sees the city’s connection to Fort Bragg as a boon. Until the first Persian Gulf War in 1991, according to Thompson, the town didn’t really appreciate the impact that Fort Bragg has on the economy. 

“When 37,000 paratroopers left town to go fight, we felt it,” he said. “Like much of the country, that changed our understanding of the value of the military and the way we see them. Before that there was still a lot of negative sentiment toward soldiers about Vietnam.” 

Thompson has strong feelings about most everything that impacts Fayetteville. From the talks about building a $60 million Civil War Museum to the destiny of the Prince Charles Hotel to Fayetteville’s industrial development (or lack thereof) to ideas about marketing Fayetteville’s position as a halfway point between New York and Miami on I-95 and more. Get Thompson’s take on the things that matter starting Aug. 12 in Up & Coming Weekly. 

By now the Chinese hacking of the personal data of umpty million government personnel records is pretty much old news. The Hack enjoyed its 15 minutes of fame and then dropped out of sight faster than Mitt Romney. As Officer Barbrady on South Park would say, “Nothing to see here, move along.” But before the attention span of the American public is swept away by Donald Trump’s criticism of John McCain’s war record, Caitlyn Jenner winning an ESPY award for something, or the Greek financial mess, let us take one last look at the Chinese Hack Attack. 

The Office of Personnel Management periodically releases new numbers of people whose personal data are somewhere over the rainbow nestling in the Chinese cloud. The number of hackees keeps increasing. Up and up the number goes. Where it stops nobody knows. OPM’s director, Katherine Archuleta , who presided over this breach has fallen upon her sword. She resigned to spend more time with her family and pursue other opportunities. This is one of the few times an official of the Obama administration who screwed up actually had to walk the plank. Be grateful for small favors. 

China, too polite to brag, modestly denied it scooped up 22 million Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, financial records, health records and information about the individuals’ families and personal acquaintances. A small silver lining may be that the price of purchasing another person’s identity will go down as so many more identities are now available for sale. Bet you can’t buy just one stolen identity. That’s the thing about buying stolen identities from the Chinese, an hour later you are hungry and want to buy another identity.

No telling what sort of interesting mischief the Chinese could do with 22 million government employees’ personal information. I am pretty sure the Chinese would never blackmail a government nuclear engineer about his nontraditional love for farm animals to obtain blue prints to something significant. While thinking about the Chinese gathering of data on Americans, I recalled Sting’s musical ode to stalking, “Every Breath You Take.” This song features the heartwarming lyrics: “Every single day/And every word you say/Every game you play/Every night you stay/I’ll be watching you/Every move you make/Every vow you break/Every smile you fake/I’ll be watching you.” 

Just look over your shoulder, Chairman Mao is watching you.

The Greek financial snafu prodded thoughts about how the Greek Gods would deal with the Chinese checkers identity theft. Recall the Greek myth of Zeus and Io. Zeus was married to Hera. Being a bit of a ladies man, Zeus was known to fool around. The beautiful Io was one of Hera’s priestesses. Zeus spotted Io in the temple. Like Bill Cosby, Zeus was smitten. Being a God, Zeus could turn himself into a cloud. He stole a cloud’s identity and seduced Io. What woman can resist a good-looking cloud? Hera found out about Io. She was not happy. To protect Io from Hera, Zeus changed Io into a white cow. Hera saw through the cow disguise and demanded Zeus give her Io the cow. Hera had Cow Io tied up in a sacred grove. She assigned a 100-eyed giant named Argus to keep Zeus away. Zeus, ready for some more sweet, sweet love from Io, sent his buddy Hermes to rustle Io. Hermes played his magic lute, which caused Argus to fall into a deep sleep. 

While Argus was in the land of Nod, Hermes cut off Argus’s head. Greek Gods don’t play. Io ran off to Egypt where she ultimately becomes the Goddess Isis, but not the terrorist group ISIS. Hera gathered up Argus’ 100 eyes and put them on the tails of peacocks. Next time you see a peacock spreading his magnificent tail, remember you are looking at the eyes of Argus. 

While you are looking at the eyes of Argus, think of China looking at you. To mangle a great old song: “The eyes of China are upon you/All the live long days/The eyes of China are upon you/And you cannot get away/Do not think you can escape them/From night to early in the morn/The eyes of China are upon you/ Till Gabriel blows his horn.” 

China knows when you’ve been sleeping. It knows when you’re awake. China knows if you’ve been bad or good. So be good for goodness sake. 

Just keep waiting for Gabriel’s trumpet. 

 With all the controversy surrounding the Market House, I invite everyone who enjoys living in this community to visit the Market House in Historic Downtown Fayetteville and spend  a few moments reading the names of residents, businesses and local organizations who have unselfishly invested time, effort and money over the last several decades contributing to Fayetteville’s community development and quality of life. 

The question now is: Who will these people, businesses and organizations be in the future? Who will be the people stepping into leadership positions providing innovative ideas that will assure future generations the same quality of life?

The recent passing of devoted Fayetteville resident Martha Duell brings this question to the forefront. We owe so much to people like Martha who contributed unselfishly to the development of our community. Her unbridled enthusiasm and commitment to our community left her indelible signature on the Cape Fear Botanical Garden, the Lafayette Society and with the help, support and devotion of her dear friend Mildred Evans, gave us the International Folk Festival. These are just a few examples of the many contributions made by people like Martha who devoted their lives to making our city and our community a better place to live.  

No other place in Fayetteville reminds us of this kind of unsolicited community devotion than the brick floor of the Market House. Here, in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Fayetteville residents rallied to provide financing for the restoration and preservation of this national historic property. Yes, local residents and civic leaders raised money by purchasing engraved bricks for permanent placement in the floor of the Market House. They were the same people who stepped forward unselfishly into leadership positions contributing time, money and effort to building a better Fayetteville. The collection of names is impressive. It is a virtual 50-year Who’s Who documenting the people and entities that stepped up to take leadership roles and became actively involved in shaping this community for the betterment of all Fayetteville residents. Not white residents. Not black residents. But, all residents. Again, it was Martha Duell and her devoted friend Mildred Evans who in 1979 created the International Folk Festival in recognition and celebration of Fayetteville’s unique cultural diversity. It was a refreshing, authentic and welcoming gesture of love, acceptance and southern hospitality that has become a Fayetteville tradition.

Actually, when it comes to tolerance and diversity, Fayetteville could be recognized as the original “sanctuary city.” And, the names of many of the people, businesses and organizations responsible for this lie engraved in the Market House for evermore. Dedicated, unselfish and relentless people all in the pursuit of a better Fayetteville community. People like Lloyd Hackley, J.L. Dawkins, Johnny Dawkins, M.J. Weeks, Jean Hodges, Ginny and Dean Russell, Ramon and Virginia Yarborough, Tony and JoAnn Chavonne, J.P. Riddle, Don Talbot, Bill Hurley,  Breeden and Kathy Blackwell, Alex Warner, Lee Warren, Jon Warren, Charley and Peggy Holt, Robin Kelly, Mark Kendrick, Richard Bryant, Bobby Suggs, Don Lattilla, Linda Lee Allen, Jean and Jeff Thompson and Walter Guy Jr. Businesses like Kelly Springfield, Townsend Real Estate, McCune Technology, Dickinson Buick, Hutson Typewriter, Hurst Annaho.

Again, these are only a few. Many have left us over the years but not before leaving their mark and loving contributions on our community. Fortunately, many are still here working, active and dedicated. But their numbers are thinning. The question now is who will take their place? Who out there is willing to put their iPhone and iPad down long enough to build this community up? We can only hope this “what’s in it for me society” realizes what’s in it for them before it’s too late. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

It takes a courageous and highly skilled person to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Yet there is no shortage of paratroopers and special operators that do just that on a regular basis. Often that jump is just the beginning of a bigger mission, a piece in a complex training event or battle plan. Paratroopers falling from the skies over Cumberland and Hoke counties are routine these days, but that was not always the case. The airborne and special operations ties run deep here and the Airborne & Special Operations Museum celebrates the courage, accomplishments and can-do spirit of these service members every day, but there is one special day that gives the museum a reason to pull out all the stops and honor America’s airborne. The Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation is hosting National Airborne Day on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum. 

“National Airborne Day is a day declared by the President to celebrate the Airborne Forces and Special Operations Forces of the United States Army,” said David Myhres, narrator for the National Airborne Day celebration. “Some memorial stones are going to be dedicated to retired General James Lindsay.” 

Myhres added that the retired general is the current president of the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation, a legendary figure in the airborne community as commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps and the 82nd Airborne Division and first commander of the newly formed special operations command back in the ‘70s and ‘80s.      

This year is the 75th anniversary of the Airborne and many fun activities have been planned. There will be a jump by the famous Golden Knights and a performance by the ever-popular and entertaining 82nd Airborne Division’s All-American Chorus. Attendees can enjoy layouts of weapons with Infantry soldiers and communication equipment and medical equipment will be on display. Don’t miss the World War II reenactments where the community can learn more about America’s finest hour. While there is plenty to see and do, this is a family-friendly event. Children will be able to see, hold and touch various pieces of equipment, ride the simulators and see informative movies. There will be soldiers on-site to answer questions that anyone may have. 

