Anyone interested in a fresh and highly creative approach to image-making and ceramics should plan on attending the opening of a new exhibit at Gallery 208. “In the Between: New Work by Kaela Nommay” opens with a public reception at 208 Rowan Street, from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 11.

Gallery 208 is very pleased to introduce such a fresh and gifted artist to the community at large with her first one-person exhibition in the region. Nommay brings the contemporary sensibilities of a postmodern pop culture artist to Fayetteville and the area. The artist employs her exquisitely detailed drawing ability as a way to bring the viewer in closer to look at her work. After taking the time to look closely, the viewer may be perplexed. It’s as if the work alludes to something we should remember but have forgotten, or maybe something we missed and should pay attention to?

Having flawless design skills, Nommay juxtaposes large areas of negative space and sometimes patterns with details of the recognizable in nature. If her work is anything, it is idiosyncratic, and the viewer senses from the images and forms a bigger dialogue is taking place — the whimsical is foreboding, something seemingly romantic is perhaps a metaphor or evidence of a state of being. Inherent value in the work is that it is not decorative but visually calls to be examined.

After looking at Nommay’s work, I was interested to know if my sense of the content was at least close to the artist’s intent. The artist affirmed parts of my interpretation when she explained what inspires her and her approach to the work.

“When creating these works, I was thinking of the relationship between human-constructed space and nature and how both sides are affected — the ongoing push and pull for defining whose space is where,” Nommay said. “As an answer, I ended up with an ambiguous gray space as the starting point to explore in this new body of work. Often, I reverse the roles of animals and humans to lighten the mood and create an absurd and humorous experience of the animal’s displacement.

“The scenarios in the work are recreated from my everyday observations and experiences. Whether it be from a phone call with my mother, catching a snippet of a conversation or a funny scene I see idly walking by strangers — all of these small moments stick with me. Mundane moments are what I believe can make life interesting. It separates each day from the next, but these small moments are constantly in flux, much like defining our space apart from nature with roads and structures as we are constantly restoring areas and adding new ones.”

Although her style is highly graphic, drawing and painting is one way in which Nommay distinguishes herself from a reproduced or scanned image. The use of patterns has also been used by the artist in older work and continues in the new work. When asked about her design practice and why she often uses patterns, she explained, “The patterns found in my work are common to home interiors such as wallpapers, fabrics and pillows. Integrating patterns that are commonly found in the home suggests the presence and influence of the human figure. On a formal level, this flat space contrasts and balances the more rendered areas and forms. It also leads the viewer’s eye throughout the artwork, directing it to other significant areas of the composition.”

The Fayetteville community and region is fortunate to have an artist of Nommay’s caliber as a local artist, educator and resource for innovative work and thinking. Nommay moved to Fayetteville from San Antonio, Texas, a year ago. She earned an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Texas at San Antonio in May 2016, and a BFA from the University of the Incarnate Word in 2013, also in San Antonio, with a double concentration in ceramics and painting.

Since Texas is a different landscape from North Carolina, the artist was asked if living in our region has affected her work. “Since I primarily recreate observations from everyday life, I have had a new influx of inspiration since moving to North Carolina,” she said. “Having trees all around, a river a few feet from my balcony at home and experiencing the changing seasons has given me a new source to observe the relationship between human space and nature.”

As a young and emerging artist, Nommay has already been regularly exhibiting her work. In 2017 her work was included in the exhibit “Game of Chance” at the Freight Gallery in San Antonio. In 2016 her work was included in “Dreamers and Realists” at the Ruiz-Healy Art Gallery in San Antonio and  in the exhibit “Blue Star Red Dot: Emerging Artist” at Blue Star Contemporary Gallery in San Antonio.

Nommay has already been formally influencing the area’s art students since arriving in Fayetteville. During this past academic year, she has been busy working as adjunct faculty for all three of the local institutions of higher learning: Fayetteville State University, Methodist University and Fayetteville Technical Community College. She has plans to continue teaching in the area and exhibit her work as much as possible in the region and nationally.

The public is invited to the opening reception at Gallery 208 to meet the artist and have a preview of “In the Between: New Work by Kaela Nommay” July 11 from 5:30–7 p.m. The exhibit will remain up until Sept. 10, 2017. If you are not able to get to the opening reception, Gallery 208 is open during regular business hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For questions about the exhibit or location of Gallery 208, call Up & Coming Weekly at (910) 4846200 or go to www.upandcomingweekly.com. 

Alex Munroe used to take his dog to play and swim in a beautiful lake in Elizabethtown. When the idyllic property came up for sale, Munroe didn’t hesitate. He could have kept the picturesque secret for himself. Instead, he developed a venue he could share with the community: Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery.

It’s been a little over a year since CFVW opened its doors and it is quickly becoming the premier destination for things like fine dining, weddings, events and getaways — and for good reason.

“We are so close to the Fayetteville community,” Monroe said. “We are accessible. For someone looking for a nice ‘daycation,’ there are not many places around (where) you can do so many things.”

Fine Dining The menu at CFVW is all farm-to-table and changes seasonally. “We like to keep it fresh,” Munroe said. “You can come have great food. We pair every meal with our wine, and we develop our wines around our menu. The house wines used here have been developed to go with North Carolina vegetables, meat, poultry and pork. We took a lot of care developing (them).”

Events The scenic grounds, unique waterside venue and welcoming staff are all reasons to plan a wedding, family reunion or other event at CFVW. Lakeside lodging, one of the largest camellia exhibits in the state, the ballroom, a lakeside amphitheater and a pavilion are perfect for making memories.

Outdoor Entertainment “We are proud to be members of the North Carolina Agritourism Project,” Munroe said. “The average child is three generations removed from farming. So, most children today have never picked up a chicken egg from under a chicken or seen a chicken up close. Here, they can see llamas, mini horses, mini donkeys, swans, peacocks and Flemish rabbits, which are the largest in the world. We have blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes and over 200 rose bushes. We have an 18-acre lake and beautiful land preserved around us. We also have honey bees; we are making our honey.”

Art “After 9/11, New York City was shut down. Do you know where people went?” Munroe asked. “They went to museums.” CFVW is home to works by modern masters including Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall and Salvador Dali. “Studies show that when people look at art, it triggers the same emotional response in the brain as when a small child looks at their mother,” Munroe said. “That had an impact on me.”

