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

Everyone knows where our downtown is, but do we know what downtowns are and why they matter? Whether the downtown streets are named Hay or Franklin or Old, what they represent is universal. Our downtown is our economic engine, the center of our arts and cultural opportunities, and the heart of the community. 

Our historic downtown tells us not only who we are but also who we were and how that past help shaped us. We do not go to sprawling suburbs, shopping malls or restaurant rows to learn about our past, to explore our culture or to discover our identity. Our downtown is the place of shared memories where people still come together to live, work and play. It doesn’t belong to us but to our history and our future. Those here today are blessed with the opportunity to enjoy, to cherish, to protect and
 to develop our downtown for tomorrow’s generations. 

The Downtown Alliance has long been committed to the continued nurture, development and promotion of our downtown as a vibrant destination. Effective with the upcoming fiscal year, the City of Fayetteville will contract with the Downtown Alliance for business development, design improvements and coordinated marketing for the downtown area. The new structure supports the city council’s strategic goal for a vibrant downtown. 

The work plan has been developed as a roadmap to guide the activities and resource allocation of the Downtown Alliance for the fiscal year 2015-2016. It includes the delivery of services to all property owners, businesses and residents in the area. Plans include the hiring of two staff members and the full-time staffing of the offices at 222 Hay Street to serve as a one-stop point for information about downtown Fayetteville. The board of directors will be restructured to reflect the broader mission. The organization will conduct quarterly meetings and prepare activity reports for review by the city. All downtown property owners that contribute to the MSD funding will be engaged with the development of plans for the downtown area and in leading the professional staffing and volunteers charged with implementing them. In addition, the Downtown Alliance will serve as the liaison among downtown property owners, businesses and residents and the City of Fayetteville. 

The Downtown Alliance will build on the successes we’ve enjoyed over the past year that saw the development of a vacant building ordinance, a revision of the downtown sign ordinance, a coordinated marketing campaign that promoted downtown Fayetteville as economically and culturally vibrant destination, the creation of a downtown community watch group, several new design and appearance standards for the downtown area and many successful events that showcased downtown like the Small Plate Crawl and Loft Tour. 

The Downtown Alliance’s annual meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, at Marquis Market on Person Street at 6 p.m. All supporters of downtown are invited to share in updates of the 2015-16 Plan of Work and learn about opportunities to get involved to unite the community to promote and advocate for business, residential, and cultural life in the heart of our city.   

Please visit our website  at  www.visitdowntownfayetteville.com for more information about these exciting changes, read the recent press release and review the FAQs section where we plan to address any questions and follow us on the downtown Facebook page as we embark on this exciting journey together.

Like millions of other sad Americans, I cannot keep my mind away from the horrible event at the Bible study class in Charleston, known
as the “holy city,” a reference, in part, to its many churches.  

Our national distress and revulsion are clear.  

The mass murder of innocents has struck a chord in us unlike its grisly predecessors. Among the millions thinking about this violent attack are thousands also writing about it — in various publications and online with almost universal and righteous condemnation. Millions of words have spilled forth and will continue to do so, addressing the innocence of the victims, the youth and life inexperience of the presumed shooter and the proliferation of guns and gun violence in our culture unlike, as President Obama so rightly pointed out, any other developed nation. Given much note, as well, is the tearful forgiveness bestowed in court on the young man in custody by victims’ families. How, we ask ourselves, could the families be so generous only hours after losing loved ones to senseless and inexplicable violence?

None of us understand why our country continues to experience targeted and gross violence aimed at strangers with whom the shooters have no connection and, thus, cannot target individually. I do not pretend to understand any of it, but certain aspects stand out to me.

Young men, guns and the Internet do not mix well.   

Developmental researchers tell us that the human brain, especially in men, is not mature until the person is in his or her mid-20s. Think of incidents since the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999, including the mass murders by gunfire at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, a Colorado movie theater, a first-grade classroom in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, at the Boston Marathon, and, earlier this year, in Chapel Hill.  

Except for the Chapel Hill shooting, the killers were young men in their teens or early 20s, angry and isolated if not actually deranged.  

We must ask ourselves how and why our society is producing, even nurturing, young men who kill indiscriminately in movie houses and on city streets and sometimes with distinct targets as in Wisconsin
and Charleston.  

Why and how does our culture grow such young men and provide them the easy means to commit mass-murder? Mass-murders atrocities will not diminish until we acknowledge and find answers to our questions.

Part of the answers — in my mind, at least — is figuring out how we, the American people, have come to think of people not like ourselves as “the other.”

My photograph appears at the bottom of this page and reveals me the way I think of myself, as a late middle-aged white woman. You may not know anything else about me, but chances are that readers will make assumptions about me and my life based on that photo, and for some, I will be “the other.” Part of this is human nature, but we in America at this point in our history seem to have taken “otherness” to new heights. People who are not like us are “them.”

People of another color than our own are “others.” So are people of different religious beliefs and traditions, so are people who dress differently, whose path to our nation was unlike our own and people of different economic situations.

People somewhere along the sexual spectrum different than our place are routinely ridiculed.

Public school supporters may be suspicious of private school supporters and vice versa.

People who cannot live without guns think the gunless are nuts and vice versa. Ditto for only English speakers and those who speak one or more other languages.

Ditto for Fox News and MSNBC fans, for Democrats and Republicans, for documentary and reality show watchers for University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and North Carolina
State fans.

You, of course, can think of many more “thems” and “others” and may even have some of your own. Our lists of “others” and “thems” now seem endless, and we are dividing and damaging our own nation and our own culture. We are separating ourselves from each other, and in this divisive process, we are spawning mass murderers.

No one, least of all I, has an answer to how we slipped away from Francis Bellamy’s unifying words embodied in our pledge of allegiance to our flag, “…one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”

As we prepare to celebrate the 4th of July, I hope I live long enough to see the civility and respect implicit in that concept return to
our nation. 

I have spent much of this past week trying to avoid the news — but that has been impossible. There has been too much going on for me not to pay attention, as is the case with most Americans. It has been a week of mourning, a week of hope and depending on where you sit, a week of sweeping change in our nation.

Much ink and many talking heads have analyzed the events of the past two weeks ad nauseum. And then the social media pundits have put their spin on it, much of which has done nothing more than alienate people and confuse the real point of all of the discussions. I had thought to hold my peace and discuss none of it, which I have successfully done up to this point. I find that I cannot do that anymore, so, for what it’s worth, here is my two cents worth on one of the subjects.

I have long had a love affair with Charleston. It started long before I ever stepped foot on its historic streets, and probably stemmed from books I read when I was younger. Charleston has always been, in my mind, the jewel of the South. I frequently have the argument with friends that Savannah is Charleston’s dirty cousin. To me, the city lacks the grace that has always been part and parcel of Charleston.

The first time I visited Charleston, I was house-sitting for a college friend of mine. Her family was, for lack of better words, from the old-money South. While, in college, I attended her brother’s wedding. It was my job to pick up her mother’s nanny,  an elderly African-American woman, whom had always been a part of her life. She was as much family as any that attended the wedding–something that a lot of people won’t understand. There was a very real familial connection. 

But I digress. For my friend’s wedding present, her parents bought her a house on the battery. It was quite a chore for me, a starving reporter at a small-town newspaper, to go take care of her house and dogs while she vacationed at Martha’s Vineyard. During my seven days there, I walked every street, turned every corner and visited every historic building in the city. I fell in love; a love which I later shared with my husband.