“We are the Airborne Forces of the United States Army and we exit the aircraft over deniable territory to seize and hold objectives for fallen forces for the military,” said Myhres. “We are trained in Fort Benning, Ga., and do a three-week course and are either sent to the 82nd Airborne Division or other units that are Airborne qualified.” 

Myhres added that you have to jump once every three months and perform your mission after you jump out of the aircraft to stay current.  

During World War I, aviation technology was a game changer. There were significant advancements in several areas: aircraft, weapons, ordnance, instruments and even flight gear, including parachutes. The parachutes were not anything like what soldiers use as they drifted over Sicily and other local drop zones. The first parachutes were heavy and bulky and not something that could save a pilot in a crash much less an entire unit of paratroopers. In fact, the early military parachutes were designed for balloon observers who often had to jump from the observation baskets when they were attacked.

After World War I, the military continued to develop aviation technology as well as parachute technology. By the time war broke out in Europe in 1939, both the U.S. and Germany were working furiously to use the skies to their advantage in combat.  

The first Airborne Infantry was the “Test Platoon,” who were the first to jump out of an airplane in 1940. It was composed of two officers and 48 enlisted soldiers who were selected from a pool of 200 volunteers based on high standards of health and fitness. 

“The Army wanted proof of concept that we could actually jump out of the aircraft, land, and continue on with the mission without any injuries or anything else,” said Myhres. “That Test Platoon later grew into the 82nd Airborne Division and became one of the first Airborne Divisions.”             

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 396-5692. 

The loss of a mother is devastating. It can change the course of a life, and for the Adkins family it did. But instead of allowing this terrible event to cause even more damage they decided to focus their energy on creating a positive. They founded the Mamie Adkins Educational Fund in 2004 to honor their mother and her passion. 

Mamie Adkins was a strong woman full of care and passion. She raised nine kids as a single mother; a challenge that she overcame with love and determination. She worked tirelessly to provide for her family, and did it with grace. Her love didn’t stop with her children however; she had a tremendous passion for all young people and understood the value of education. She also had a deep passion for her church where she found support and comfort. To honor that commitment and love, the fund specifically benefits students that are members of the Tabernacle Baptist Church. This fund allows the passions of Adkins to live on and continue to positively influence the lives of community members. Just last year, four graduates were awarded scholarships in support of their education, and previous recipients are already going on to great success. 

In order to support the fund, the Adkins family has organized an annual golf tournament. This is the 11th annual Mamie Adkins Golf Tournament. The cost per player is $95. Something unique to this tournament is the availability of cheats for purchase. The price to play includes a mulligan (a second chance) and a Red Tee (starting further forward). For an additional $10, players get an additional two mulligans and one red tee; $20 gets a string (a predetermined length the player is allowed to move the ball measured by a piece of string) and a sling. There is also a package available for $120 that includes both cheats. This year there are some new features in the tournament. There are two separate flights: Champions and Rogues. The Rogue Flight has unlimited cheats available for purchase. The Champions Flight cannot purchase the cheat package. They are only allowed the two mulligans and one Red Tee package. Additionally, winning teams from each flight will be honored on the Bragging Right Championship Trophy with their names permanently etched on the trophy. Other contests are the Closest to the Pin, Farthest from the Pin, Longest Drive, Shortest Drive, and the Long Tee Longest Drive.  

For those who can’t play but still want to support this fantastic cause, there are many sponsorship opportunities. Hole sponsorship is $50 and includes tee-box signage. There is also contest hole, beverage cart, tee hospitality tent, Silver, Tournament Hole Sign, Gold and Presenting Sponsor packages available. The largest sponsorship is the Presenting Sponsor, which is $1,000 and includes logos on the T-shirts, team fees, a vendor table and hole signage. 

The tournament is on Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. at Gates Four Country Club, which is located at 6775 Irongate Dr. For more information, sponsorship information or to register, visit www.magt.co, www.facebook.com/mamieadkinsgolftournament or call 910-482-5349. 

There is no other way to say it, a Public school teachers matter. Tremendously.

All teachers impart information and knowledge. The good ones empower their students to become lifelong learners and to seek and value education. The really gifted ones can and do turn students in their tracks, set them on courses that will shape their lives and show them how to be moral, loving and productive people. All of us have had these teachers, and I will forever have a sweet place in my heart for them, especially those who helped grow the Precious Jewels into the young adults they have become.

Something else needs to be said as well.

In recent years, North Carolina has treated her public school educators with no respect and with little courtesy. We barely pay lip service to the work they do, and we certainly do not pay them enough to support themselves, much less a family. Once at the national average in teacher pay in the mid-2000s, the National Education Association now ranks our state 42nd in the nation and 46th in per pupil spending. Said another way, North Carolina’s teacher pay has changed more than any other state’s — and in the wrong direction. I have seen teachers I know moonlighting as store clerks and restaurant servers to make ends meet.

As Aretha Franklin might say this hardly spells R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

The North Carolina General Assembly continues to wrangle over a 2015-2016 budget with no end in sight. Among the bones of contention is a Senate proposal to do away with 8,500 teaching assistants in the early grades. The idea is to use the savings — i.e., the money that used to be teaching assistants’ salaries — to hire more teachers and reduce class size for the youngest students. If the General Assembly decides to cut those 8,500 teacher assistants loose, it will be the largest layoff in North Carolina history, public or private, and will surely cause economic ripples in communities throughout our state, especially in smaller, more rural areas still suffering from the Great Recession.

If you still might think that sounds like a reasonable plan, consider that there might not be enough classroom space or teachers to fill those new positions. Institutions of higher learning report a drop in students planning to go into teaching in North Carolina, so the notion of more but smaller classes for little ones is suspect, at best. Hmmm, I wonder if that could have anything to do with low pay, stressful working conditions and the demise of teacher tenure?

Wake County recently experienced another sort of teacher dissing. Teachers from a Raleigh elementary school had been volunteering — yes, using their own time and resources — to take books into apartment complexes, often ones with low-income and Spanish-speaking families, to read to and with children over the summer. The children loved the special attention, and all was well until the apartment complex owners tried to pull the plug on the program, saying the volunteers had not been screened. Well, they had been screened by Wake County Public Schools, and public blowback was so swift and strong that the apartment folks caved. Reading is happily underway again, but you get the point.

Education in North Carolina has hit a period of great flux. Independent, or private, schools are popping up everywhere, and charters, a loosely-regulated form of public school, are growing rapidly now that the General Assembly has allowed more and more of them. Each of us can decide for ourselves whether we agree with critics who say all this change constitutes a plan to dismantle public education, but an argument for that position can certainly be made.

It seems to me that we need our public schools and the teachers who populate them more than ever. As our society becomes more diverse and more secular, we as a people have fewer experiences in common. Public schools have been the glue that holds us together, the glue that constitutes the American experience from early childhood through adolescence and into young adulthood. Almost all of us attend public schools for at least some of our educations, and I find it sad that this almost universal American experience is becoming — less universal.

We in North Carolina talk a good game about respecting our teachers as professionals. That is all it is. We do not compensate them like professionals nor do we treat them that way. We have entered a time where what everyone’s mother warned is coming true.

We are getting exactly what we are paying for, and in this case, that cannot be a good thing.

World War II was one of the darkest periods in human history. Upon his rise to power in February 1933, Adolf Hitler and the ruling Nazi party began building the first of the Holocaust concentration camps. The original camps housed and tortured around 45,000 political prisoners and union officials by the end of that first year. Hitler turned over control of these camps to Heinrich Himmler and the SS in 1934, instructing them to purge Germany of those people he thought were racially undesirable. In addition to the political prisoners, these groups included criminals, homosexuals, Gypsies and Jews.

Here, millions of people were held, tortured and murdered including more than 6.25 million Jews. Although the Nazis attempted to cover up these atrocities by destroying the camps, seven stand at least partially preserved as museums. 

Why? Why do places of such horror and inhumanity remain standing today? Why are they visited by thousands of people annually. Why is their evil allowed to continue on this earth? Why, at the end of the war, were they not plowed under, the ground consecrated? Because with all that is going on in the world today, they stand both as witnesses to the atrocities of what man can do to his fellow man, but also as sobering reminders of the horrors that can befall us when evil is left unchecked.

Just as the Concentration Camps speak to the evil of the Holocaust, hundreds of battlefields across the North and the South speak to the evil that gripped the United States during the Civil War and the evil that allowed men to enslave their fellow man. In the Cape Fear Region, a number of battlefields attest to the horror of that time. In Fayetteville, the skeletal remains of the Arsenal tell that story as well. And, in the center of Hay Street, the Market House stands sentinel — over our city. It has thousands of stories to tell, all of which are important and historic — one of which is indeed tied to slavery.