The collection also includes artworks by celebrities including Grace Slick, Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, Phyllis Diller, Muhammed Ali, David Lee Roth, Sylvester Stallone, Sophia Loren, Jaques Cousteau, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, Mr. Brainwash, Red Skelton, Dom Delouise, Sid Caesar, Burt Reynolds and many more. “They may not be professionally trained, but these pieces give you a chance to know these celebrities differently,” Munroe said.

It’s in this spirit that CFVW chose to partner with the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre to present “The Fantasticks.”

The longest-running off-Broadway show of all time, this musical comedy  is the perfect show for Fayetteville audiences. Playing off the talents of a strong cast, it has a clever storyline with lyrics written by Tom Jones and ageless music and songs by Harvey Schmidt.

Director Jeanne Koonce, Purple Door Productions, sees the intimate setting of the dinner theater as providing another major strength for this production. The show is funny, romantic and intimate, and all with only eight characters.

The cast is composed of local and regional talent many theater enthusiasts will recognize. The Girl, Luisa, is played by Fayetteville resident Amber Jansen, a junior at Massey Hill Classical High School.

The Boy, Matt, is played by Ryan Ransom, a St. Pauls native and a music/ theater student at UNC Pembroke.

El Gallo is played by Clay Rogers. He is a native of Fairmont and employed by Givens Performing Arts Center in Pembroke.

A strong supporting cast includes Robeson County natives Matt Jacobs and Steve Chambers as the meddling fathers and Denver McCullough as Henry, the old actor. McCullough has performed in many local and regional productions at Cape Fear Regional Theatre and the former Fort Bragg Playhouse. UNCP student Dakota Hammonds plays Henry’s sidekick, Mortimer. UNCP alumni Winona Oxendine is cast as the mute and the stage manager.

The Fayetteville Dinner Theatre is being billed as “A unique theater experience.” Defined, this means the evening will include much more than a great show performed by talented actors.

The evening begins with a V.I.P. reception and wine-tasting and sale at 6 p.m. hosted by CFVW. The winery will showcase seven of its wines.

At 6:30 p.m., a three-course, duel-entrée dinner will be served by the Ramada Plaza staff while the theater guests are entertained by Fayetteville’s own Cross Creek Chordsmen, an award-winning chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society Choral Group. According to spokesman Joshua GrayHeim, the group will present a repertoire of current hits as well as traditional four-part harmonies dating back to the 1800s and early 1900s. 

“The Fantasticks” opens immediately following. There will be plenty of prizes and surprises at intermission as well as a post-show meet-and-greet with the actors. The FDT and CFVW will give away a grand prize each evening worth hundreds of dollars. Prizes include a dinner for two at the winery with a complimentary bottle of wine, a flight of all seven of CFVW’s wines and a two-night stay in the cabins on the lake at CFVW.

Proceeds from “The Fantasticks” benefit the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit, for securing reading and educational resources for Cumberland County children. CFVW will also donate all proceeds from the wine-tasting and sale to  the foundation. 

“With an awesome show, talented actors, a V.I.P. reception, an exclusive wine-tasting, a great dinner, door prizes, entertainment by the Cross Creek Chordsmen, and all culminating with a post-show meetand-greet and grand prize giveaway, this will truly be ‘a unique theatre experience’” said FDT producer and Up & Coming Weekly Publisher Bill Bowman. “It’s all about giving the audience what they pay for. Value. Fayetteville residents appreciate good theater and great entertainment, and that is what we are going to provide for them.”

Bowman also expressed his appreciation and thanks to the FDT supporters and sponsors: Ramada Plaza, Allegra Printing & Imaging, Five Star Entertainment and Women’s View Magazine.

Show dates are July 27, 28 and 29. Tickets cost $75 per person with discounts for seniors 65+ and active duty military. Tickets are available from 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. at the FDT Box Office at the Ramada Plaza. Call (910) 391-3859 for details.

To make reservations online or to learn more about the show, visit www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com. To learn more about CFVW, visit www.capefearwinery.com.

PHOTO: Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery offers a variety of dining and entertainment venues.

Bud Light, in partnership with the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, presents its free summer concert series featuring On the Border: The Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band, Friday, July 14, at 7 p.m. in  Festival Park.

“This concert is expected to be our largest Fayetteville After 5 event,” said Sarah Suggs,  marketing and events coordinator for the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. “We have had On the Border before; they are an Eagles Tribute Band and a Fayetteville favorite.” Suggs said the opening performance would be Quilted Sky. Quilted Sky is a cover band and is local to the area.  

On the Border is from Charlotte, North Carolina. They perform shows all over the United States at major festivals, music venues, casinos, theaters and other events. The band was crowned “The Greatest Eagles Tribute Band in the World” by AXSTV and Katie Daryl. The group consists of Tracy Maples, Tim Giovanniello, Bill Morgan, Andy Young, Scott Sobota and Bob Orazi.

The concert is a fundraiser for the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival organization. “We put on events throughout the year, and the purpose is to raise money for the next event so we can  continue to put on these free concerts for the community,” Suggs said. “Fayetteville After 5 events were started three or four years ago and would take place on the fourth Friday. Now the events are scheduled for the second Friday of summer months.”

There is more than great music at Fayetteville After 5, though. The event will feature food trucks from My Daddy’s Barbeque, Brain Freeze Ice Cream, Hibachi Express, King Queen #1 Haitian Cuisine, Kona-Ice, My Boricua Kitchen, Queso Monster, Tropical Island Concessions, Flavapaloza, Ragging Rooster, Bowls on a Roll, Tony’s Concession and Babann’s Southern Fried Chicken. A concession stand will be on-site and beer will be sold. “We encourage people to get there early because we are expecting a large crowd,” Suggs said. “We look forward to great music, food and fun.”

Admission is free. Gates open at 5 p.m. No outside food or beverages are allowed within the park. The public is encouraged to bring blankets and chairs. For more information, call (910) 323-1934.

PHOTO: On the Border - The Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band is set to perform at Fayetteville After 5 on July 14.

Drug overdose deaths have become so common in America that they hardly make the news. But the abuse of medically prescribed opiates and the reemergence of illegal heroin are alarming trends that have gotten the attention of communities everywhere. Fayetteville even established a Mayoral task force to combat  opioid abuse.

“I’m excited to learn that Fayetteville is a leader in implementing innovative programs to combat this crisis,” said NC Attorney General Josh Stein during a recent meeting here.