When we feel the need for some “us time,” we head to Charleston. We walk the same streets, meet many of the same characters and visit the same places. There is a grace and hospitality that flows from the people — people of all colors. You can have the best conversations on the streets and, if you take the time, meet the best people. We do both.

That’s why I was not surprised by the reaction of the people of Charleston to the evil that visited their city. For them to act in any other way would have blind sided me. The people of Charleston are gracious. They have seen the worst that men can do to each other, and they weathered that storm and passed the lessons they learned down through the generations. 

I watched horror-stricken as the news broke of the shooting. Mass shootings are unthinkable, but for it to happen in a house of worship is beyond believable. The very act is evil, but for it to happen in a church is perhaps evil incarnate.  And for it to happen because someone doesn’t like the color of someone’s skin is sickening–beyond belief.

Having been raised in a military family, I was raised around the United States. We lived and worshipped with people of all races, colors and beliefs. None of that ever mattered to us. They were our friends and neighbors. If you were to visit my home today, you will find the same kind of mix. 

Many of the people I consider family are people who do not look like me. My son’s godfather is an African-American. Many of my baseball moms, whom I spend countless weekends with, and with whom I laugh and love greatly, do not look like me. But we are a family - we are the Rebel Nation. 

Many people are more comfortable around people who are like us. For me, being like me means that you are probably smart; that you have a broad world view; that you have an open heart; an open mind; are extremely loyal to those who deserve it; and understand that the only inflexible thing about me is my love for my family and my love of God. 

With that being said, it was not surprising to me that the people of Charleston, and particularly the people of  the Charleston church, reacted the way they did. They reacted not with hate, not with ignorance or closed minds, but rather out of love, forgiveness and an understanding that evil walks this earth and manifests itself in the lives of people — sometimes even our neighbors.

I mourned the deaths of my Christian brothers and sisters who were killed while worshipping. But I rejoiced in the response of their friends and families. I rejoiced in the actions of the people of Charleston who rallied around them, who wrapped their arms around the church and even around the confused, angry young man who listened to the hatred spewed on television and social media.

America has many faults and we have become an angry and divided populace, but we can love. We can rise above. That’s the America I love. That’s the America that Charleston showed us we could be. Let’s take that lesson to heart. Let’s let the diversity that made us great, bring us back together. There are no others. There’s only us, and we will rise or fall together.

I have loved magazines since I realized they existed. 

My childhood home subscribed to several, among them LIFE and LOOK, both now long gone, along with TIME and Newsweek, which tried to weather the Internet age by morphing into who knows what. The one slick vestige of my childhood that still arrives at my door with relentless regularity is the much-treasured New Yorker, a publication which has cut edges since it was born in 1925. 

Also in the mailbox are Our State, Garden and Gun, the always-glamorous Vanity Fair, Yoga Journal, along with various trade, professional and special interest publications, and the occasional fashion mag. 

Some get read. Others do not. I often feel guilty loading my City of Fayetteville-issued blue recycling can.

One that almost always makes the cut is The Atlantic, an American magazine first published in 1857. Always smart and current, it focuses on politics, foreign affairs, the economy and cultural trends and has won more National Magazine Awards than any other monthly. It also boasts a terrific website with provocative stories that do not appear in the actual magazine and hard-to-resist — at least for me — archived pieces.

One of those is “The 100 Most Influential Figures in American History” chosen in 2006 by what The Atlantic describes as “10 eminent historians.” The list is, of course, highly subjective, which made me think about who I would have put on such a ranking, dead or alive.

Here at the historians’ top 10 and how they describe them, beginning with number one.

Abraham Lincoln. “He saved the Union,
freed the slaves and presided over America’s second founding.”

George Washington. “He made the United States possible — not only by defeating a king, but by declining to become one himself.”

Thomas Jefferson. “The author of the five most important words in American history: ‘All men are created equal.’”

Franklin Roosevelt. “He said, ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,’ and then he proved it.”

Alexander Hamilton. “Soldier, banker and political scientist, he set in motion an agrarian nation’s transformation into an industrial power.”

Benjamin Franklin. “The founder-of-all trades — scientist, printer, writer, diplomat, inventor and more; like his country, he contained multitudes.”

John Marshall. “The defining chief justice, he established the Supreme Court as the equal of the other two federal branches.”

Martin Luther King. “His dream of racial equality is still elusive, but no one did more to make it real.”

Thomas Edison. “It wasn’t just the light bulb; the Wizard of Menlo Park was the most prolific inventor in American history.”

Woodrow Wilson. “He made the world safe for U.S. interventionism, if not for democracy.”

Obviously, this top 10 list includes only men, mainly political ones, most of them from the more distant past, and I get that. Men have been totally in charge until the last part of the 20th century, and it is not really possible to assess and understand the relative importance of most living people or the more recently departed. Only time can tell us how Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama will remembered.

Only one living person, Bill Gates, made the list. He came in at number 54 and is described as the John D. Rockefeller of the Information Age, meaning that he has both made a gigantic fortune and is giving it away.

Only nine women made the list, most of them for supporting the rights of women or of black Americans. They are Elizabeth Cady Stanton (#30), described as one of the first great American feminists, a supporter of social reform and women’s right to vote; Susan B. Anthony (#38), also a feminist and supporter of women’s equality under the law; Harriet Beecher Stowe (#41) who “inspired abolitionists;” Margaret Sanger (#51), a champion of birth control and the freedom that came with it; Jane Addams (#64), described as the “secular saint of social work;” and Betty Freidan (#77) who wrote a book about unhappy housewives and “inspired a revolution in gender roles.” The three other women are Rachel Carson (#39) whom the historians called “the godmother of the environmental movement;” Margaret Mead (#81) who taught us about the anthropology of other people; and Mary Baker Eddy (#86), who founded a religion, Christian Science.

I do not believe that women’s contributions to our nation clock in at merely 9 percent.

There are some names among the 100 that many of us will have to Google — John Dewey, John Brown, Robert Oppenheimer, Horace Mann, Samuel Gompers and Enrico Fermi. We can also quibble about some of the rankings. Is Walt Disney (#27) with his “unmatched influence over childhood,” more important than James D. Watson (#68), who discovered DNA, the “code of life?” Are P.T. Barnum (#67) whose “taste for spectacle paved the way for blockbuster movies and reality TV” and Sam Walton (#72) who promised “’Every Day Low Prices’ and we took him up on it” really more influential than Ralph Nader (#96) “who made cars safer and 30 years later made George W. Bush President?”

Did the 10 eminent historians nail it or are they living in ivory towers?

As summer gets in full swing, local children and teens are spending more time out of doors. For many of them, that means time at local parks and athletic fields. For some, it means the start of summer practice for school athletic teams or weekends spent traveling around the state to participate in athletic tournaments.

For parents, that means hectic schedules, carpools, evenings spent sweating on the sidelines and cheering their favorite teams. It also means money, a lot of money for registration fees and countless bottles of Gatorade and water and the ubiquitous sunflower seeds.

I am one of those parents whose child is busy on multiple fields throughout the week. Currently, in the mornings he is hitting the high school weight room as part of the summer conditioning for fall football. He is also hitting the batting center to work on his hitting to improve his baseball game and our weekends are spent driving to baseball fields around the state for him to play in tournaments designed to bring players to the attention of college scouts. Throw in Wednesday night and Sundays spent at church and you can see that our summer is pretty well spent.