The original building which stood where the Market House now stands was constructed in 1788. It was one of many birthplaces of freedom in this nation. In 1789, it was the site where the North Carolina assembly ratified the Constitution. Later, it was the place where the first university in the new nation was chartered, bringing higher education to the new land, and it was the place where North Carolina ceded the lands to the west to form the state of Tennessee. Up until 1793, it was one of the seats of government for the state. In fact, the building was first constructed as a means of securing Fayetteville as the state capital, which didn’t work. 

According to Bruce Daws, the city historian, the old State House served as government offices and as a market until the fire of 1831, which burned much of the city. At that time, the current building was erected. It is “one of the few structures in America that employs the town hall-market scheme found in England. Meat and produce were sold under the open first-floor arcade while the second floor served as the town hall and general meeting place. It served as a town market until 1906, and as Fayetteville Town Hall until 1907. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.”

The Market House was not at any point in its history a slave market. According to Daws, slaves were infrequently sold there as part of estate liquidations. The actual slave market was in front of the court house, which was located at the intersection of Green and Ramsey/Rowan and Grove. Slaves were also sold by slave dealers who had businesses along the market square. And, in fact, the slaves were not sold in the Market House proper, but rather in the town square, which surrounded the Market House and is now the traffic circle.

Through preservation efforts by a group of Fayetteville women at the turn of the century, the Market House was preserved and became a library when its use as a seat of government was complete. It has also served as the Chamber of Commerce, and art museum, the Fayetteville Partnership and today as an annex to The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum.

Daws said there has been no attempt by anyone to try and hide the history of the Market House, including its relationship to the slave trade. Instead, a marker is installed on the building that honors the memory of individuals “sold as slaves at this place.” Additionally, part of the permanent exhibit at the Market House deals with slavery in the community and its impact. 

Daws notes that history is history. It can’t be changed. It can’t be undone. It can be remembered and it can be used to remind us of what we were and what we should never be again. Daws sees the trend to disassociate or get rid of historical reminders of our past as an easy way out. 

“There are a lot of stories associated with the Market House, one of which deals with slavery,” he said, noting that it is important to keep those stories alive because they are a part of our collective history.

The Market House narrative is not finished yet. Will the Fayetteville City Council remove it as a symbol of the city? That’s a decision that should be made carefully, and in light of not only its past, but also in light of its present day reality. 

In May, hundreds of Cumberland County residents gathered around the Market House to pray for the community as part of the As One Prayer Walk. The prayers, led by African-American ministers, occurred on the Market House steps, where one minister recalled the sale of slaves, but pointed instead to the gathering of the community as one. He told a story of the city’s past, and its future.

On 4th Friday, drum circles play underneath the arches and citizens of all colors enjoy the music and dance — together. 

During the International Festival the Parade of Nations flows around it, bringing together our community, which is comprised of people all over
the globe. 

In Fayetteville, the Market House has become a gathering  place. A place where people of all walks of life, of all colors and nationalities gather to share their experiences and their lives. It is a place where education occurs and where history is not only honored, but is told honestly. 

Is Fayetteville a community that will fall prey to political correctness and fail to remember and to maintain its collective history — both the good and the bad? 

The 4th of July isn’t the only celebration happening in Fayetteville this month. There is also an exciting 4th Friday on July 24. The evening is full of free art, live entertainment and all of the wonderful shops downtown open late for the celebration. Downtown Fayetteville is full of diverse businesses, so there is something for everyone. 

The Arts Council celebrates 4th Friday with the opening of a new exhibit. Point of View is an invitation for local photographers to display their talent. 

“It’s a treat to kick-off our new year of exhibitions with a show of this caliber. We’re asking photographers to give us their best shot. This juried show will feature exceptional photography in a variety of themes and subject matter,” Mary Kinney, the marketing director said. 

Submitted works will be juried with $1,000 in prizes available as awards. There is no required topic or style for this show. The only requirement is that the photographers come from specific counties: Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Fort Bragg, or Pope Army Air Field. Works will include black and white, color and digitally manipulated pieces. 

“This is a regional show,” Kinney says, “Since this is an open call across a wide region, we have no way of predicting how many works will be entered. In our last juried photography exhibition, 53 pieces by 35 artists were selected for the show.” 

The Arts Council is located at 301 Hay St. and will be open from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.theartscouncil.com or call 910-323-1776.

Fascinate-U is a museum designed specifically for children. The exhibits mimic real life experiences and invite them to explore the future in a safe environment. All the exhibits are intended to be touched and interacted with, which makes for an experience unlike any other traditional museum. On 4th Friday, admission into the museum is free, and it is open late. As an added bonus, there is also a free craft for kids to build and take home. This month the craft is a fish! 

Fascinate-U is open from 7-9 p.m. The museum is located at 116 Green St. For more information, visit www.fascinate-u.com or call 910-829-9171. 

After exploring the shops or having a wonderful dinner at one of the many amazing restaurants downtown, a relaxing way to end the day is reclining in Festival Park and soaking in the free music. On The Border, a tribute to the Eagles and Brittany Marie, a country and classic rock performer are playing. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the entertainment begins between 7 and 7:30 p.m. The concert will last until 10:30 or 11 p.m. No outside food or beverages are allowed. This event is a fundraiser for the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival and it is presented in partnership with R.A. Jeffreys, a distributer of Budweiser. For more information, visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com/p/Events/211 or call 910-323-1934. Festival Park is located at 335 Ray Ave. Patrons are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to sit on. 

The Fayetteville SwampDogs are proud to partner with the Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s to present the Bringing Memories Home Safe Night at J.P. Riddle Stadium on Wednesday, July 29. This is the first year that the team has partnered with the Walk to End Alzheimers and it is something that they are really excited about.   

For that very special night at “The Swamp” the SwampDogs will wear one-of-a-kind purple jerseys, which will be auctioned off on the concourse to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.  Fans can place bids online for their favorite player’s jersey for one week in advance of the game, with bidding closing at 4 p.m. on game day then re-opening at 6 p.m. on the concourse when the gates open.

“Almost all of us know a relative, loved one or friend who has been touched in some way by this terrible disease,” said SwampDogs Operations Director Caroline Villegas. “I’m proud that as an organization, with the help of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, we can do our part to find a cure.”  

According to The Walk to End Alzheimer’s website, “The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, this inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to reclaim the future for millions. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s disease, the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death.” 

The mission of the walk 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 the promotion of brain health.

In addition to the special night coming up at “The Swamp,” the SwampDogs will host the Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sept. 12 at J.P. Riddle Stadium. You can register today for the walk as either a team or as an individual at alz.org/walk.

“Being involved in the community is part of the fabric of what we do as an organization, and we’re very excited to start this new partnership with the Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” said SwampDogs General Manager Jeremy Aagard.

The Fayetteville SwampDogs are in their 15th season playing in the Coastal Plain League. The SwampDogs are one of the most successful franchises in the league’s history, making the Petitt Cup Playoffs eight times in the past 10 seasons, reaching the championship round three times. The SwampDogs boast 90 alumni taken in the draft and have produced six players who have gone on to play in Major League Baseball including slugger Mark Reynolds and David Aardsma.  

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

The hottest road race in the south brings back the heat with the 9th Annual Run for the Redroad race on Aug. 1. As of this writing 100 participants have signed up and hundreds more will eventually sign up. Running, among many other outdoor activities, not only keeps you healthy, but also brings awareness to the American Red Cross.

“The Highlands Chapter of the American Red Cross covers a large area of North Carolina. The Red Cross has helped many people in the area and we need to support them as well,” said Julio Ramirez, race director. 

The Red Cross has sprung into action to help those in need helping individuals and families in Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke and Sampson counties for more than 90 years. 

There are three entry categories in the race: the 10K, 5K and a 1-mile race. Cash prizes are up for grabs by the winners of the 10K and 5K run. To encourage participation among families, the 1-mile run is open to children, making this an event for all ages. 

The 10K first place award is $100; the second place award is  $70; and the third place is $50. The first place winner of the 5K will win $75; second place, $50; and third place, $50. All age groups will receive medals.

Last year’s race raised $12,000  with sponsorships and the help of the Fayetteville community. All donations are given to the American Red Cross.

“I am a second time leukemia survivor,” said Ramirez. “Staying positive and surrounding myself with people has helped me overcome my illness. Last year I ran the 5k; this year I won’t be running, but I love directing and helping out the Red Cross.” 

Running and walking is a cheap way to optimize your physical activities. There is no equipment needed or expensive clothes, the only thing needed is your body. Your heart and legs, of course, do most of the work, but the end result is rewarding.  

When people see the American Red Cross, no matter in what context,  it brings hope. Since 1881, the Red Cross has helped people throughout the world. Redcross.org defines the work of the Red Cross as: responding to “approximately 70,000 disasters in the United States every year, ranging from home fires that affect a single family to hurricanes that affect tens of thousands, to earthquakes that impact millions. In these events, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, health and mental health services to help families and entire communities get back on their feet. Emergency communications, training, support to wounded warriors and veterans, and access to community resources help an average of 150,000 military families and veterans annually. Each year, nearly 4 million people donate blood through the Red Cross, helping to provide more than 40 percent of America’s blood supply. Each year, more than 9 million Americans participate in our training programs, including first responders, educators, babysitters, and people who want to be prepared to help others in an emergency.”