Opioids are used to treat moderate to severe pain that may not respond well to other pain medications. Codeine, Morphine, Percocet, Fentanyl and heroin are in that class of drugs. Heroin, of course, is illegal but less expensive on the street than  the others.

One of the significant effects of an opioid overdose is respiratory depression and/or arrest. Patients’ breathing slows or stops, which will eventually lead to death. Naloxone, also known by the trade name Narcan, is used to counteract life-threatening situations by allowing an overdose victim to breathe normally. It is non-addictive and now available without prescription in North Carolina.

Fayetteville Police were among the first in the state to be equipped with naloxone. It was authorized in 2013 by a change in state law that cleared the way for law enforcement to carry and administer naloxone.

“Our officers have saved 78 lives using naloxone in the last two years,” said Police Captain Lars Paul. Initially, the PD used medicinal injectors of Narcan that were donated to the department. Since then, $11,000 in drug forfeiture money was used to purchase Narcan nasal spray, which is far less expensive. 

While police and EMS can administer naloxone to overdose patients, Fayetteville firefighters cannot. They are first responders who often arrive on the scene of medical emergencies before others. And all city firefighters are trained EMTs. Violent withdrawal symptoms can sometimes cause patients to be combative. Brian Pearce, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Emergency Medical Service director, said that firefighter safety was the primary consideration in determining whether to authorize them to administer naloxone.

He said “firefighters can deliver appropriate patient care for opioid overdose patients in a safe manner without administering naloxone.” But, he added, it’s up to the fire department to decide if personnel should carry naloxone. Pearce administers laws and regulations of the county medical director.

“We have been trained in life support measures to increase the survivability of patients until they receive the correct level of advanced care that they may need,” stated Fire Department spokesman, Battalion Chief Michael Martin. Fire crews administer oxygen using bag valve masks, which breathe for patients when they cannot effectively breathe themselves. Fire Chief Ben Major was not available for comment, but it’s his decision whether to authorize firefighters to carry and use naloxone. “All they have to do is work with us to come up with a plan and protocols for administration and education and obtain the funding to purchase the naloxone,” Pearce said. “Then we would update the county EMS plan, and they would be allowed to administer naloxone.”

If Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson hoped that by announcing early he was seeking re-election would discourage others from entering the Mayor’s race, he miscalculated.

District 2 City Councilman Kirk deViere has decided to seek the position. Robertson defeated deViere in the 2013 municipal primary election. Many political pundits thought he would do one more term serving District 2 before seeking the mayor’s seat. The twoweek City Council filing period for the fall elections is underway, and it’s doubtful the mayor’s race will be the only contested seat. At this writing, at least two incumbent members of Council, Bobby Hurst and Ted Mohn, have said they would not seek  re-election.

DeViere came to Fayetteville with the Army about 20 years ago. He currently owns and operates 219 Group, an advertising and marketing firm headquartered in downtown Fayetteville. His announcement came in the form of a three-minute YouTube video posted on Facebook.

In his public address, he said all residents must work together to make Fayetteville a better place to live. He referred to “inequalities across the city” and suggested that more community amenities must be developed that will bring back people who’ve been fleeing the community, claiming that Cumberland County is losing population, unlike virtually all other metropolitan areas of North Carolina.

He also spoke of what he called “decaying neighborhoods” and streets in need of desperate repair. He was supported by his wife Jenny who affirmed that they are committed to the race and the community.

PHOTO: Mayor Nat Robertson and Councilman Kirk DeViere

Fayetteville’s new chief of police will hit the ground running when she starts her new job next month. Gina Hawkins, 49, the deputy chief of the Clayton County, Georgia, Police Department, was selected by City Manager Doug Hewett.

He acknowledged during a news conference that his choice might initially appear unpopular since many ranking members of the Police Department’s command staff supported Interim Chief Anthony Kelly. “Selecting the new chief is one of the most difficult decisions I have been faced with since becoming the City Manager and one that I don‘t take lightly,” Hewett said. “I am exceedingly grateful for Kelly’s service as interim chief,” he added. Kelly meanwhile pledged his continued best efforts and support to the new chief as her senior assistant chief.

Hewett described Hawkins as a multifaceted criminal justice professional with 28 years of comprehensive experience. She holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice from Georgia State University and a master of science in management from Johns Hopkins University. She is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University and is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Hewett outlined distinctions he said set Hawkins apart from the other finalists: a diverse skillset which includes the ability to listen to others, attention to detail, the ability to adapt and evolve, ease of connecting with people, a sense of humor and an education, which includes advanced degrees. Her starting pay will be $140,000.

PHOTO: Gina Hawkins, Fayetteville’s new chief of police

The City of Fayetteville received an additional $1.85 million in grants from the Golden LEAF Foundation to provide relief for projects related to Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts.

This new funding will be applied to the following projects: $993,000 for additional debris removal from four creeks — Branson Creek, Blounts Creek, Hybarts Branch and Buckhead Creek. Spruce Street drainage will  receive $873,831.

These grants are in addition to a $1.2 million grant the City received in April that paid for the removal of debris from Cross Creek and the replacement of a road at Rayconda destroyed during Hurricane Matthew. The City is now applying for additional grants in the third round of funding, asking for $2.5+ million for bank stabilization (City’s Cross Creek Cemetery #2) along with more than $800,000 for storm debris removal from Beaver Creek, Little Cross Creek tributaries and Bones Creek. Neighborhoods affected by these tributaries are Chestnut Hills, Hollywood Heights, Beaver Run, Cliffdale West and the Washington Drive community.

“Golden LEAF has again come through for us in a big way to assist with our Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts in Fayetteville,” Mayor Nat Robertson said. The Golden LEAF Foundation is committed to using the funds entrusted to it by the General Assembly through the Disaster Recovery Act of 2016.

Cape Fear River Contamination Inspection

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has inspected the Chemours Fayetteville facility and verified that the company is now containing wastewater from its byproduct GenX, thereby preventing further discharge of the unregulated chemical compound into the Cape Fear River. DEQ officials verified during an on-site inspection that Chemours is redirecting the wastewater into temporary storage tanks at the Fayetteville facility.

“We are holding Chemours accountable for containing the compound as we continue to investigate the presence of GenX in the Cape Fear River,” said Michael Regan, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.