That’s our choice. A choice we make to keep our child engaged. To keep him focused on improving himself not only physically, but emotionally and mentally. All of these games are both mental and physical. They are also emotional — and that goes for parents as well. 

At a certain age, you have to sit back and watch your kids learn some hard lessons. Unlike T-ball, not everybody plays and not everybody wins. Sometimes, a lot of the times, kids can’t see the reason behind a coach’s decision (heck, sometimes I can’t), but they have to listen and hopefully, learn from the experience. Parents, too. Coaches, too.

Coaches, of all flavors, are unsung heroes who are changing lives for good or ill. It’s a big responsibility and it is so important that they realize the impact they have on the lives of the young men and women they are coaching. They can create a champion or they can turn a kid off sports completely. It all has to do with why they are coaching.

For some, coaching is a way to relive their own glory days on the field. They are the coaches who are playing for titles, who are focused not on infusing a love of the game and teaching the fundamentals, but rather the “win at all cost” coaches. These are perhaps the most dangerous people to allow into your child’s life. These coaches don’t look at the potential a child has, rather where he or she is right at that moment, not who they could be if they developed, if they were coached. 

These are the coaches who yell, assign blame and give up on their team when they are not performing. They are the ones the other coaches shun. You should shun them, too. Winning isn’t the only thing.

For others, coaching is about sharing a passion. It’s about teaching skills and watching with pride when a kids “gets it.” These are the coaches you want. These are the ones who your child is going to love long after he or she stops competing. These are the coaches who are going to change your child because they not only believe in them, they enjoy them and they love them. 

I count my child lucky to have had several coaches who are of this caliber. They want the best for the player, even when they don’t win - Especially when they don’t win.

Two such coaches are at Gray’s Creek High School. One is the football coach, David Lovette and the other is the baseball/assistant football coach, Jeff Nance. 

Lovette is a no-nonsense kind of coach. When you are practicing, you are practicing. When he asks you to do something, it’s because he wants you to learn something. He sees the potential in his boys and he pushes them to reach it. He doesn’t break them. He has a dry sense of humor, and quick smile. He is quick to praise his players and also to correct them. He is about building men of honor; however, a winning season is okay, too.

Nance is always smiling. He knows his players. He enjoys them. He is quick to crack a joke, but quicker to teach. We have been spending time with Nance lately working on my son’s hitting. For months, people have been telling and yelling at my son about his swing. He heard them. But he didn’t understand what they were saying. Within five minutes of being in the cage with Nance, he not only got a lesson in physics, but also learned how to correct his mechanics. Not because Nance yelled, but because he taught by example. That “aha!” moment was a joy to see.

I also saw Nance in action during the last baseball season. In a parent meeting, he explained that if he saw one of his players messing up, he would call home. He straightforwardly told the parents assembled that evil was walking the halls of area high schools and it wanted their kids. He was going to do his part to keep that from happening. And he did, much to the dismay of some players. 

But here’s the thing with Nance, he will work his players hard, and at the end of practice, he will give them a hug and he usually says, “I love you, buddy.”

 And, he means it. Every time. His players get that, and they are changed. 

The Revolutionary War lasted from 1775-1783. It was about a year into the fight that delegates from the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia and voted for America’s independence from Britain. 

The delegation struggled with the decision, but on July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted for independence. Two days later, on July 4, the delegation adopted the Declaration of Independence. It was another eight years before the fighting stopped, but it is the 4th of July that America claims as her birthday. In the minds of many Americans, if there is anything worth celebrating it is freedom and independence.
This year there is no shortage of events at which to celebrate.

N.C. Symphony Present Concerts In Your Community and Fireworks

Each summer the N.C. Symphony performs free concerts across the state as part of its Concerts in Your Community series. The concerts are a way for the symphony to give back and, as the state’s official symphony, a way to make its music available statewide. On July 1, don’t miss the Independence Day concert at Festival Park. This year, the symphony has invited the Cumberland Oratorio Singers to perform, as well. 

“We take the stage at 7 p.m. and have a set that includes patriotic music and slices of Americana,” said Maureen Yearby, the marketing and publicity spokesperson for the Cumberland Oratorio Singers. “It is an opportunity to perform for the community we love and is a real indication that Cumberland Oratorio Singers has come a long way these past five years.”

Following the  Cumberland Oratorio Singers, the N.C. Symphony performance includes favorites that are sure to touch the hearts of patriots and rousing classics that will leave hearts pounding. Some favorites that are featured include Root’s “The Battle Cry of Freedom” and Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” plus selections from the Civil War era. The symphony performs at 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public. End the evening with a fireworks display that is fitting for patriotic celebration of American independence. Find out more at www.ncsymphony.org.

America’s Favorite Game

Known for their summertime fireworks extravaganzas, the SwampDogs pull out all the stops when it comes to celebrating America’s birthday. It’s the team’s biggest event of the year and one that should not be missed. On Friday, July 3, the Honoring America Fireworks Tribute is presented by Hendrick Chrysler Jeep Fiat and USAA. 

“This is the best fireworks show Fayetteville has to offer during the summer, and is a memorable show for the whole family,” said Assistant General Manager/Voice of the SwampDogs Joe Vasile.

Celebrate in Spring Lake

Spring Lake is celebrating with a 4th of July Festival on Main Street. This family-friendly event features live entertainment, a kid’s zone, water activities, a car show and food and craft vendors. The celebration takes place at
 the Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce and  runs from noon until dark. Call 497-8821 for more details. 

Join the Fun in Hope Mills

Hope Mills looks to celebrate the 4th of July with a Party in the Park at Hope Mills Municipal Park. But first, the day starts with a good, old-fashioned parade in downtown Hope Mills. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Party in the Park starts at 4 p.m. and will include family-friendly games, vendors and live entertainment. Find out more at www.townofhopemills.com, www.hopemillschamber.com or by calling 426-4107.

A Patriotic Celebration at Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg’s 4th of July celebration takes place on the Main Post Parade Field. The event includes plenty of events and activities to keep attendees busy all afternoon and well into the evening. 

The parade field opens at 1 p.m., for those who are serious about staking out great spots for the concerts and fireworks. Kiddieland and food vendors open at 3 p.m. The program officially starts at 5 p.m. with a performance by Easton Corbin. 

From 6-6:30 p.m., all eyes are on the skies as the U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s  Black Daggers free fall from the sky. Up next is Randy Houser, who will perform until 7:45 p.m. Senior commander remarks and sponsor recognition follows. 

If you have ever attended the Fort Bragg celebration, then you know you will not want to miss the flag ceremony and 82nd Division All American Chorus’ rendition of  The National Anthem followed by a three song set by Patten and Goff. 

At 9 p.m., enjoy the music of the 82nd Division All American Band  featuring the “1812 Overture” (including the canon). The magic hour is 10 p.m., when fireworks begin to light up the sky over the home of America’s finest. 

Guests are encouraged to arrive early because heavy traffic is expected. No pets, glass bottles or grills. A complete list of prohibited items is available at www.fortbraggmwr.com/july4th. Tent rentals are available but must be reserved in advance. Find out more at www.fortbraggmwr.com/tent-city. There are no tent rentals on the day of the event. The 2015 Fort Bragg 4th of July Celebration is free and open to the public. Find out more at www.fortbraggmwr.com.