The Run for the Red is on Aug. 1 at Festival Park from 7a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The 10K starts at 7:15 a.m., 5K at 7:20 a.m., with the 1 mile run at 8:35 a.m. Find out more at www.redcross.org/nc.

The first time it sank into to me that people from other parts of our nation see Southerners as somehow different I was a college student visiting friends in New York City. 

Feeling as sophisticated and worldly as only an undergraduate can, I was chatting up an appealing young man, also a college student, but at a school in New England. As our conversation drew on, he finally said, “May I ask you a personal question?” Curious and intrigued, I responded, “Of course.”

“Do all you people drink soda for breakfast?”

And to think I imagined he would ask me for a date!

He asked the question as if  “you people” — that would be us Southerners — were specimens in a lab or critters in a zoo, but he did have a point.

I have known a number of fellow Southerners who get their morning jolt of caffeine from an ice cold Coke or Pepsi, including one of my oldest friends who now takes hers in diet form. I have not; however, encountered anyone from “somewhere else” whose first morning sip is of carbonated soda. I suspect that fellow had never heard of grits.

This youthful memory flooded back to me recently when I stumbled upon what appears to be a collection of all things Southern on Pinterest, an online site with far more images than words. Some of the Southernisms were sappy —“The South: Where love, family and tradition are the sugar in our tea,” some trite — “North is a direction. The South is a lifestyle” and some right on target — “Say what you want about the South, but you don’t hear about people wanting to retire in the North.”

My favorites, though, go to my own experience as an — almost —lifelong resident of eastern North Carolina where people say things that make no sense to people from somewhere else.  Pinterest lists these — “Oh my heavens!,” “Thank you kindly,” “Goodness gracious!,” “I do declare!, ”Lord have mercy!,” Hush your mouth!,” “Oh, my stars!,” “Slower than molasses,” “Gimme some sugar!,” “Hey, ya’ll,” “Heavens to Betsy,” “Hold your horses,” “Sweet as a peach” and my all-purpose favorite, “Bless your heart.” It can be intended kindly or can be a veiled barb, as in “That Margaret has put on weight, bless her heart!”

My eastern North Carolina grandmother used all those words as well as a few others. I was in college before I realized most people have never heard of a teewiddie, a word my grandmother said often to her seven grandchildren. It was generally used in this context: “Margaret Dawson, don’t  you ever tell me another teewiddie!” Not even my friends from Georgia and Texas knew that one.

Being Southern is more than language, though. The way we see the world is strictly our own, as Julia Sugarbaker, a saucy Southern character played by Dixie Carter on the CBS sitcom Designing Women,said. Julia had a great deal to say on many topics, and this is one of my favorites. “I’m saying this is the South. And we’re proud of our crazy people. We bring ‘em right down to the living room and show ‘em off.  See, no one in the South ever asks if you have crazy people in your family. They just ask what side they’re on.” 

Most Southern families have some version of — shall we say, eccentrics? One of ours was a cousin who was so enraged by the power company in his part of eastern North Carolina condemning some of his property for power lines that he hopped into his tiny plane and dropped leaflets berating the utility all over that part of our state. When he could no longer pilot his plane, he set up a flatbed trailer along a busy highway, decorated it with Christmas lights and railed against the hated utility with a megaphone to passing vehicles. 

And who can forget the famed Savannah hostess who made it into John Berendt’s’ bestseller, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil? So sought after were invitations to her parties that guests gathered outside her home before the events, waiting for her to throw open the door to share her beautifully decorated home and scrumptious food and drink. She did just that one Savannah evening clad in her bathrobe. She calmly explained to her assembled guests that she had been so busy preparing for the party that she simply did not have time to get dressed herself and invited them to “Come on in.” 

I know a number of women in Fayetteville who might do exactly the same thing.

North Carolina novelist Clyde Edgerton put it this way. “Because I was born in the South, I’m a Southerner. If I had been born in the North, the West or the Central Plains, I would just be a human being.”

It is not that Southerners think we are better than other people.  It is just that we really understand when we hear someone say, “I I’m not from the South, but I got here as quickly as I could.”

Everyone seems to be weighing in on the Market House dilemma caused by local Attorney Allen Rogers who obviously cares more about advancing his own career and reputation within the “grievance community” then advancing dignity, peace, tranquility and honor to tens of thousands of residents in an otherwise proud Fayetteville community. 

It’s sad, but, unfortunately, Rogers is that one crab at the bottom of Fayetteville’s bucket that possesses the notion that it is safer and much better to be on the bottom always struggling to get to the top than to actually accept the responsibility for being at the top and getting out. 

You know the story: As the good Fayetteville crabs (our community) try to elevate themselves out of the bucket to move up and on to greater opportunities, prosperity, solid careers, happiness with brighter and more rewarding futures that one single crab (Rogers) grabs hold and regardless of the tireless achievements of his constituents, he is capable of pulling them all back relentlessly into the bottom of the bucket where he is comfortable and accommodating. Then, the process starts all over again. Needless to say, without any future progress.

This is the type of divisiveness that is pulling this community apart. Actually, it is this kind of divisiveness that is pulling the nation apart with the majority of citizens already thinking that America is heading in the wrong direction. 

But, when did this abrupt turn in direction begin?

Well, some think it started with rock and roll music. Some think it was when prayer was removed from the public schools. Others think it was when President Bill Clinton and his cronies changed the definition of “sex” in order to mask his tryst with the young intern Monica Lewinsky. Or, was it when we unofficially changed the definition of the word “illegal?” It’s so easy for politicians to parse words and reinvent the meaning of words.

Unfortunately, this practice of strategic word manipulation has led to other changes in definitions that have helped to pave the road to corruption and deceit turning it into a dysfunctional super-highway for local, state and national discontents and opportunists like Rogers who has used the tragic deaths of nine innocents in South Carolina to advance his station locally.

Shame on Mr. Rogers.

Me? Personally, I think America started in the wrong direction when unethical lawyers began using national and local media advertising to advance their businesses. Chasing ambulances became old school when they figured they could encourage and coerce the average citizen to sue at will.

Social Security, disability claims, workman’s comp, auto accidents, hurt feelings, hot coffee, etc. Many personal lives and good businesses continue to be ruined by unscrupulous lawyers either suing or threatening to sue someone. Win or lose, a lawyer always get paid and, in almost all cases advances himself or his cause.  

So, why is America heading in the wrong direction? Could it have anything to do with the fact that 53 percent of our U.S. Senate are lawyers? And, the House of Representatives have a whopping 160 lawyers or 37 percent  of their 435 members???

Hmmmmm. Don’t expect the situation to get much better anytime soon. In the meantime, I say drop the Market House as the City of Fayetteville icon.

Don’t disrupt this community by making it a divisive issue. After all, generations of intelligent Fayetteville residents regardless of color, nationality or religion will understand that history is history and as such cannot be altered, changed or erased. The Market House is and, will always be, a National Historic Landmark of major historic significance to the formation of North Carolina and the United States. And from its center, Mr. Rogers, you can both see and hear the ambulances.

Thank you for reading the Up & Coming Weekly.

Over the past few years, food trucks have become wildly popular; however, the idea of a mobile restaurant providing a quick meal dates back to the days of cowboys right after the Civil War. Chuck Wagons, as they were called, cooked meals for hungry cowboys all across the Wild West. The tradition evolved with technologies and cities. Soldiers in training on Fort Bragg’s ranges call them Gut Trucks, but that’s isn’t the reality of today’s food trucks. Today, modern food trucks are a trendy and exciting way to grab a gourmet meal on the go. 

Last year the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival put Fayetteville on the map when it comes to Food Truck Festivals. 

“Our organization is ready to do for Fayetteville what Fayetteville is ready for. People compare Fayetteville to Raleigh all the time, and we are like them, so our organization wants to gain recognition for putting on that level of event,” said Carrie King, the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival executive director. “We have the means and last time it was so successful. We’ve created an event that you want to be there for. We’ve made a name. This year we’ve had so many vendor applicants that we have had to turn people away. We’ve had the opportunity to be very selective. People will love it, we have some great trucks participating.”

The event has evolved to more than a food truck festival, this year’s iteration is The Dogwood Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival sponsored by Budlight.  King says, “We will also have 10 craft beers. There are some domestics available, but it is mostly craft beers.” 

Near the beer on the stage at Festival Park, an interactive DJ will spin music for entertainment. 

Craft beers are a perfect accompaniment to all of the fantastic food trucks that are at the center of the festival. 