The state is investigating reports of GenX presence in the lower Cape Fear River at Wilmington. Chemours previously discharged wastewater from the process into the Cape Fear for many years.

Breached Dams Meetings Set This Month

The City of Fayetteville is holding meetings this summer for residents whose neighborhood dams were destroyed by Hurricane Matthew. These meetings will be held for the following neighborhoods at the listed dates, times and locations:

• Mirror Lake Dam: City Hall, Tues., July 25, 6 p.m.

• Devonwood: City Hall, Tues., July 25, 7:30 p.m.

• Gables, Strickland Bridge, Loch Lomond and all other city private dams: City Hall, Thurs., July  27, 6 p.m.

• Arran Lakes: Lake Rim Recreation Center, Tues., Aug. 1, 6 p.m.

• Rayconda: Lake Rim Recreation Center, Tues., Aug. 1, 7:30 p.m. 

The City is working with homeowners’ associations to encourage turnout at the meetings and to solicit feedback. That feedback will be presented to City Council at a future meeting.

Free Lunches for Kids This Summer

Cumberland County Schools are helping to keep children healthy while school is out, recognizing that for some, daily school lunches are a necessity. CCS’ Child Nutrition Services is providing free meals to area children this summer.  Meals are served at 17 locations around Cumberland County, Monday through Friday through July 28. Anyone 18 or younger is welcome. The meals are free.

“Children can receive nutritious meals … by visiting open feeding sites or attending camps, church programs and other organizations that participate in the Summer Feeding Program,” said Beth Maynard, Executive Director of CCS’ Child Nutrition Services. Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture partners with CCS’ Child Nutrition Services to provide the meals to children when school is out for the summer.

Local Real Estate Broker Earns Distinguished Designation 

Grant-Murray Real Estate, LLC., of Fayetteville announced that Rishi Shah completed training to earn the designation as Certified Commercial Investment Member. The distinction denotes that Shah has completed advanced coursework in financial and market analysis and demonstrated extensive experience in the commercial real estate industry.

Shah has been a Broker Associate with GrantMurray since November 2014. He earned a degree in economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He’s a native of Laurinburg and grew up in Fayetteville. Grant-Murray is a full-service commercial real estate and investment brokerage firm. 

HIT: Fayetteville’s 15th annual Blues-N-Brews Festival was a resounding success. It’s the Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s major fundraiser. Thousands turned out at Festival Park and paid $40 each for small glasses resembling shot glasses on steroids to sample the many craft beers available and enjoy the concert.

MISS: The departure of newspaperman Andrew Barksdale from The Fayetteville Observer is a loss for our community. Andrew spent 17 years reporting on local government for the Observer. He was a good journalist. Barksdale is a casualty of the purchase of the newspaper by GateHouse Media, headquartered in suburban Rochester, New York. He said he’s been looking to change jobs for quite a while. He resigned to take a job in public relations with the state Department of Transportation in Raleigh.

HIT: Imagine this: A motorist driving along Pinecrest Drive was actually doing 25 mph, the speed limit. I was behind her. When she turned onto Morganton Road, she stepped it up to 35 mph, also the speed limit. I was in no hurry, but you can imagine how impatient everyone else was.

MISS: The Bragg Boulevard construction detour near downtown was a flop. DOT set up signs, orange barrels and cones directing inbound traffic to turn left onto the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway over to Ramsey Street and then downtown. A smarter and much shorter detour was to turn right onto the MLK over to Hay Street, only three-tenths of a mile, and then downtown. Motorists had to figure that out for themselves … and many did.

HIT: Thanks to the merchants and restaurants who give seniors their discounts without customers having to ask for them. In most cases, it’s obvious when seniors are making purchases and are therefore entitled to their 10 percent discount. Not all places give the discounts unless requested by the customers.

MISS:  Pretty soon, the new downtown FAST Transit Center will open. It’s more than a year behind schedule. Greyhound will also use the terminal. Something’s missing, though. There isn’t any public parking on the property for visitors or families. There are a few parking spots on the street.

HIT: City Councilman Ted Mohn speaks his mind no matter what. He said he isn’t going to seek re-election, which may be why he’s so willing to be more straightforward these days. Not only does Mohn say it like it is, he’s the Council’s resident numbers analyst. Maybe we can persuade him to run again.

With some fanfare, the Fayetteville City Council last Monday unanimously adopted its FY2018 budget without a tax increase.

That’s great for incumbent Councilmembers who face opposition during the upcoming fall municipal election and didn’t want to face the ire of property owners. But it’s not so great for citizens next year when the Council’s ambitious spending spree comes home to roost.

I predict there will be a call for a major tax increase next year. As Councilman Jim Arp recently told a civic group, he never knew of any governmental entity that asked for less money than in previous years.

So, the tax rate remains at 49.95 cents per $100 valuation. City Manager Doug Hewett wanted to bump the tax rate to 52.7 cents. The 2.7 cent hike would make up for what the City will lose because of declining property values.

Lower property values result in a 4.6 percent loss in property taxes. However, budget analysts estimate the City will gain 1.75 percent in personal property taxes and another 3.5 percent in motor vehicle taxes. They also project a 4.1 percent growth in sales taxes.

According to budget gurus, the 52.7 cent tax rate would get the City the same amount from property taxes it got last year, and property owners wouldn’t really shell out more money.

But City Council balked at the idea of “raising” taxes, even to a revenue neutral state. Instead, they let Hewett come up with increasing fees.

What’s the difference between taxes and fees, you may ask? Well, fees aren’t deductible on your federal tax returns. And, I’ve never heard of fees going down. I’ve always considered them a euphemism for taxes.

Hewett asked for and got a 59.26 percent fee increase for picking up your garbage, recyclables, leaves and pine straw, and on occasion some of the big stuff you haul to the curb.

The increase from $44 to $108 is $64 a year. It’s still a good deal for getting stuff taken away from your house unless you live in the western part of the City. That’s the area swallowed up by the 2005 Big Bang annexation, and where the City touted its green rollout garbage can as part of a deal of a lifetime for those being annexed.

That’s a $5.33 per month increase that people in the annexed areas were initially told would be part of their City taxes.

The stormwater fee also increased, from $45 to $51. I can’t argue with that. We need all the help we can get to stem flooding in Fayetteville. Hurricane Matthew proved that. But most people won’t see a direct benefit, except for an occasional street sweeper or drain-clearing project. The proposed $2.26 million for stormwater drainage projects just won’t spread across a city the size of Fayetteville.