The Fayetteville SwampDogs’ season is well underway, and as usual fans have been flocking to “The Swamp” for the best family fun and entertainment Fayetteville has to offer. This week is set to be another exciting week, as the SwampDogs host four games.

The fun kicks off on Wednesday, July 1, with Opening Night Part 2: The Salute to Sequels as the Dogs take on the Wilmington Sharks at 7:05 pm. Help the SwampDogs kick off the second part of their schedule by tipping their hats towards the great “Part Twos” in history. It’s also Social Media night, so follow the SwampDogs on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for special deals at the ballpark.

Friday, July 3 marks the return of the Honoring America Fireworks Tribute at “The Swamp” presented by Hendrick Chrysler Jeep Fiat, USAA and Disaster One.  Everyone knows that the best fireworks in Fayetteville are at “The Swamp” on the third, so don’t miss your chance to experience the extravaganza that everybody is sure to be talking about! This game is sold out every year, so make sure to reserve your tickets early so you don’t get shut out.

The SwampDogs return home on Monday, July 6 for College Rivalry Night and Guaranteed Win Night! If the SwampDogs don’t win against the Lexington County Blowfish, all fans in attendance receive a free general admission ticket to the next home game at “The Swamp.”

That next home game is on Tuesday, July 7 on Superhero and Villain Night!  Come to the game dressed as your favorite superhero or villain to see whether good or evil will triumph and win the day.

With these great games coming up this week, and the weekly promotions of Cornhole Mondays, Scavenger Hunt Tuesdays and Ladies Night Wednesdays, “The Swamp” is sure to be packed this week as the SwampDogs
chase a birth into the Petitt Cup Playoffs once again.

To reserve your tickets for these games — or any remaining SwampDogs game this season — contact the Fayetteville SwampDogs’ business office at 910-426-5900 or stop by in person at J.P. Riddle Stadium, located at 2823 Legion Road 

in Fayetteville.  

With single game tickets starting at just $6, and a Family Four Pack — comprised of four general admission tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips and four small sodas — a $56 value costing only $35, the SwampDogs are an affordable night out that can’t be beat.

For the most up-to-date information on the SwampDogs, including our upcoming schedule, player bios and more, slide down to the online home of the SwampDogs, www.goswampdogs.com. On social media, the SwampDogs can be found on Twitter and Instagram at the handle @GoSwampDogs, and on Facebook like the official team page, Fayetteville SwampDogs Baseball. These are all great sources to help keep you connected to your favorit boys of summer.  

A SwampDogs game is where baseball is fun, and we want to see you out at
“The Swamp.”

Libraries can be so much more than a building where people check out books. They can be centers for learning of all kinds as well as places for community growth. Thanks to the dedication and creativity of many staff members, the Headquarters Library is an incredible addition to the city, hosting cultural and educational events year round. 

One of the many programs that the library offers is a Local Author Showcase. The library invites local authors and citizens to come together to learn from each other at this entertaining and  engaging event. The next Local Author Showcase is set for June 26.

The Showcase has been happening
for years, and according to Erika Earp, the Information Services Manager at
the Headquarters Library, it has grown over time.

“Last year we had 40 authors participate.” she said. Despite this success, there are some challenges in organizing this event. “My biggest challenge has been finding enough staff members to volunteer to help out, which, really, is not a bad challenge to have,” Earp explains. 

For those who have never been to a past Local Author Showcase, Earp advises, “Expect a wide variety of books. Also expect authors who are really happy to talk to people about what they do and what their experiences have been with getting books published.” 

This event does double duty in supporting the growth of the community, which is a primary focus of the event. 

“It’s important to support the community and the people who live here. Coming to the showcase and talking to the authors is a good way to support them, even if you don’t buy one of their books,” she explains. 

It provides aspiring authors and amateur writers with an opportunity to meet and seek advice from published authors and it provides a platform for local authors to share their works with a wider audience. Additionally, for people who have read and enjoyed the works of these authors, they have the opportunity to talk to the writers. 

“I think it gives people an understanding of where the authors were coming from when they wrote their works,” Earp said 

It may seem intimidating to meet a successful published author, but it is important to remember that these are local people excited to share their ideas and success with the community. According to Earp there is absolutely no reason to be nervous about meeting and talking with these local treasures, in fact it is her favorite part of the event. 

“I really like meeting all the different authors. They’re all very nice and fun to talk to,” she says. 

The Local Author Showcase is on June 26 at 7 p.m. at the Headquarters Library. The Headquarters Library is located at 300 Maiden Lane. Books are for sale and Earp reminds attendees that, “If you plan on buying books, please bring cash; not everyone will have the ability to accept plastic.” 

For more information visit www.cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplsite/content/author-visits-2015 or call 910-483-7727. 

The current exhibit at the Cape Fear Historical Complex showcases 64 black and white photographs of the Stagville Planation in Durham, N.C. The exhibit runs through Sept. 13.

The Stagville plantation encompassed nearly 30,000 acres of land owned by the Bennehan and Cameron families, making it the largest plantation in the state of N.C. Paul Cameron, the wealthiest man at that time, owned approximately 900 slaves. 

Photographer Brenda Scott began her study in 2011 to create lasting images of the historical meaning of Stagville. During her research she also met several descendants of Stagville. She took the opportunity to photograph descendants as well as still photos of the original owners of Stagville.

“One descendant is holding a mirror that captures both her in the foreground and a slave cabin in the background. This photographic study of the site in modern times makes the exhibit’s content very unique”, said Leisa Greathouse, curator of education.

Stagville the Living Legacy, one of Scott’s three projects also includes interviews with descendants. The interviews are also on display and complement the photos. Each interview gives context to the time and place and gives perspective to the photos as they are viewed as a whole.

“The exhibit evokes different things to different people, which is what a museum exhibit is supposed to do. People are supposed to draw their own conclusions about Stagville’s past and present,” said Greathouse. 

Today, the historic site consists of 165 acres where many of the original buildings still stand, which indicates the skill and craftsmanship of slaves who built them. Imagine the craftsmanship it demands to build a roof without one single nail —  one that has weathered the test of time. 

“There is a picture of a simple door, whose wooden planks are set vertically and the sun is shining through the cracks, between the planks. The radiating sun creates brilliance to the picture. It’s a simple, yet beautiful photograph. How many of those hundreds of slaves saw that view 150 years ago as the Civil War ended? And even decades prior?” she asked. 

The black and white exhibit is available for viewing
from Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the historical complex. Find out more at www2.ncdcr.gov/ncmcf.

Fayetteville Technical Community College’s Fine Arts Department is presenting two plays, The Water Engine and Mr. Happiness by David Mamet on June 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 7 p.m. and June 21 and 28 at 2 p.m. in the Cumberland Hall Auditorium on the campus of Fayetteville Technical Community College. 

John Doerner and Patricia Cucco are co-directors of the plays. 

The Water Engine takes place in a radio studio. It is a depiction of what radio actors did in the studio in 1934 in Chicago, which was to stand in front of the microphone with their scripts. It is a radio play that becomes a realistic play. 

“We play with the audience’s perception and according to the author there should be three realities,” said Doerner. “At times they are radio actors, real actors and sometimes they are both.”

 Doerner added that the play is surprising to the audience and the cast is the best cast that he has ever worked with. The cast consists of students, teachers and actors who bring 100 percent every day to rehearsal. 