“We want to keep it around 25 to 27 trucks. It keeps the event fair and balanced without any duplication. It is easier to manage and you have to remember that the quality of food that these trucks serve is gourmet,” explained King. “It isn’t a quick process and they can’t serve unlimited quantities like at the Dogwood Festival. We want to keep it around 25 to make it more manageable for everybody — customers and vendors.” 

Though the last Food Truck Festival was an incredible success, it was the very first event of its kind that the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival organized, so it was not without its challenges. This festival promises to be even better thanks to experience. 

“Oh absolutely, the last festival gave us a lot of insight on how to do things differently. This time we have everything confined to Festival Park. The food trucks are parked abound the perimeter and the beer is in the middle. It is much more user-friendly. We also have a map of all the approved vendors,” King said. “Last time we underestimated the amount of people who would show up. Now we are more prepared with trash removal and the lines are more cohesive, so a line from one truck won’t merge with a line from another.“

Admission is free, but for those unwilling to wait in lines, there is an alternative. 

“The trend in the industry is that if the festival starts at 1 p.m.. the trucks can’t sell at all before then. In Durham and Raleigh people may stand in line for hours before it even starts. But we have something that they don’t, the opportunity to be contained. We are all fenced in. So we are selling 100 Dine & Dash tickets. They can get in an hour before the festival starts. This is for the serious foodies,” King explains. 

These passes are available for $6 at www.faydogwoodfestival.com. 

Besides creating an incredible event for the community, this festival also serves as a fundraiser. Proceeds from the Dine & Dash Passes and from the craft beer will go to the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. Admission is free. The Dogwood Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival is on July 19 from 1-6 p.m. at Festival Park. Festival Park is located at 225 Ray Ave. For more information, visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com or call 910-323-1934.

The Gilbert Theater is well-known for its up and coming presentations that not only showecase local actors from the community, but also works that are written by local playwrights. In its upcoming event, the Gilbert combines those two unique characteristics to bring the NextStage Playwright Festival to the stage Wednesday, July 22 through Sunday, July 26.    

“It is a festival that consists of six short plays and they span comedy, tragedy and drama,”  said Robyne Parrish, artistic director of the Gilbert Theater. “Three of the playwrights are from North Carolina and the other three playwrights are from New York.” 

Parrish added that there are professional actors, directors and writers from New York who are coming in to work with community actors to join forces to do half new New York plays and half new North Carolina plays. 

The purpose of the festival is to allow community artists to work with artists in the business outside of the community. 

“It is an educational tool for me to mix them together and let them learn from each other,” said Parrish. “It is a learning experience for the artists from New York because they are coming from the big city and it is a huge learning experience for the local people who can gain all of this experience from the working artist.” 

Part of the mission of the Gilbert Theater is to create and support new plays. The six plays are;

Cold but Soft by Brian Adam Kline, Miller’s Point by Evan Dridenstine, Tin Church by Robyne Parrish, Sweet Stormby Scott Hudson, The Mentor by Webb Wilcoxen and Sticks by Grant Harris.         

Cold but Softis a dark comedy about a family who will go to any length to keep their dead grandmother around. Miller’s Point is about love, lost and finding a new path in life.  Most of the action takes place at Miller’s Point which is a location for necking couples. Tin Church is about family, guilt and buried secrets. Sweet Storm is a love story that transcends all odds. It features a couple in which the woman is paralyzed. The Mentor is about an eccentric writer who will stop at nothing to become famous. Sticks is about a bunch of rowdy teenagers who get in some mischief. 

“These are very edgy out-of-the-box contemporary plays. There is not a lot of opportunity to see shows like this in our area,” said Parrish. “I would hope that everyone would come out and see something new and different and to see some really amazing artists at work.”                                      

Show times are July 22 at 7 p.m.; July 23 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; July 24 at 7 p.m.; July 25 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and July 26 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Buy one regular priced ticket and see any performance all week or any day. Tickets are $16 and can be purchased online at www.gilberttheater.com or call 678-7186 for more information.   

Sweet Tea Shakespeare has returned to its roots with the next performance of the season, The Tempest. This classic Shakespearean play is a combination of some of the master playwright’s best works. Jeremy Fiebig, the director, describes the performance, “The Tempest is both very funny and very moving. It’s got the best elements of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, but also some of the darker plays as well. Like a lot of Shakespeare, there’s music, dance and other fun bits throughout.” 

The  play opens July 16.

The play follows the sorcerer Prospero, who is bitter over the loss of his royal title. Stranded on an island, he causes a storm that wrecks another ship on the island. In classic Shakespearean fashion with all sorts of hijinks, love and conflict ensues before a grand wedding and cathartic ending. 

“For me, the play is about leaving where you came from and then trying to go back to that place. It’s about creating a new home and finding your old one. I’ve been involved with a couple of other productions of this play, so revisiting the play now reminds me of those people and those times in my life. I think of them very fondly,” Fiebig explained. “I’m fond of a lot of different Shakespeare plays, but The Tempest has always resonated on a deep level with me.”

While the story may seem outlandish, full of magic and evil spirits, it manages, as all of Shakespeare’s works do, to touch a universal and timeless truth of humanity. 

“I think audiences will identify with the play. There’s something for everyone — clown-like figures, spirits, villains, parents, children, music, dance, you name it — but it’s the story about reconciliation and hatred and forgiveness that I think will really speak to audiences,” Fiebig said.

Sweet Tea Shakespeare is an incredible mix of talent and classic southern hospitality. The performances are engaging and, despite the challenge of an outdoor setting, immersive. 

“There’s a massive shipwreck, magic, wild people, evildoers, spirits and music — and in our production, a lot of these things will immerse the audience in the world of the play,” Fiebig said. 

Framing the productions are opportunities for the community to grow. Sitting on the lawn of a beautiful 19th century Poe House, enjoying fantastic theatre and a tall glass of sweet tea in the cool summer night is a perfect evening by any standard. 

“As is usual with our shows, audience members can come early for music, food, beer, wine and fellowship. We sport a really relaxed environment that’s much more like going to a great party than it is like going to a play,” Fiebig said. 

The Tempest takes place on the grounds of the E.A. Poe House, which is located at 206 Bradford Ave. The show runs July 16 through 19 and July 23 through 26 at 7 p.m. Refreshments and live music begin at 6:15 p.m. Tickets must be purchased on-site and are $12. For more information or to reserve tickets call 910-420-4383 or visit
 www.sweetteashakespeare.com. 

Our names are important. 

They signal our age, race, ethnicity, nationality and other subtle messages in the picture each of us presents to the larger world. For example, my maternal grandmother was Margaret Regina — her father was Austrian, and I was named in her honor. Margaret was also the 23rd most popular name for girls born in the 1950s, according to the Social Security Administration, which has tracked the rise and fall of baby names since the late 1800s. By the 2000s, Margaret had fallen to the 137th slot, which should give you some info about me. So should the fact that Margaret has been a common first name for baby girls in England since the 11th century.

My childhood was populated with children with names not unlike Margaret, solid and traditional. I do not remember anyone with what I thought of as a creative name, except for one Haymount Elementary classmate named Durema and a woman my age whom I have recently met named Dreama. Would love to know the stories behind those names! 

Today’s parents are much more creative than my parents’ generation apparently was.  A quick read of birth announcements in local hospitals has turned up such gems as “Tamale” and “Chandelier” and one name which had the numeral “8” in it. This is America, of course, and we are blessed to be able to name our children whatever we choose, including whatever we make up to assure that our special little one really is unique. Yes, I have seen “Unique” as a name as well.

I cannot help but think that we do our children no good turn by being too creative. Teachers cannot always spell what we create, other children cannot always remember it, and the workplace — when our Precious Jewels get to that point, is not always kind to or tolerant of creative names. Research indicates that given the same skill set, Jane’s career will advance more readily than Jan8te’s. In the interest of full disclosure, two of the Dicksons’ Precious Jewels have unusual first names —albeit family ones, and I know those names have required explanations from them since their earliest school years. Would I use those names again? Yes, but I doubt I would push the naming envelope any further.

Historically, our last names have been less creative, because they are generally passed down from one generation to the next. In Western cultures, women have also generally adopted their husbands’ family name, though that is not the case in all cultures. Today, we are getting creative on last names as well.

Upshot, a data-driven analysis venture of The New York Times, tells us that more women are keeping their “maiden,” or birth surnames, when they marry than at any time in American history. Early equal rights activist Lucy Stone created a sensation and became famous by declining to take her husband’s name in 1855, and it has been an issue for women ever since. In the turbulent 1970s, an era some call the “Ms. Decade,” about 17 percent of American women decided to hold on to what they had instead of taking hubby’s name, a decision that was political to many. That number fell during the more conservative 1980s and ‘90s. Upshot reports that fully 20 percent of today’s brides keep their names, though for less political reasons. Today’s brides marry later, and many have a professional identity they do not want to change. 

Whatever the reason, keeping one’s name also reveals something about that woman. More affluent women living in urban areas are more likely to do so than women living in other areas. Ditto for women with advanced degrees and for Asian and Hispanic women. Jewish women are more likely to keep their names than are Catholic women. Even so, most American women do adopt their husbands’ last name. Says Penn State sociologist Laurie Scheuble, “The pressure is huge. This is the strongest gendered social norm that we enforce and expect.”