Overall, the FY 2018 budget increases spending by about 1 percent over last year. There are some big-ticket items on the horizon. There’s the $33 million downtown baseball stadium; $3.6 million for a parking deck at City Hall; $400,000 for land for short-term downtown parking; and $529,000 for operating costs for the soon-to-be-completed $11 million downtown transit center that’s already $400,000 over budget.

Hewett and his budgeteers will have an interesting and perhaps stressful time coming up with a hold-the-line budget next year. Then again, it’s not a municipal election year.

North Carolina is known for many fine food products — the world’s best barbecue, hush puppies and collard sandwiches come to mind immediately. What could be better than a big ol’ collard sandwich washed down with a frosty glass of iced tea seasoned with a tasty chemical called GenX?

GenX is thoughtfully provided by DuPont & Chemours Fayetteville Works nestled beside the Cape Fear River. Remember what happened when your mother got angry with you? If she called out your full name, you were toast. When GenX’s momma gets mad at GenX, she yells out GenX’s full name, which is Perflouro-2-Propxypropanic Acid.

It turns out the public didn’t know until this month that GenX has been swimming in the Cape Fear River since 1980. Through one of those Catch-22 loopholes that the federal regulators create to help favored industries, GenX did not have to meet any clean drinking water standards. Because GenX was produced as a byproduct of another chemical and not made intentionally, the Feds didn’t have any requirements to keep it out of your children’s drinking water. There is some indication that drinking GenX-infused water might not be good for you from a health standpoint. But, since it got into drinking water legally, no harm, no foul.

The North Carolina General Assembly just passed House Bill 576, which is better known as the Garbage Juice bill. This is an appetizing concept the Landfill Lobby sold the legislature.

Let’s say you own a dump. Dumps ooze nasty cootie-filled liquids called leachate as the garbage rots. If you own the dump, you can’t just let the garbage juice run off into the local creek. Those soreheads in charge of clean water make you either keep your garbage juice on-site or haul it off to be disposed of in some poverty-stricken locale that lacks the political clout to keep it out. Either of these options is expensive. Can the General Assembly help the dump owners? Why sure.

Instead of hauling the garbage juice off, let’s just spray it into the air with giant fans called aerosolizers. In theory, the wind will carry away the suddenly clean water, and the solid cooties will just fall like toxic snowflakes back into the dump. What could go wrong? The inventor of the giant fans contributed $5,000 to State Senator Trudy Wade, the main sponsor of the Garbage Juice Bill. Of course, this $5,000 had nothing to do with Senator’s Wade’s sponsoring the Garbage Juice Bill. The bill requires the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to approve the use of the giant spray fans. Some soreheads think the garbage juice sprayed into the air will drift off-site and deposit cootie-filled water droplets on neighbors, cats, dogs and children.

Some sissies think the GenX and Garbage Juice will make North Carolina a less attractive place to live. Fortunately, Sterling Cooper has come up with an ad campaign to make North Carolina pollution hip.

Here are some of the slogans:  Wow! I could have had a Garbage Juice. Garbage Juice, good to the last drop. If it tasted any better, it would still be in the dump. I’d like to buy the world a Garbage Juice. Things go better with Garbage Juice. Garbage Juice — the pause that refreshes. Have a Garbage Juice and a tumor. Behold the power of Garbage Juice. Garbage Juice — something special in the air. Garbage Juice — the fabric of our lives and the lining of our stomachs. Garbage Juice is forever. Every kiss begins with Garbage Juice. Garbage Juice— it’s magically delicious. Garbage Juice — melts in your liver, not in your hands. The Champagne of bottled Garbage Juice. All the Garbage Juice that’s fit to drink. Garbage Juice hits the spot. Silly rabbit, Garbage Juice is for kids. Garbage Juice tastes good like dump leachate should.

As John Lennon once sang, “Garbage Juice is all you need.” Drink up and don’t complain. The government knows best.

Wedding season is in full swing, and I have already attended several with one more next month in a public park and one in September in the country music capital of the world, Nashville, Tennessee. Each has been or will be accompanied by several other festivities, including but not limited to engagement parties celebrating engagements that might last years, bridal showers, bachelor/ bachelorette trips with friends, dinners and afterparties. Wedding dresses are chosen with as much anticipation as selecting a groom. Wedding trips are often exotic — islands in the Pacific or off the coast of South America or in romantic Paris. 

Today’s weddings encompass much more of everything — planning, time, people and certainly expense — than a mere stroll down the aisle.

My own nuptials decades ago were a relatively low-key affair. We decided to wed in June and did so three months later, in September. My father walked me down the aisle of a downtown Fayetteville church. I wore a white silk dress stitched for me by a lovely seamstress with a storefront on Yadkin Road. My groom and his brother got new suits for the occasion, and my only attendant, my sister, wore a dress we picked out just because we liked it. Our reception was in the yard of my aunt and uncle’s home, and my father and I did not have to choose music for a “father-daughter dance,” since we had no band. No one came from far away except a former roommate and her new hubby who came from England, but only because he worked for the airline and they could fly for free. My groom and I escaped to Charleston (with dead fish hidden under the car’s hood courtesy of a mischievous cousin) for a few days, followed by a week at Topsail Beach.

We thought it was all grand!

But my groom and I belonged to the baby boomer generation. Today’s young couples are millennials, and they are putting their stamps on the marriage process  — and, surely, on the institution itself. Engagements are announced on Instagram and Snapchat, and occasionally on Facebook, although that is more a medium for Boomers now that millennials have started moving on. Ditto for shopping expeditions, parties, food-tastings, makeup sessions and on and on and on — all shared via social media. We can all participate in the experience from courtship to honeymoon in ways no one ever imagined as my groom and I drove along, wondering why the car smelled so fishy.

Among the stranger marriage developments, I have lately encountered guests who attend weddings by Skype or FaceTime, both billed as the next best thing to being there. These would require some dexterity as to holding the phone or computer for a relatively long time, and I wonder whether the “guest” on the receiving end of the wedding technology dresses up in wedding finery for the call, or whether he or she just  wears pajamas?

Strangest of all is an NPR story I heard recently involving “virtual” attendance at weddings and other family occasions. The “guest” puts on special 3-D glasses just like the movies and “attends” the event, feeling like he or she is there. One woman interviewed for the story wept as she “attended” an event in her grandfather’s home nations away. The problem is, no one there knew she felt like she was in the room as she boohooed thousands of miles away.