The Water Engine is about a man who invents an engine that runs on water. “He goes to a patent attorney to try and patent it and things go downhill from there because they try to take advantage of him,” said Doerner. “He has separated the hydrogen from the water and it makes you think about the impact that something like this would have on our economy and culture and how people would deal with that.”    

Mr. Happiness opens the show. It is a short piece that begins a larger play. The play is one long monologue and the actor is James Dean. 

“He reads letters on the air to the listeners and he answers them,” said Doerner. “It is a lonely-heart kind of Ann Landers thing.” 

Doerner added that Mr. Happiness is performed before The Water Engine. 

Doerner is an educator and actor from New York City and has always had a passion for the theater. 

“We have wanted to do this play for 25 years now,” said Doerner. “I chose this play because it has a lot to say about government, ambition and politics which is very timely in reference to today.” 

Doerner added that the play was written back in the ‘70s.     

“There is something about theater that touches and stays with us in a place that nothing else touches,” said Doerner. “If you can be a part of creating that, you are contributing to the culture and that is what I like to think I do.”  

The play is free and open to the public.  For more information, call 678-0092.   

In As You Like It, the immortal bard penned the famous line  “All the world’s a stage,” which refers more to the countless roles each individual plays throughout the stages of their lives, but it also speaks to the heart of theatre and the actors and actresses who walk the boards, laying themselves bare to tell a story.

In Cumberland County, there are a number of stages and a number of extremely talented people who bring stories to life on the stage and several companies that give them not only the opportunity, but the wherewithal to make magic happen. In these hazy days of summer, our theatres go dark, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a lot of work going on and a lot of preparation behind the scenes, readying the stage for the start of the 2015-2016 theatre season.

Sweet Tea Shakespeare

One of the newest, and definitely unique, theatre companies in the Cape Fear Region is Sweet Tea Shakespeare, which operates under the auspices of Fayetteville State University.  The company seeks to “celebrate the wonder of Shakespeare, other classic plays and new work in beautiful environments with family-style flare by providing simple, elemental, magical theatre experiences.”

In its fourth season, the company’s summer season is ongoing, with its first offering, The Cherry Orchard, currently running on the grounds of the 1897 Poe House, which is part of the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex. The company presents most of its work in this unique outdoor setting, which actually makes the great outdoor its stage. Written by Anton Chekhov, the play runs through June 21, with shows at 7 p.m. Music, food and fun start at 6:15 p.m. The cast features Marie Lowe, Candace Joice, Nathan Pearce, Brandon Bryan, David Holt, Michael Carney, Jeremy Fiebig, Ja’Maul Johnson, Kaley Morrison, Liz Covington, Reagan Carstens, Joey Narvaez, and Katie White. Greg Fiebig, the company director,  is directing and Jacob French is music director.

In July, the second play of the summer season is a classic Shakespeare piece, The Tempest,which follows the survivors of a shipwreck as they explore and the island of Prospero.Opening July 16, it runs through the 19th, with shows also on July 23-26.

The cast features Ruth Nelson, Jessica Osnoe, Nicole Callaghan, Marie Lowe, Cerina Johnson, Malerie Goodman, Joyce Borum, Katie Wampler, Liz Covington, Medina Demeter, Jennifer Czechowski, Zec Williams, Brandon Bryan, Joey Narvaez, and Ja’Maul Johnson. Fiebig and French team up again to bring the story to life.

Audiences should bring their own seating, including camping or other outdoor chairs and blankets. Some quilt seating is available onsite on a rental basis. $12 general admission; $10 seniors and military member; children 6-12 are $6; and those under the age of 5 are admitted free. Tickets may be reserved at sweetteashakespeare.com/tickets and purchased onsite via cash, credit or debit card.

The Gilbert Theater

The Gilbert Theater, led by Artistic Director Robyne Parrish, has six shows lined up for its 2015-2016 season, with comedies, tragedies, feel-good and socially relevant plays on tap. Company members invite the community to come out and experience “theatre with a pulse.”

The season opens Sept. 18 with the classic Mel Brooks musical, Young Frankenstein. In classic Brooks style, the show centers around the work of Dr. Frankenstein who, following in his grandfather’s footsteps, tries to bring a corpse back to life. With help and hindrance from servant Igor, buxom assistant Inga and needy fiancée Elizabeth, his experiment yields success and unexpected consequences. The play runs through Oct. 4.

For the past several years, The Gilbert has brought the classic A Christmas Carol to the stage as a gift to the community. This year the company has elected to change things up and will stage It’s a Wonderful Life instead. The classic play chronicles the life of George Bailey, the “Everyman” from the small town of Bedford Falls. Bailey’s life has not turned out as he thought it would. He stands broken, dreaming of escape and adventure. Bailey, has given up hope, and it is up to his Guardian Angel to remind him that the life he is so disappointed in, is really very wonderful. The show runs Nov. 27 and runs through Dec. 20. 

In February, tragedy takes center stage as Shakespeare’s Titus Anronicus and Hedda Baler by Henrik Ibsen are performed. 

Women of Manhattan and The Vagina Monologues round out the season in April and June, respectively. 

Women of Manhattan by John Patrick Shanley chronicles the love lives of three women: Rhonda, who has just broken up with her boyfriend; Billie, a happily married woman who is afraid that she and her husband will never move past their honeymoon phase; and Judy, who is afraid she will never meet a good-looking guy who isn’t gay. 

In a series of sharply written, subtly revealing scenes, their situations change. Billie fixes up Judy with her ex-boyfriend, a debonair black executive who proves to be more than an adequate lover; Billie’s husband gives her a black eye (which delights her because it finally proves that the honeymoon is over!); and Rhonda, still alone, summons up the courage to dispose of her boyfriend’s sneakers. 

The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler is fairly self-explanatory. It is a series of monlogues delivered by women that is designed to “break down the barriers of secrecy and shame surrounding both the use of the word ‘vagina’ (both in public and in private) and the violence perpetrated against those who have one. “

Tickets are $16 for general admission with military, student and senior discounts available. There are also special package prices for advance paid groups of ten or more. For more information or to buy tickets, email boxoffice@gilberttheater.com, visit www.gilberttheater.com or call 678-7186. Cape Fear Regional Theatre

Nestled in Haymount, the Cape Fear Regional Theatre will continue telling great stories during its upcoming season. Under the direction of Artistic Director Tom Quaintance, the theatre has an eclectic lineup featuring everything from classics like Man of La Mancha, to musicals like The Wizand an original work, Downrange: Voices from the Homefrontin its lineup

The eight-play season begins Sept. 17  with the musical, Man of La Mancha, which runs through Oct. 11. The musical tells the story of “The Mad Knight, ” Don Quixote, as a play within a play, performed by Miguel de Cervantes and his fellow prisoners as he awaits a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition. 

A new adaption of a timeless classic, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner is on stage in October. The adaption by Todd Kreidler, tells the story of a progressive white couple’s proud liberal sensibilities that are put to the test when their daughter, fresh from an overseas romance, brings her African-American fiancé home to meet them. 

In December, the theatre stages it’s traditional The Best Christmas Pageant Everas a special event, followed by The Wiz, which runs Jan. 21-Feb. 14. This beloved Broadway musical sets Dorothy’s adventures in the land of OZ to music in a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, gospel and soul! The Wizis CFRT’s Classic Theatre Series production for the 2015-2016 season and is presented in partnership with Cumberland County Schools, providing an opportunity to engage, entertain and educate students. Free tickets will be provided to all 11th grade CCS students.