Then there are those of us who simply do our own thing. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who adopted the Clinton full time only when her husband ran for President, uses all three names, and I sign my checks with all of mine. Other women hyphenate their own name with their husbands’ names, so that when Jane Jones marries Steve Smith, Jane becomes Jane Jones-Smith. Rarely does Steve do anything other than remain Steve Smith.  Occasionally, both people in a couple decide to abandon both their names in favor of a new one altogether or come up with some merged version of both their names which they both then adopt. Few couples seem to have the nerve to do what Marco Perego did when he married actress Zoe Saldana. He became Marco Saldana!

My thought is that most of us are better off with names that fit us like comfy shoes, not like 6-inch stilettos. In all likelihood and however we acquired them, they will be with us for the long haul. Better that we wear them and not they us.

Snyder Music Academy has a Kindermusik program that is primarily instructed by Joy Cogswell, who is also the director for the Snyder Music Academy. Recently her excellence as a Kindermusik instructor has been recognized. 

“The award that I received is the Kindermusik Maestro Producer award,” Cogswell explained. “This places my program in the top 5 percent of Kindermusik Programs internationally. It is based on the quality of the program and the number of children that it reaches. It is my privilege that in the last 15 years I have gotten it every year. It is especially great for us to have our program recognized and for people to know that if they come to us they get the best.” 

Music can play a huge role in development, especially at an early age. Kindermusik creates a unique program that uses music to target specific developmental needs. 

“Research has proven that the earlier kids are introduced to music the better they do in math, reading and academically. When you come into a class for the kids it looks just like a fun but everything in the program is written with a purpose. If we do something with a steady beat in the music it will help when kids walk or bounce a ball or with anything that requires a steady beat within their bodies. There is a lot of encouragement to read and we work with colors, animal sounds, many things that it is important to learn in early childhood,” Cogswell says. 

She provides a more specific example of how Kindermusik assists infants and children in development, “Bounce and Cuddle, which is our class for infants, from birth to 15 or 16 months may have you dance with your baby, do a turn and then reverse the turn. The reason for this is brain development. The motion is fun but it also helps to develop the brain and small motor skills it is not just about music, it is about the whole child. These classes also provide a unique opportunity for relationships. They are designed for parents or grandparents and children to attend together and can help to strengthen bonds. “

In addition to her Kindermusik classes at the Snyder Music Academy, Cogswell also strives to assist underprivileged children. 

“I always try in my program to reach children who wouldn’t otherwise receive it. It is a privilege to work with the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority. We offer these programs to kids whose parents line in the Housing Authority every Tuesday for four years. It is one of my favorites and it is a wonderful opportunity. It is our privilege to do it next year,” she says. 

Every child deserves the head start that Kindermusik can provide. 

For more information on the Kindermusik program visit www.kindermusik.com/about, www.snydermbc.com/music-academy/kindermusik or call 910-484-3191. Snyder Music Academy is held in Snyder Memorial Baptist Church located at 701 Westmont Dr. 

Basically, most of us spend about one third of our day sleeping and ideally, the rest of  our day working and playing. Yes, working at an actual job and playing (leisure time spent enjoying life) expending our “natural energies.” This  represents a normal healthy and balanced lifestyle for most Americans. At least it used to be that way. 

Today, I’m not so sure. 

The options for expending these “natural energies” seem to become limited adding credence to that old adage and cliché “an idle mind is the devil’s playground.” This harsh reality sits here in Fayetteville where jobs, summertime activities and recreational facilities are extremely limited and local crime continues to escalate resulting in needless deaths from violence with random shootings spiraling out of control. A sad and almost common weekly occurrence. This is causing major concerns among residents, businesses, community/civic leaders and local elected officials. 

Despite the talent and diligent efforts of our hardworking police force and cognizant police chief. They alone are not the “end all” and “be all” to this serious community situation. Our elected officials must take quick, stern and serious action. No doubt they too, are dedicated and hardworking; however, they need to stop the rhetoric by putting “band aids” on these rising tragic situations and start taking serious action to curb this tragic trend plaguing our community. 

How? First, by implementing programs that could consume all that “natural energy” I mentioned. More jobs would work!  I come from a generation (Baby Boomers) where work ethic was a natural way of life. A job and hard work was viewed with a sense of pride and accomplishment. You worked hard  instinctively to raise and care for your families. We were too busy to get into trouble. Besides, staying on the right side of the law was a valued virtue.  

We worked hard and we played hard and in between we slept. This being the case, when looking at the problems we are experiencing today in our local community, i.e. rising crime rates, increasing shootings and murders and high unemployment, it becomes pretty obvious what we are lacking. 

What are we lacking? The two most obvious factors are general recreational facilities and job employment opportunities. Two issues that our community leadership spends a lot of time talking about; however, for the most part, fail to act on except superficially. Recent examples are Sanderson Farms and the allocation of public funds for the building of two neighborhood swimming pools. Sure, these pools will provide several hundred neighborhood residents temporary summertime enjoyment; however, tens of thousands of Fayetteville and Cumberland County residents would benefit more appropriately from investing taxpayers money in the expansion of citywide and county parks and recreation facilities and services. 

The same holds true with jobs and employment. We need to do more to encourage business and economic development in Fayetteville. The point is, except when we are sleeping, everyone has natural born energy. Traditionally, these natural-born energies were consumed in healthy and productive ways mostly by working and playing hard. It stands to reason that if we want to lower crime rates, build safe communities, enhance the image of our community and increase our quality of life, we must provide those services and activities that will keep these natural-born energies directed in the most positive of ways. Without adequate jobs, recreational facilities and programs that serve to enhance an individual’s pride and self-worth, there will continue to be no future prospects for our young people.  

Consequently, they will direct their natural-born energies in the most self-destructive manner. Dropout rates will rise, unemployment will escalate as will violence and crime at all levels. It will take real leadership in the future to reverse this trend.

As we enter this 2015 election period let’s graciously thank those who sacrifice their time and expertise to our community while encouraging them to address the “big issues” in our community by looking at the “big picture” and implementing long-term, permanent solutions for the good of our community. This is the only way Fayetteville will be able to survive and move forward. Agree? 

Thank you for reading the Up & Coming Weekly.!

There is more to Africa than the tragedy and strife portrayed in the news. Isabella Effon is looking to show Fayetteville the brighter side of her native continent. On July 11, the community is invited to attend the Inaugural African World Peace Festival in downtown Fayetteville. Effon invites to the community to come learn about the many differences (and similarities) in the African cultures. 

“We want to educate our children, and the Fayetteville community, and let them know it is a continent with a lot of resources. Not all of it is war-torn like the images on TV,” said Effon. 

The day kicks off at 8 a.m. with the African World Peace 5K. Same day registration starts at 6 a.m. Runners can also register online. The race starts at 8 a.m. on Bow Street. 

“We will provide snacks after the run,” said Effon. “This is the Africa World Peace Festival. We bring all the African nations together, which makes it unique. It is a nonprofit and we have joined other nonprofits that do the same thing to bring awareness and unite community.

At 2 p.m., don’t miss the parade of nations on Person Street as the entertainment and educational portion of the festival gets underway.

Other events include storytelling, music, dancing and more.

 “We have a lot of tales and a few storytellers who will tell exclusively African folktales,” said Effon. “We will have breaks and activities for kids doing things that include African-themes and village where children can go and learn about different dialects and countries in Africa and things like that.”

Effon noted that African influences are seen worldwide in food, clothing, music and more. That is one of the things that makes this a great fit for Fayetteville’s international community. Taste of West Africa on Person Street will offer a special menu for the festival. 

“There are many, many Africans in Turkey and Italy and all over the world so the other restaurants downtown definitely have a place in this celebration,” she explained.

 If the festival grows as planned, there will be additional food vendors as the event size increases. 

There are too many people in Fayetteville who miss out on all of the goodness going on downtown and Effon sees this as the perfect opportunity to change that. 

“This is my passion. I like my culture. I love diversity and I love to bring awareness into the community.” 

Performances are an added flare to the festival with featured artists from Africa including the Ivory Coast and Senegal and local performers including the Fatback Band and more. A ceremony honoring American soldiers of African descent is also scheduled. The music portion of the event runs from 2-6 p.m.

As a nonprofit, the African World Peace Festival is partnering with Loving Hands International, a public nonprofit, humanitarian charity organization serving underprivileged communities in the U.S. and Africa, promoting and implementing development programs in quality healthcare, education advancement, agricultural productivity and socio-economic advancement to improve overall quality of life of the poor and needy. Proceeds from the African World Peace Festival benefit Africa’s humanitarian needs and local community needs, as well. Donations of nonperishable food items will be accepted at the festival.

Find out more by calling 728-2186 or 779-2375.