All of that said, Millennial couples embarking on marriage face the same learning curves couples of all prior generations faced. We marry not just a person, but families who can guide and support us over time. We all have to learn to be kind to each other, to compromise, to plan and dream for our joint futures, to plan financially and responsibly, and if we are so blessed, to bring up children who are productive and loving. We all have to learn that sometimes our spouses are our lovers, sometimes our friends and sometimes just our roommates who don’t want to do the dishes or mow the grass either. We all have to learn that our spouse whom we have promised to share our lives with is not perfect, but then neither are we.

I am OK with nuptial progress — Skype, FaceTime and such, even though I would have a hard time staying focused on a little screen for an entire wedding and reception with toasts, dancing and long-distance festivities.

But I am concerned about how to bring my lips to a flute of “virtual” Champagne... 

Well, Kirk deViere’s YouTube announcement last week that he intends to give up his District 2 City Council seat and enter the race for mayor makes it look like Fayetteville residents are going to experience a spirited municipal race and election this fall.

Two-term incumbent Mayor, Nat Robertson, has much going for him, including years of experience, a grassroots kinship with the Fayetteville community and a long list of municipal accomplishments with an even longer list of Republican friends, donors and supporters. On the other hand, Florida-born outsider deViere was introduced to Fayetteville via his 10-year Army tenure and affiliations through Fort Bragg. He consequently and consciously adopted Fayetteville as his “hometown.” Here, he built his reputation, his businesses and his home. With his marriage to one of Fayetteville’s local and most prominent favorite daughters, Jenny Beaver, he is now in the process of raising a Fayetteville family.

With these two worthy contenders having much in common, it practically assures an exciting and competitive race. Matter of fact, they have so much in common it makes you wonder why they are vying for the same position and not combining their experience, intellect and passion into building a leadership coalition that would expedite Fayetteville’s growth and prosperity for all citizens. It has been said that Fayetteville is a tale of two cities  — the “haves” and the “have-nots.” Well, I’m not sure I buy that. Fayetteville is one city, and it should be governed as one city. Robertson and deViere are both good men. A close look at these two candidates reflects many positive similarities.

Both candidates love the Fayetteville community and are committed to making it a better place to live, work and raise  a family.

Both are honest, intelligent and reasonable with a lot of common sense.

Both are free-thinking and can articulate and communicate their ideas  succinctly.

Both understand the importance of long-term planning and leadership.

Both have positive visions for the Fayetteville community.

Both have demonstrated an extreme work ethic.

Both have extensive “hands-on” business experience.

Both are entrepreneurial and have owned businesses.

Both are familiar with the pressures of making an employee payroll.

Both are logical and creative thinkers.

Both are family-oriented: Robertson has two successful grown children raised in Fayetteville and deViere has chosen to raise his children in Fayetteville.

Both their wives are local women of substance who have successful professional careers. Both women are involved and active in the community and extremely dedicated to and supportive of their husbands.

Both want to see Fayetteville grow and prosper both economically and socially.

And, both contenders know the agony of defeat, having each lost a previous mayoral campaign.

So, on the surface, we have two substantially qualified candidates who undoubtedly and passionately have the City of Fayetteville’s best interest at heart. Personal leadership style and philosophy may end up being the only real contentions between the two. Let’s hope so. We do not need the overwhelming vitriol that was present when Robertson ran against and defeated real estate agent Val Applewhite in 2013. Many people felt that was fueled because Applewhite’s priorities were misaligned and that she was running for all the wrong reasons.

No one can predict what will take place in the coming weeks. Will it be a dignified and respectable mayoral race between two dignified and respectable city servants? 

No one knows, but, I sincerely hope so.  No doubt both candidates want to be leaders and accountable to the people. I’m hoping for an aggressive but positive and respectable campaign — one where the winner becomes mayor and the loser remains an involved supporter and advocate of the Fayetteville community.

No doubt The Fayetteville Observer and the local radio talk shows will try to keep the election conflicted. They think it sells more papers and gains listeners. I doubt it. The fact is, our local daily newspaper doesn’t have many reporters left in the newsroom, if any, who have a qualified local historical and political perspective of Fayetteville, let alone of the candidates. And, with its local editorial page editor living two counties away in Chatham County, you can be sure his opinions and insights will be shallow and antagonistic.

The local radio talk shows will tend to follow their same “unfair and unbalanced” format. My best advice to the candidates and the community is to resist, resist, resist. This means Fayetteville residents must do their due diligence by vetting each candidate. Talk openly with and candidly to these two highly-qualified mayoral candidates. Then vote your conscience. Don’t depend on the media.

Our community is on the verge of greatness. Fayetteville residents want it, and we deserve it. 

I close this editorial with excellent advice to all the 2017 candidates intending to affect Fayetteville’s future and quality of life. To paraphrase Gen. George Patton, lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way. Anything else and you are impeding progress.

I thank both Mayor Robertson and City Councilman Kirk deViere for their service to our community. And, I thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. 

As the American Legion Area II regular season ends, the Hope Mills Boosters are again in contention for a trip to the state tournament, which will be held at Pitt Community College this year, July 20-25.

Through a June 28 win over Jacksonville, Hope Mills still held a piece of first place with an 11-1 Area II record, 12-3 overall. Their main rival, also with a single league defeat, is perennial power Wilmington Post 10.

At this writing, Hope Mills had road games left with Wilmington and Wallace, which is also in the title picture, and a home doubleheader with Whiteville. Whiteville was knocked out of the regular-season title picture when it forfeited multiple wins for using an ineligible player. Morehead City announced it won’t take part in this year’s playoffs.

Hope Mills rolled to an 8-0 start before facing strong opposition in a recent tournament in Florence, S.C. They took a five-inning 10-0 loss to Garner and lost a slugfest with defending state and regional American Legion champion Rowan County, 11-9.

“We didn’t see our real good competition until after that eighth game,’’ said Hope Mills coach Mark Kahlenberg. “Garner was a solid team with good pitching and they hit the ball well against us.’’

Pitching was Hope Mills’ biggest problem in the loss to Rowan County. “I think we had 11 or 12 walks against them,’’ Kahlenberg said.