Downrange, written and directed by Mike Wiley, is the first original play commissioned by the theatre. It explores the impact of more than a decade of war on not only our nation’s warriors, but also their families. The show runs March 3-20, 2016.

Downrangeis followed up with the classic comedy Arsenic and Old Lace, which will open April 7. 

In May, theatre patrons can look forward to spending some time with The Man in Black when the musical Ring of Fire comes to the stage. With Hedwig and the Angry Inch rounding out the season May.  Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the story of a German transsexual who goes on a journey of self-discovery, has one of the greatest rock scores of any contemporary musical. From the driving rock of “Tear Me Down” to the heart rending “Origin of Love” to the country-pop brilliance of “Sugar Daddy,” this musical has struck a chord. Hedwig allows us to feel free to truly love ourselves and become the best version of ourselves and, ultimately, spread the love to others.

Season tickets are now available and options can be found at www.cfrt.org.

If you are looking for something to do on June 26, head downtown to 4th Friday. Businesses and galleries are open late, there are a variety of activities to enjoy and  there are new exhibits and performances to take in — the entire family will find something to enjoy. 

Every year, the Arts Council hosts an exhibit called Public Works. It is a celebration of local art and local artists. The exhibit opened in May and is on display through July 18. Don’t miss the Arts Council’s reception from 5-9 p.m. From 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. visitors can catch a performance by the Army Ground Forces Band as well.

After stopping at the Arts Council, art aficionados can head to Cape Fear Studios at 148 Maxwell St. for the opening of the 2015 National 2D Competition. The national juried competition and exhibit featuring 2D artists throughout the United States is a local favorite and features interesting pieces from around the country showcased in the main gallery. Visit the member artists’ studios and check out Fayetteville’s local talent, too. The 2015 National 2D Competition is on display through July 20. Find out more at www.capefearstudios.com.

Fayetteville After Five joins the 4th Friday festivities this year with concerts in Festival Park. It is a great way to wind down from a busy week and kick off the weekend. This month, the featured headliners are The Stranger, a Billy Joel tribute band and  Dealing Stan, a tribute to Steely Dan. Gate opens at 5 p.m.  Acts begin at 7 p.m. 

The Headquarters Library invites readers, authors and aspiring authors to visit the Local Authors Showcase. Meet the authors, check out their work and ask questions. Have you ever wanted to know what inspires an author or how hard it is to get published? Find out at the showcase. The event, which lasts from 7-9 p.m., features writers from the Sandhills region and is sponsored  by the Friends of the Library.

Kids love Fascinate-U Children’s Museum — and for good reason. There is plenty of kid-sized fun all in one building. Admission is free on 4th Friday, so the little ones can enjoy miniature grocery store, post office and other hands-on learning centers and take home a craft, too. Local author Catherine Poole hosts a story time and then the children will make their own colorful bookmarks to take home. Storytime is at 7:30 p.m. Free play is from 7-9 p.m. Fascinate-U is located at 116 Green St. 

The Fayetteville Area Transportation & Local History Museum at 325 Franklin St. features artifact-filled exhibits, including a model train room that tells the story of transportation from pre-history through the early 20th century. The museum  is open from 6-9 p.m.  on 4th Friday. 

Don’t miss the exhibit in collaboration with Fayetteville State University celebrating the life of Dr. E.E. Smith, the beloved Baptist minister, patriotic militia officer, successful businessman, generous philanthropist, accomplished statesman and distinguished and dedicated educator.

The Market House showcases the educational exhibit Local Artistsupstairs. It is open from 6-10 p.m. This exhibit is in addition to the permanent exhibit, A View from the Square: A History of Downtown Fayetteville.

Hay Street United Methodist Church at 320 Hay St. is taking part in the action and will feature fun beach activities including face painting and creating sand art necklaces  from 6-8 p.m.

The Civil War, even after so many years, has an eternal grip on the American psyche. James Greathouse, the senior museum specialist at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum, explains the fascination by saying, “In many ways it was our last ‘Napoleonic Style’ war.  Colorful uniforms, regimental bands and all that pomp and ceremony. From the dashing cavalry trooper riding off to glory and honor to the lines of soldiers marching shoulder-to-shoulder braving shot and shell, the Civil War reminds us of an age of chivalry. “

To further explore this era, the museum organized a Civil War Bus Tour with Greathouse as the tour guide. The tour explores three different towns that have deep, though perhaps unexpected connections, to the Civil War. 

“For the Averasboro portion of the tour we will stop at several places along the battlefield to explain how the battle developed and hear some personal accounts,” said Greathouse. “At the museum, tour members will have time to explore the exhibits and check out the gift shop. At Bentonville, we will go over the details of the battle, but will not venture too far into the battlefield area. The bus tour guide will provide background information on the Carolinas’ Campaign and the visitor’s center displays will allow the group to get a greater understanding of how the battle unfolded.” 

In Fayetteville, Averasboro and Bentonville, the tour will highlight personal accounts by the soldiers and civilians that witnessed the battles.

For Greathouse the single best moment of the tour is the hospital 

at Bentonville. 

“It is an unbroken reminder of the brutality of warfare. This nice home was thrown into the midst of war and I really do not think that life there was ever the same there after the battle,” he said.

 The entire tour is riveting for both the experienced Civil War enthusiast and the less experienced. The route itself is hauntingly beautiful, so beautiful that Greathouse says it is a struggle to imagine the brutality that took place, noting that these events are still very pertinent.  

The Civil War was a very human and personal affair for those who served, and having an honest retelling is vital to understanding America today. 

“To understand the Civil War and what it means to America today, we need to look at the war from all sides,” Greathouse says. “For me, it is the stories of the common soldiers and civilians just trying to survive the war that holds my attention. It is these stories that truly show us the best and worst of what the Civil War was about. These personal stories are where we can learn something worth remembering.”

The Cumberland County History Bus Tour is on June 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is required as space is limited. There is also a $5 fee per person, and moderate walking may be involved. For more information visitwww.fcpr.us/transportation_museum.aspx or call 910-433-1457. 

Author Robert Fulghum hit an incredible home run with his 1988 book of short essays, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Fulghum’s effort dominated the bestseller lists for more than a year, and while it has been 25 years or so since I read it, I do remember thinking that he learned a lot more than I did when I was 5-years-old. All I remember about kindergarten is the spectacularly wonderful goopiness of finger paints, and Billy Rose’s mother coming to pick up our carpool early the day Hurricane Hazel flattened much of North Carolina’s southern coast and laid the supple young pine trees in our family’s Haymount yard down on the ground.

That being said, I started thinking about what I have learned since kindergarten. I am happy and relieved to report that I have learned a few things, including a lot more about hurricanes, particularly from Hurricane Fran. In no special order, here are a few tidbits that have stuck with me through the years. Some I wish I had understood in kindergarten, and some my younger me had to mature a bit to grasp.

The only person who will go all the way through life with you is you. Parents, friends, even spouses, will fall away. You will enjoy your life’s journey more if you learn to like your own company and to trust your own judgment. Young people, especially teenagers, have real trouble with this as they are often mesmerized by their peers, but it is true nonetheless.

Politics is a matter of timing. The world’s best candidate can lose when the tide of public opinion is heading in a different direction, and, conversely, a weak candidate — perhaps dishonest or lacking in mental horsepower — can get elected if the public tide flows his or her way. Fortunately, politics is cyclic — the tide will turn eventually.