Fayetteville supporters of the arts were introduced to a large body of work by mixed-media artist Leslie Pearson last year when Fayetteville Technical Community College invited Pearson for a one-person show, Works of Spirit. I was immediately enthralled while walking among sepia-stained representational images on yards of see-through fabric suspended from the ceiling. Also included was a separate work of suspended orb-like forms. It was apparent Pearson has a gift for combining tangible physicality with the intangibility of something remembered. 

If you missed her exhibit last year, on July 14, visitors to Gallery 208, at the corporate offices of Up and Coming Weekly,  can view a new body of work by Pearson titled Remember When and also meet Pearson. For this exhibit Pearson has selected mixed-media encaustic paintings and small sculptural book forms. Never descriptive or decorative, Pearson has an exceptional talent for conjuring remembrances by layering meaning through medium and image, medium and object. 

Pearson is interested in stories, memories and the communicative power of material. Her statement clarifies meaning and process for visitors to the exhibit: “For the showing at Gallery 208, I’ve gone back to what I’m interested in — the history of things and stories. I treasure all the family photos and ephemera that have been passed down to me. I’ve gone back to these items as a starting point for many of the pieces that I am exhibiting. Conceptually, my work revolves around themes of memory and identity formation but visually I’m inspired by the natural world, particularly the effects of time on the environment. For example, I’m always drawn to aged and eroded objects, old buildings, and walls with peeling paint. I often go for walks and take pictures of things other people might not notice; I use these as references for some of the colors and textures that come out in my paintings.”

Two encaustic paintings in the exhibit, “Siblings” and “A Story Unfolds,” exemplify ways in which Pearson intentionally obscures her narratives. In “Siblings,’ Pearson breaks the pictorial space into units; two portraits are presented in dissimilar ranges of closeness, vertical bands are filled with text, the layers of encaustic medium blurring the surface. Viewers are left to look closely to decipher ethereal meaning through the layers of beeswax on the surface.

In comparison, a solitary woman is present in the work titled “A Story Unfolds.” The woman is balanced in the picture plane by large negative shapes and limited amount of blurred text — she is located in an abstracted environment. Pearson obscures the woman in a manner which results in the figure becoming more abstracted than in other images in the exhibit; the figure becomes part of the abstracted space around her. 

Visitors to the Gallery 208 opening will get to meet Pearson and hear her briefly talk about her work. A well-traveled individual, she recently moved to the Fayetteville area, is a prolific artist who exhibits nationally and internationally, is an arts educator and an arts advocate. Her achievements are lengthy, highlights of which signify the magnitude of her art experiences and give insight to the talent of an artist who lives in the area. 

Some of Pearson’s educational and professional experiences include earning a bachelor’s in fine art from Southeast Missouri State University in 1998. There, she was heavily involved in community-arts programming as the Assistant Director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri and co-curator of Gallery 100 and the Lorimier Gallery in Cape Girardeau. She earned a master’s in museum studies at Newcastle University in England in 2000 and completed an internship at the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art in Sunderland, United Kingdom. In 2011, she earned an MFA in textile design at East Carolina University’s School of Art and Design in Greenville, North Carolina, where she taught textile classes and worked as a studio assistant in the textile department.

Her teaching experience is too long to list, yet her most recent experiences include workshop instructor/lecturer for Integumentary Experiments in Fiber in Australia and the guest artist to create wire sculpture in Wilmington, North Carolina. Two residencies include No Boundaries International Art Colony on Bald Head Island, North Carolina, in 2014, and Arrowmont Pentaculum: Five Medias, One Forumat Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in 2015. 

From an extensive list, Pearson’s most recent solo exhibitions in North Carolina include Works of Spiritat Fayetteville Technical Community College Art Gallery in 2014; The Visual Word at Waterworks Visual Arts Center in Salisbury; Continuum at the Page Walker Arts Center in Cary; and Speak, Memory, a mixed-media installation at the Hanover Gallery in Wilmington.

Gallery 208 is committed to hosting exhibitions by inventive and professional artists who enrich the visual art landscape locally and regionally. The exhibit, Remember When, introduces a “multimedia artist who utilizes many fiber based materials, processes and techniques to create sculptures, installations, encaustic paintings and handmade books in which she explores themes of memory and identity.” The public is invited to attend the opening reception and meet the artist on July 14 at Gallery 208 between 5:30–7 p.m. For those who cannot attend the opening, the exhibit will remain up through early September 2015. Before or after attending the opening or exhibit, Pearson’s work can be viewed on her website: www.lesliekpearson.com/

Gallery 208 is located at 208 Rowan Street. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday –Friday. For information on this exhibit, call 910-484-6200 or visit the website to read the digital version of the magazine at www.upandcomingweekly.com.

On Sunday, July 12, at 3 p.m., a unit monument will be dedicated for the 824th Quartermaster Company (Air Delivery), U.S. Army Reserve, at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in downtown Fayetteville. 

This monument will honor the military service of all past, present and future members of the 824th Quartermaster Company. Since 1945, the 824th has been a part of the national defense forces, including overseas service during World War II. Since 1963, the mission of the 824th has been parachute rigging and logistical air delivery of supplies/equipment to combat units.

The 824th is based at the U.S. Army Reserve Center at Fort Bragg. For 70 years, this unit has trained with active duty, USAR and National Guard forces throughout America and worldwide. In recent years, soldiers of the 824th have been deployed to Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. As a Quartermaster unit with an airborne rigger mission, the 824th is somewhat unique in the Army Reserve. It is the only USAR unit of its type, based at Fort Bragg.

This monument will be the first one on the grounds of the Army’s Airborne and Special Operations Museum, identified for an Army Reserve unit. This is also the first unit monument at the ASOM, to a specific Parachute Rigger unit.

 The 824th Quartermaster Company (Air Delivery) has served America from World War II to the present day. Activated in England in 1945 as the 4552nd Quartermaster Service Company, it was inactivated in Germany in 1946. 

The 824th was reactivated in North Carolina as an Army Reserve unit in 1947. It has served in various roles; Service and Supply, Graves Registration, Laundry and Bath and as a Military Police Company. In 1963, the unit became an Aerial Delivery Company (Parachute Rigger). The unit trained in Sanford, North Carolina, before relocating in 1968 to Fort Bragg. During the Cold War, the unit’s mission was to provide parachute and air drop support. Most training was limited to quarterly jumps and a two-week annual training exercise, with Team Spirit in Korea from 1984 to 1986, as one of the unit’s more notable exercises. The unit includes many career fields needed to accomplish air delivery missions. 

After the Cold War ended in 1989, the 824th established a Direct Training Agreement with Special Operations Command Atlantic to provide air delivery and parachute support. The 824th participated in enhanced training missions throughout the Caribbean, Bermuda and Key West. Training opportunities continued to expand for the 824th in Canada, Germany, Greenland, Italy and with U.S. Special Forces in Puerto Rico and Antigua. A detachment of the 824th supported the 1990 D-Day Ceremonies in Normandy, France. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991, the 824th deployed a detachment of 50 personnel to provide parachute rigging and air-drop support to XVIII Airborne Corps in Saudi Arabia. 

Following Desert Storm, the 824th continued to support active missions. Beginning with operations in the Balkans and Southwest Asia, the 824th provided detachments in support of air drop missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Members of an 824th detachment deployed to Afghanistan during the Glob¬al War on Terror received the Meritorious Unit Citation. 

The keynote speaker at this event is Maj. Gen.l Margaret Boor (USAR), Commanding General of the 99th Regional Support Command, USAR, based at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Maj. Gen. Boor is a resident of Fayetteville..

Find out more at http://www.asomf.org.

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. So, this being the case, mark up a ballot today and send it in or go online to www.upandcomingweekly.com and vote. Invite your friends to vote. 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? Stay tuned for the details. In the meantime, thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.  We love you all!  

Vote.  Vote.  Vote. 

Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh was passionate about life. He was a well-rounded and accomplished athlete; a generous and giving volunteer in the community; and a remarkable scholar. When he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s  Lymphoma during his senior year of high school, Ryan stayed optimistic and fought hard. He did his best to lead a normal life while battling to secure his future. On Jan. 3, 2003, Ryan died from complications of a bone marrow transplant. During his illness, he wrote a book called Run Because You Can – My Personal Race with Cancer. The book is an open and personal look at the struggles and triumphs Ryan experienced during his bought with cancer. Ryan touched and inspired many in his short time on this Earth, and his friends and family celebrate Ryan and everything he meant and still means to them whenever they can. On July 25, the 2015 Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Memorial Golf Tournament offers a fun-filled day of golf and fellowship in memory of Ryan. 

Dr. David Kishbaugh, Ryan’s dad, puts on the event every year and he is confident that Ryan would approve. “He would try to downplay his  role in it but he would approve and be happy that we try to engage family, friends and community in order to make a difference. The key is he did not want his battle to end with him and it is a key factor in why we try to make the golf tournament bigger and better every year. We want to touch more people, involve more people so that eventually the battle with cancer becomes routine and survival rates soar.”