Walks have hurt Hope Mills all season, Kahlenberg said. In the Florence tournament they walked 30 in three games. For the season the total is 67 in 15.

“That’s 4.5 per game,’’ he said. “We’d like to get that number down to maybe one or two free passes a night. We’d prefer none, but one or two a game you can deal with.’’

The 18-man roster for Hope Mills includes players from South View, Jack Britt and Purnell Swett.

Among the better county pitchers for the team are Andrew Sabalboro of South View and James Howell, D.J. Bishop and Zach Knapp of Jack Britt. Howell and Sabalboro both have earned run averages of zero. Bishop has a win and has allowed only two hits. Knapp is 2-0 with 18 strikeouts in 11.2 innings.

Knapp is among the offensive leaders with a .367 average including three home runs and eight RBIs. “He’s consistently been in the 5-6 slot in the order,’’  Kahlenberg said.

If Hope Mills can finish either first or second in the final Area II standings, it will get a first-round bye for the state playoffs, which begin July 7.

The teams that don’t get byes, Nos. 3-6, will match up in best-of-three series. The winners of those will face the top two teams in another best-of-three round. The top-seeded team gets the lowest-seeded survivor of the first round.

The two teams that win in the second round are automatically guaranteed berths in the state tournament. The coaches of those teams will then decide if they’ll have a one-game playoff or a series to determine which team is No. 1 seed from Area II for the state tournament.

Kahlenberg would like to get one of the byes but said it won’t be the end of the season if they don’t. “We feel confident if we don’t have that first-round bye we’re going to have enough pitching and we hit the ball well enough that we’re going to make it to the second round at least,’’ he said.

“Maybe we can get in a couple of practices and stay fresh for that second-round matchup, whoever it  may be.’’

EDITOR’S NOTE: The critical Friday, June 30th, Hope Mills at Wilmington Post 10 game was postponed by rain. This put the remaining Hope Mills regular-season schedule in jeopardy as both teams were to end the regular schedule on July 3 and open the playoffs July 7.

PHOTO: Mark Kahlenberg & Zach Knapp

Julie Scott

Gray’s Creek • Golf • Senior

A recent graduate of Gray’s Creek, Scott’s grade point average was 4.66.

Ashlyn Burton

Seventy-First • Soccer • Freshman

A first-year player for the Falcons, Burton had a grade point average of 4.0.

Now that we’ve wrapped up our series of spring football previews of the 10 Cumberland County senior high schools, it’s time to take a first shot at predicting how everyone will fare this season.

Not wanting to venture into this challenge alone, I spent some time discussing who has what with Trey Edge of DK Sports, Inc., play-by-play announcer for Terry Sanford football.

After mulling over the prospects for all 10 teams, here’s what we mutually agreed on how things might develop. One thing to note: This is a ranking of all 10 schools regardless of what league they’ll be in this fall.

The old Mid-South 4-A and Cape Fear Valley 3-A Conferences are history. Most of the county schools will be in the Patriot Conference, a 4-A/3-A combination that will include Overhills and all the Cumberland County schools except Jack Britt and Seventy-First.

The Buccaneers and the Falcons will be joining the members of what was the Southeastern 4-A Conference in the new Sandhills Conference.

So here’s a quick projection on how the teams rank:

1. Cape Fear – Quarterback Justice Galloway-Velazquez is being recruited heavily by mid-major colleges. He’s expected to be in a walking boot recovering from ankle surgery until just before the start of official fall practice on July 31. With him back and Cape Fear coming off its best football season ever, the Colts should be a solid team again.

2. Seventy-First – Duran McLaurin has clearly established his program as a consistent winner. With the numbers he has to work with, the Falcons are always going to be in the title hunt, even in the tough new Sandhills Conference.

3. Terry Sanford – The Bulldogs have a new coach, Bruce McClelland, who is no stranger to the school. They also return a top passing combination in Christian and Andrew Jayne. If Terry Sanford can find some defense, the Bulldogs should have another strong year.

4. South View – The Tigers appeared to turn a corner last year but still misfired on taking the step into the first division. Rodney Brewington has some offense back, but more consistent defense is going to be crucial.

5. Pine Forest – The Trojans have an assortment of veterans back at key positions, but replacing Julian Hill at quarterback is a concern, not to mention rebuilding the defensive secondary.

6. Jack Britt – Is Brian Randolph the answer as the new coach for the Buccaneers? Britt has never had back-to-back losing seasons, and Randolph will try to avoid that in his first season on Rockfish Road.

7. E.E. Smith – The Golden Bulls got off to a rocky start under first-year coach Deron Donald. They’ll need to find some answers at a number of positions, especially in the line, to contend this year.

8. Gray’s Creek – The Bears were well off their normally consistent game last season, hurt badly by injuries to the offensive line. Finding a new quarterback to operate the confusing Bear offense is going to be crucial.

9. Westover ­– Craig Raye, younger brother of E.E. Smith legend Jimmy Raye and a veteran college coach, was named to replace Stephen Roberson last week. He’ll face a challenge with a late start as he tries to build on the momentum of the Wolverines sharing the Cape Fear Valley 3-A title last season.

10. Douglas Byrd – The Eagles are still climbing back into the picture. Numbers continue to be a problem as Mike Paroli tries to take Byrd back to its glory years of the 1990s.

Summer Solheim ran cross country and track at Jack Britt High School during her years there, but some of her fondest memories on the track likely came from this year’s Color Me Buc run held at the school
in April.

Solheim is the daughter of Lt. Col. Kent Solheim, a special operations soldier and founder of Gold Star Teen Adventures. This year’s Color Me Buc run, which featured a one-mile fun-run and a 5K run, raised $1,000 for Gold Star.

Summer described Gold Star as a foundation created by her father in 2011 with the objective of offering special adventures and experiences to the children of fallen special operations soldiers from any branch of the United States military.

“We go on outdoor adventures and scuba adventures,’’ Summer said. “A lot of the mentors come from the service academies.’’

She said the participants and mentors build relationships over time, and that the experience is often as beneficial for the mentors as it is for the young people who take part.

“A lot of the members go on to become mentors for the new members of the camp,’’ she said. “A lot of the teams come back and help fundraise for the program itself.’’

Summer, who just graduated from Britt and will enroll at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this fall, said she has been attending the Gold Star camps since she was 12.

“I’ve done a lot of fundraisers and run half marathons,’’ she said. “I really enjoy being a part of it.’’