Henry the VIII of England did not do-in all six of his wives. He beheaded two of them, but two died of natural causes. The sight unseen German princess whom he married on the rebound did not last long, but she kept her head. Unenamored Henry quickly had Anne of Cleves declared his sister and dispatched her to a remote country estate to live peacefully ever after. His sixth wife outlived him. 

Many friends come and go throughout life, as do some relatives, because of interests, change of location and all of the other factors that affect our lives. If we are lucky, though, we have a handful of the most precious ones for the better part of our lives. I am so blessed to have friends with whom I have laughed, cried, weathered triumphs and tragedies. They come from all parts of my life and enrich it every moment, even when we are not together.

Sometimes we think others are in the wrong, when they are not. It is a good policy to keep a mirror handy for just such situations.

There are certain items women over the age of 30 should never wear again. I count short shorts, leather pants, T-shirts with writing and/or pictures on them and hair bows among them.

Resentment, anger and hatred are not good traveling buddies. They are corrosive, eating us up from the inside out, and leaving the objects of our emotions largely unscathed. I tell myself they produce more wrinkles than any other feelings.

Our children are the most precious and fragile creatures we ever encounter. Treat them with love, respect and honesty, and those qualities will come back to you in spades. That does not mean leading them into positive and productive adult hoods is anything close to easy.

No matter what we may delude ourselves into thinking, we really have no clue what is going on in anyone else’s home, office or marriage. Sometimes we have no clue what is going on in our own.

Travel is almost always worth the investments of time, money and effort. Family travel makes memories that can be shared through the years in ways no possessions can. Travel broadens everyone’s perspective on the world and enriches and expands our own lives.

And, as a bonus, it is generally fun.

And, here is some wisdom which recurs to me more and more these days.

At the end of life, what people regret are not the actions they have taken, however egregious, but the opportunities they have not seized out of fear or any other reason. In other words, when opportunity knocks, we will be happier with ourselves if we answer the door.

I wonder whether Robert Fulghum learned that one.

It will probably come as no surprise to our readers that many of my conversations with local citizens revolve around what’s going on in the city, and in particular, with the local government. Recently the question was posed: “Are they doing anything good?” in reference to the Fayetteville City Council. That question was quickly followed up with, “If so, what is it?”

Staying abreast of the comings and goings of the council, I do my best to keep track of what is going on, but in this instance, I thought why not go to the source? So I contacted Mayor Robertson and asked him the question I was asked, which more or less comes down to, “What have you done for the people of the city lately?”

Those who know Robertson will understand that he didn’t miss a beat as he highlighted what was good in our city and how the city council is working and has worked together to improve the city, despite public sentiment that sees them as divided .

At the top of Robertson’s list was one of the council’s most recent accomplishments: the passage of the budget. Over the past month, the council has focused on its budget. The discussions have at times been heated, but the council remained dedicated to the process and for the first time in recent memory passed the upcoming budget unanimously. 

That’s a pretty big deal when you consider dwindling federal funding and increasing demands for services by a growing population. If you throw in the pressure of the PWC/City Government dysfunction, it is almost what some consider miraculous. Robertson doesn’t see it that way, explaining that the council is not as divided as some would think. 

“Most of the time, we are all on the same page,” he said. “We may disagree about the way to get from one point to the other, but we know the direction we are headed.”

Robertson takes great pride in the fact that the city’s crime rate has dropped again. Robertson ran his campaign with going after crime his top priority, and he has remained committed to it.  He pointed out that the city has made some hard choices to get a handle on this issue and has worked in concert to go after crime . Steps taken include:

• Funding the police officers

• Opening a new west area Police sub-station

• Funding In-Car Camera Systems in all patrol cars 

• Contracting with a new local crime laboratory to expedite the prosecution of criminals

• Installing monitored thoroughfare cameras throughout the city

• Installing Red light cameras at dangerous intersections

• Year over year crime rate reduction of 12.4 percent

• Expanding Community Watch and National Night Out participation

To improve the quality of life for local residents, the city has also made great strides in the area of Parks and Recreation.

The council studied and voted to:

• Re-introduce the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Youth Council

• Authorize construction of a new community pool at the Westover Recreation Center

• Fund expansion of both Linear Park as well as the River Trail

• Open City recreation centers on holidays

Public Transportation, which was  a central focus of the previous council, remained on the radar, with the council  accomplishing the following:

•  Starting conversations with Fort Bragg, Cumberland County, Spring Lake and Hope Mills about Regional Transportation serving all of Cumberland County’s residents

• Now running routes onto Fort Bragg and connecting with Spring Lake and Hoke County buses

• Starting or expanding several routes

• Enacting programs  for Cumberland County Schools student athletes to ride any FAST bus for free

• Approving $12.1 million for the construction of the new Transportation Center

• Increasing overall ridership.

Finally, in the area of economic development, Robertson reports that the city is making strides, continuing to update the Unified Development Ordinance, improving customer service and employee training, implementing a new “customer portal” for residents deal with Inspection and Permits Departments and continuing to create an environment that promotes growth. 

The Grammy’s, the Oscars, the Tonys. All are awards that celebrate excellence in performance: music, movies and plays. In Fayetteville, the Pryer Awards, sponsored by The Gilbert Theater not only recognize outstanding performances, but also raise funds for the theater. The Third Annual Pryer Awards is set for Tuesday, June 16, from 6 -9 p.m. at the Gilbert Theater. 

Those familiar with the theater will quickly realize that the event and award take its name from the founder of the theater, Lynne Pryer. 

“This is our only fundraiser of the year, but it is an awards ceremony, too,” said Robyne Parrish, artistic director of the Gilbert Theater. “All year long, the audience is asked to vote for their favorites in the different categories after the show and at the end of the year the votes are tallied for the entire season.”  

Parrish added that the categories are Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Design Element and Best Play or Best Musical. 

The awards ceremony got its humble beginnings from a discussion about the hard work of the artists at the theater all year long. 

“The Pryer Awards started because we wanted to honor the artists who work in the theater for basically nothing,” said Parrish. “We do pay everyone who works at the Gilbert, but it is a small stipend.” 

The event features an evening of great food, an open bar and entertainment. Entertainment is provided by The Little Sisters of Hoboken and the Gilbert Glee Club. Ricardo Morgan is the master of ceremonies of the event. There is a silent auction featuring merchandise from local restaurants, artists and craftsmen. A champagne toast will be given to the Revolutionary donors during the evening of the event. A volunteer award will be presented to the two best volunteers. 

 A lifetime achievement award has been added this year and Steve Jones is the recipient of this award. He attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and has starred in The Rocky Horror Show several times. 

“I have been thinking about this award for a while now and the people who have been working at the Gilbert and have gone above and beyond over the years,” said Parrish. “We will highlight Steve’s life outside of the Gilbert and everything he has done at the Gilbert.”  

Raffle tickets are for sale for $25 and the winner will receive an all expense paid trip for two to the “Big Apple” better known as New York City. The winning ticket will be drawn the evening of the event. 

“This is a great way to reach the community and get all of our donors together once a year,” said Parrish. “We look forward to an evening of honor and fun.” 

    Tickets are $40. Space is limited so reserve your seats now. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 678-7186 or visit www.gilberttheater.com. 

Alzheimer’s is a cruel and nasty disease. It affects not only the person afflicted but everyone who knows and loves them. Sadly, it does not have the attention that many other diseases receive. 