Kishbaugh is motivated by Ryan’s words … the words he wrote the day of his diagnosis. “Today I found out that I had cancer … my battle with cancer is only beginning; I believe that it will be a long, hard-fought struggle, but I will overcome, I will survive. And this will be a story of hope for others, not only kids with cancer, but the world as well. I have a premonition that this story will not end in me, but will carry on, above and beyond myself and will bring hope. I refuse to let cancer get the best of me; I will not allow it. I have made the choice to not just be another victim of cancer, but to be more. I know I will be victorious. Even if it kills me, cancer will never break me. It will never win.”

What started as an event for friends and family to get together and reminisce and share a day in Ryan’s memory has grown into an annual fundraiser that benefits the Carpe Diem Foundation and through that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of Ryan. The greens at Gates Four play  host to this year’s tournament. 

The renovated 18-hole championship golf course includes both new bent-grass greens and renovated bunkers. The traditional style pine tree-lined fairways were designed in 1967  by acclaimed golf course architect Willard Byrd in 1967 and were redesigned in 2011 by  by Kris Spence who is a leading golf course architect in design and restoration. The state-of-the art USGA-specified greens are a blend of A1/A4 bent grass. This combination provides an optimum putting surface 12 months a year. 

The day starts with registration and some time on the practice range. Both  open at 7 a.m. The tournament opens with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. The format is Captain’s Choice. Each player will receive a swag bag, as well. There will be snacks provided during registration and beverages will be avaialbe throughout the event. The tournament concludes with lunch and an award ceremony. Individual golfers and teams are welcome.

“We have Hole-in-One, longest drive, closest to pin and putting contest this year,” said Kishbaugh. ”Sammio’s is doing food. Moe’s is providing chips and salsa for post-golf and beverages are from Healy and for the third year, Dirtbag Ales will set up a booth.”

This year’s tournament includes several side events that include a putting contest sponsored by Carolina Imaging, a Hole-in-One contest sponsored by Events 2 America and a raffle sponsored by the Carpe Diem Foundation. There is a nominal charge for each event.  

The raffle is a 50-50 and winners do not have to be present to win. Tickets will be available before the tournament at the RPK Center. Cost is $5 each or 5 for $20. The pot is typically $700-800. 

Golfers can participate in the putting contest for a small fee. They get one putt and the three best putts in the preliminary round get a chance to putt-off after the round is played. The winner of the putt-off then gets one chance to sink a 60-foot putt for $2,500.The top three get consolation prizes. 

Events to America runs a $10,000 Hole-in-One Challenge. Golfers can participate in this contest for a small fee. Participants receive prizes for participating and they will split $10,000 with the charity (Carpe Diem) if they get a hole-in-one. 

Corporate sponsors can compete for the tournament trophy and the company and player names will be added to the trophy. The trophy will then remain in the possession of the winning team until the 2016 tournament when it will again be up for grabs. Online registration includes a 1-year subscription to Golf Digest (a $10 value).

Kishbaugh looks forward to the tournament each year, as do many of the participants because so many of Ryan’s friends come and participate.

“It is fun seeing friends and family reconnect.Some of the kids don’t see each other except at the tournament and it is great to see them get together again,” said Kishbaugh. “I am also humbled by how much community support we get from individuals and companies. Some have been helping since the beginning, others have heard about us and come out just to be part of things.” 

Nongolfers can make a difference by donating to the cause. Proceeds benefit the Carpe Diem Foundation. Since its inception, the foundation has raised more than $30,000. The majority of monies raised go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The mission of the Foundation is to:

• Help provide college scholarship assistance to student athletes with a chronic medical condition.

• Support other charitable organizations (such as LLS)

• Promote and help fund education and research for the treatment of chronic illnesses, especially those that affect young adults. 

Find out more about the tournament, or register to play at http://2015rpkmemorial.com.

Daughters of Christ Ministry, Inc. is hosting the Freedom in Christ Christian Conference for Women on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Freedom Christian Academy Auditorium.      

“This is a time for Christian women to come together and get their cup filled back up with superior biblical teaching, spiritual refreshment, great fellowship and lots of fun,” said Audrie Sifuentes, president of Daughters of Christ Ministry, Inc. “It is a time for adult women to receive back into their heart what they have poured out into the lives of other people.”

 The conference features four talented speakers who will give unique perspectives to freedom in Christ. Dr. Jeff Isenhour is the senior pastor of Arran Lake Baptist Church. He is best known for his evangelistic heart and humor as he communicates to every age group. 

Dr. Chris Dickerson is the dean of online studies and professor at Carolina College of Biblical Studies. He has spent 16 years in vocational pastoral ministry. 

Chaplain (Colonel) Ran Dolinger has served 29 years as an Army chaplain and recently served as garrison chaplain at Fort Bragg, N.C.  \He has served three tours at Fort Bragg and  calls it home. 

Mrs. Vicki Stephenson is the teaching leader of the Fayetteville evening women’s class of Bible Study Fellowship International. She teaches more than 200 women each week, trains 25 leaders and oversees the first-12th grade Bible study program. 

“Come hear amazing life testimonials to the healing, hope and help God brings, and visit the prayer room, as needed, during the conference ,” said Sifuentes. “There will be two gospel skits including a dramatic monologue and gospel perspectives from humorous life experiences.” 

Sifuentes added that a special surprise includes a professional painter who will do a painting in front of
the audience. 

Lunch is provided both days along with light refreshments in the morning and afternoon. There will be door prizes and vendors on-site. 

“Entertainment will be provided by highly talented musical artists,” said Sifuentes. “Nina Garces is the song leader and one of the soloists, along with Kim Jeffreys and Suki Wolf. Kim Usher will provide special piano selections both days.”   

Tickets are $65. Limited scholarships are available. Registration is open until July 16 with limited seating. If you would like to be a sponsor of the event you can donate goods or services that can be used by the women in attendance. Freedom Christian Academy is located at 3130 Gillespie Street. Doors will open at 8 a.m. Friday and close at 5 p.m. and will open at 8 a.m. Saturday and close at 4:30 p.m. 

To register online for the conference using your credit or debit card, visit the Support Us tab at www.daughtersofchristministry.org or call (910) 425-7574. You can also register via mail with a check or money order to Daughters of Christ Ministry, Inc., P.O. Box 48282, Cumberland, NC 28331.  

Working under the slogan, “Entertainment for the Soldier, by the Soldier,” the Army Soldier Show taps into a unique style of performance intended for a unique audience. Living  life as a soldier or part of a military family is challenging, and maintaining morale is a must. The Soldier Show is not only intended to create a fun and positive experience for the soldiers, their families and the community, it is also a way to showcase some of the best things that the Army has to offer: incredibly talented and dedicated people working together to achieve a positive but challenging goal. Don’t miss the Army Soldier Show as it rolls into town on July 11 and 12.

This yea’rs production, “We Serve” explores the foundational element of what it means to serve, in and out of uniform, as well as how our country in return serves them. It is this “Soldier for Life” aspect that instills the strength of character of soldiers and the Army, which are exemplified in its core values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. 

The 2015 U.S. Army Soldier Show honors the Army’s conintued service, resilience and strength. It celebrate the nation, Army families and communities that serve and support service members.

While Broadway and the Army may seem like a strange combination at first, but at the hands of talented performers and organizers it is incredibly engaging and entertaining. These talented performers just happen to be soldiers themselves. The Soldier Show is just one of the many ways that the Army showcases its varied and incredible members. Soldiers stationed all over the nation who love to perform are invited to audition. The process is incredibly strenuous and many soldiers audition, but only the best are invited to join the show. 

Despite the competitive nature of the auditions, the real work doesn’t start until the after roles have been cast. The entire process of creating a fantastic show is challenging; there is no easy part. Performers spend months refining and perfecting their performances in rehearsals. Then after months of preparation, they travel the nation between May and September to perform. That much travel is a challenge for anyone. It is particularly difficult when there is an expectation to maintain a certain level of performance, but The Soldier Show participants have proven their excellence year after year. 

A successful show requires a tremendous amount of work both on stage and behind the scenes. That can pose a particular challenge for traveling shows like this one. Constantly changing venues makes it difficult to prepare for shows technically. The Soldier Show helps to combat this common problem by being self-contained. The technicians are also soldiers and they train and travel with the show just like the performers. They also undergo a selection process as strict and strenuous as the performers, but having your own crew is a necessity for a traveling show. Having people that are so familiar with the show travel with it makes it easier to change things for any specific venue they are performing in. Every member of the crew needs to know the show inside and out, in order to be comfortable and competent in new circumstances.

The Soldier Show performs in Fayetteville on July 11 at 7 p.m. and July 12 at 2 p.m. at the Crown Theatre. The Crown Theatre is located at 1960 Coliseum Dr. There are no tickets. The 90-minute high-energy song and dance show is free and seating is first come first serve. Doors open one hour before the show time and it is open to the public. 

For more information visit http://www.armymwr.com/soldier-show.aspx