“There are lots of unanswered questions but what we know is that if it is good for your heart than it is good for your brain. So think eating well, exercising and reducing stress. That is something that we can hold on to that we know is true. Scientists say that they are close to a breakthrough but they lack the funding and the awareness that other diseases have. That is why this walk (the Walk to End Alzheimer’s) is so important. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the nation, there is no cure and there is no way to slow it down … It is also unreported. Many people die of Alzheimer’s complications but they are not reported on the death certificate,” explained Julie Russo, the Joe McKee Memorial Alzheimer’s Fund director and Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s co-chair. It is this knowledge that drives the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s which is sponsored by the Joe McKee Memorial Alzheimer Fund. The walk is scheduled for Sept. 12.

The annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a labor of love. It requires a tremendous amount of preparation, organization and work both all year-round and the day of the event. Russo explained that there are 20 volunteers that help to plan the walk year-round and the day of the event they need more than 50 people to help out. In previous years, getting and organizing volunteers has been a challenge, but with experience and a firm base, it has improved every year. 

“Often I tap into my teacher skills. I was an elementary school teacher for 20 years and a lot of the skills are transferable like planning, recruiting and encouraging people. It’s not a one-time thing, you have to do it constantly. Whenever I go out I talk about the walk and try to tell people about it, I’m very tenacious,” Russo said. 

This year’s walk is going to be bigger and better than ever. Russo explained by saying, “We are constantly trying to be innovative and expand our reach. This year we are having our walk in the SwampDogs Stadium. Before we would always have it in one of our neighborhoods. I am the Director of Administration for McKee homes and my husband is Pat McKee so we have always had the walk in one of our neighborhoods. But now, because of our numbers we have outgrown that. So the SwampDogs have generously donated their entire stadium for the day of the walk and there is a baseball night for the walk. That is on July 29, at 6 p.m., and at the baseball game we will be auctioning off one of the uniforms, but it will be purple and have the emblem of the Alzheimer’s Association. All the proceeds from that night will go to benefit the walk. We are calling it Bringing Memories Home Safe. “

Along with a bigger location comes bigger goals, which are based on past performances and are designed to challenge and encourage participants. This year the fundraising goal is $69,000. They also aim to have 630 participants and 60 teams. Teams have never been a huge focus for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s before, but this year they are a major theme. Not only  have the  goals increased for team participation, there is also now a traveling trophy. The trophy, donated by Parks Building Supply and Interiors, is awarded to the corporate team that raises the most money by Oct. 1. The trophy will be displayed at the business until Sept. 1, 2016, when it returns to McKee Homes Design Center until the next year’s winner is determined. 

The 2015 Walk to End Alzheimer’s is on Sept. 12, 2015. Registration is at 9 a.m., the ceremony is at 10 a.m. and the walk begins at 10:30 a.m. The route length is two miles and it is held at the “SwampDogs’” J.P. Riddle Stadium, located at 2823 Legion Road. For more information, call 919-803-8285 or visit http://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=7621&pg=entry. 

Wait no longer! Christian rock band Casting Crowns is finally making their way to Fayetteville June 20 with fellow artists Josh Wilson and About A Mile.

If you’ve ever listened to Christian Radio for more than a minute at a time, you’ve more than likely heard a Casting Crowns song. For more than a decade, Casting Crowns filled the airwaves  with hit after hit, writing some of the most cherished songs heard in churches today. So, when the word was out that this timeless band was coming to the Crown Coliseum back in April, tickets sold quickly. 

Then, fans received some terrible news. The Fayetteville stop on the tour, among many others, was canceled. But that wasn’t the worst of it. Casting Crowns lead singer, Mark Hall, announced on social media that he had a cancerous mass on his kidney and would be having surgery to remove it in March.

His life was halted unexpectedly by this devastating news, leaving the band no choice but to reschedule the rest of the Evening With Casting Crowns tour, including pushing back Fayetteville’s April date to June 20. 

During the announcement, Mark made a humble request to their fans.

“Please pray for healing and for God’s peace for my family,” he asked online. 

People began to pray. Thousands of fans joined in to pray for Mark, his family and the band, starting a #Pray-ingForMark movement, connecting with him online with the hashtag to show their love and support during his surgery and recovery. What began as a simple request spread rapidly across the nation through people who know Mark, or know him from a distance — even other Christian artists were asking for prayer from their fans on social media and at their own concerts. Artists like Mandisa, Michael W. Smith and the band Kutless showed their support for Mark on Twitter and Facebook, and included moments of prayer for Mark in their own shows. There is no denying it — this man was covered in prayer.

The days following the surgery, Mark’s wife, Melanie, kept fans updated on the Casting Crowns blog and on their website, letting everyone know he had come out of the procedure with no complications. The tumor was confirmed as cancer, but was fully encased, and the cancer had not spread to the kidney or anywhere else in his body. Melanie expressed their many thanks a few days after the surgery.

“I wish that I could explain in words how much of a miracle it was, but it would take too many words. And to be honest, I am too tired.

But let me just say:

1. Casting Crowns is normally never off in March. 

2. Mark was not experiencing any symptoms related to this tumor (he was having gastric problems). 

3. Doctors do not routinely order CT scans with contrast for physicals.

God was at work in this before we had any idea. 

He is good that way. We are thankful for His mercy and grace. We are thankful that He chose to answer our requests in this way. I know that not everyone’s stories have the desired ending. But I also know that God desires us to trust Him with it all anyway. Even still, He says He will work it all together for our good.”

At the end of April, just over a month after the tumor was removed, Casting Crowns was back on tour with the message of hope and healing in the darkest of situations. Did you catch that? That’s only a mere five weeks after the surgery. Mark and the band, still heavily considering his health and recovery, say Mark may have to “do some songs sitting down” if need be.

Having the extra time for recovery has been difficult. Since their first label-supported album release in 2003, they have been going nonstop — sometimes working seven days a week — and if you can believe it, they consider this their side-job. Four members of Casting Crowns currently minister at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Ga. All of the band’s touring and recording is maneuvered around their full-time work of mentoring teenagers at the church. They often schedule the tour dates between Thursdays and Saturdays to be home for church on Sundays and Wednesdays. Mark, who’s the full-time youth pastor, says their songs are actually written from the topics they cover with their youth, coupled with bold honesty and catchy choruses. Though written for a specific topic, they find the songs not only speaking to their audiences, but to themselves as well. 

Mark recalls, “In March, at our last show before the surgery, we were standing on the stage singing songs that I wrote and it’s as though God was looking ahead when and knew when I needed to hear these things, songs like ‘Already There’, ‘Praise You In This Storm’, ‘Who Am I’ that I wrote years ago…It’s like He was preparing me for this moment.” 

Its songs like these that not only won the hearts of their fans, but also some major awards. With two American Music Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, 15 Dove Awards and a Grammy, not to mention countless nominations, Casting Crowns has dominated the Christian music scene for many years. 

The Crown Coliseum will honor those tickets that were bought before the tour was re-scheduled, so those that purchased tickets prior should plan to attend the upcoming show. These seasoned performers are guaranteed to put on a good show when they stop here in Fayetteville. Mark reassured us that though they had to reschedule, they will make it up to all that attend.

“We had to move a few concerts, which always stinks because people spend their money and their time planning things like that…Just know that if you guys show up, we’ll make it worth your while.”

For more information about Casting Crowns, visit https://www.castingcrowns.com. For tickets and information about the concert, visit, http://crowncomplexnc.com.