Photo caption: L-R: Jack Britt Principal Scott Pope; CMB coordinator Danielle Steinhauser; Summer Solheim, 2017 Jack Britt graduate and daughter of Gold Star Teen Adventures founder Lt. Col. Kent Solheim; AssistantPrincipal Mike Picciano

The lure of playing professional baseball this summer was enticing to Cape Fear pitching standout Gavin Williams.

But after giving it some thought, Williams decided the best thing for his future was to honor his previous commitment to East Carolina University and enroll in summer school in Greenville.

Williams reported for classes last Wednesday. He said he decided that at only 17 years old he wasn’t ready to move out completely on his own and join the Tampa Bay Rays rookie league team in Naples, Florida.

Tampa Bay drafted Williams in the 30th round of this year’s Major League Baseball draft.

“I just felt I wasn’t ready at the time,’’ Williams said. “Going off at 17 would be kind of hard to do by myself.’’

Williams turns 18 in late July and he’s looking forward to spending time working out with his new teammates at East Carolina.

He already knows quite a few of the players he’ll be joining, having played with or against many of them during summer travel ball.

One who won’t be there is Whiteville standout MacKenzie Gore. Gore, ranked by many as the best left-handed high school pitcher in this year’s draft, was the third player taken this year, going to the San Diego Padres.

Williams and Gore have been friends for some time, and at this writing Williams said he expected Gore to sign with San Diego and report to a team in Arizona. There have been published reports that Gore could be getting a deal from the Padres in the range of $7 million.

Even if Gore had elected to stay with East Carolina, Williams is confident he would have gotten his share of playing time with the Pirates this fall. Now that he’s enrolled, he’s committing to the Pirates for at least three seasons before Major League Baseball can try and draft him again.

“I’m just going in there to throw strikes when they need to put me in,’’ Williams said.

He’ll spend the summer working with his teammates and throwing a little, and then get his first taste of college competition this fall when East Carolina takes part in fall baseball.

Despite starting the 2017 season with a knee injury that required surgery, Williams finished his strongest year ever for Cape Fear.

He was 6-0 with a 0.35 earned run average. He pitched 39.2 innings and had 65 strikeouts.

Playing shortstop when he didn’t pitch, Williams batted .419, tied with teammate Jackson Parker for best in Cumberland County Schools. Williams had four doubles, two triples and drove in eight runs.

Photo Caption: Gavin Williams

We’ve done it! We have collectively crossed that imaginary line that drops us all into the summer vacation season. 

A lot of families (and individuals, for that matter) won’t be able to truly vacation this summer, but that’s not a problem if you live in the Fayetteville area. There’s still plenty to see and do within a few minutes’ drive!

Surely you’ve had some thoughts about what summer 2017 should hold for you by now. If not, or if you want to add a thing or two, consider making the leap beyond dreaming and into doing. Here are some fun things to do that may lead you into something new and exciting:

Sing in Public. You do it all the time in the shower. Your neighbor told me. Make your way to one of many open mic nights in Fayetteville. Bring a guitar or friend with a flute or something. It’ll be a blast!

Dive into Local History. Fayetteville has far more to offer than some will ever realize. Visit the Transportation Museum or The Museum of the Cape Fear.

Discover Alternative Entertainment. The Gilbert Theater is a unique experience you’ll want to share with a friend. And be sure to check out one of the movies or music events at the Cameo Art House in downtown Fayetteville.

Get Creative. There are several area locations that offer one-night excursions into painting, pottery and other creative arts. Walk in with a friend, and walk away with a piece of art and a sense of accomplishment. Many allow you to bring your picnic with you!

Smell the Roses. Fayetteville Technical Community College has a beautiful rose garden. Take a camera and a friend!

Get Fit and Have Fun. Just minutes from where you’re sitting, you could be hiking, jogging, walking, or cycling in premier spots like Raven Rock Park, Cape Fear River Trail or Linear Park. Look ‘em up! You can thank me later.

Fayetteville is a fantastic place to call home, and if you take the time to uncover its secrets this summer, it can become a place you learn to love — for the first time, or all over again.

Have a great summer!

Photo caption: Take a stroll on the Cape Fear River Trail this summer.

As a potential student, you might ask yourself, “Should I take a practice placement test?” The practice test is not required but can be helpful. 

Test preparation helps sweep away the cobwebs and bring old knowledge to the forefront, preparing the test-taker for the next step — the unknown. 

What are ways to prepare for a placement test? There are paper and online study guides, flash cards, face-to-face workshops and online videos available.Twenty years ago, a prospective college student would enroll in a prep course to prepare for the placement test. Technology now allows students to prepare not only with the comfort of using a personal home computer but also from the use of handheld devices, such as smart phones and tablets. The use of online interactive applications and software is also possible. 

Most online practice tests are flexible and self-paced, allowing the opportunity to stop, save and review later. Many practice tests are free! FTCC recommends the online North Carolina Diagnostic Assessment and Placement Test practice test with Longsdale Publishing. 

Workshops are available through FTCC’s College & Career Readiness program, and College Board has a web-based study app available at no cost to students. Information about these valuable resources is available via FTCC communication, flyers and face-to-face contact at FTCC.

How long should a person prepare? The length of time to prepare for taking the test varies from one individual to another. Some students benefit from a refresher course on information learned at one time but not often used; others may benefit from enrolling in a structured workshop. A practice test allows students to experience sample questions (with no penalty for incorrect answers) similar to questions asked on the actual placement test. 

A practice test has the added benefit of identifying strengths and weaknesses. Even when confident in academic abilities, an individual can always benefit from taking steps to improve. Participating in practice tests promotes confidence and reduces anxiety. 

Once preparation is complete and the student feels confidently prepared, he or she can transition to the actual placement test. FTCC uses NC DAP. The design of the NC DAP determines if a student can enroll in college credit courses. 

Students who place into pre-curriculum courses are encouraged to complete a workshop or practice test and then test again with the hope of obtaining higher scores and beginning college-level courses with the plan to graduate in two years. Some students benefit by enrolling in pre-curriculum courses and then progressing to college credit courses. Once enrolled at FTCC, a student has many resources available, including tutoring for all academic areas through the Student Learning Center.

Registration for fall classes is currently underway. Visit FTCC campuses in Fayetteville, Spring Lake or at Fort Bragg to speak with an admissions counselor or a representative in the testing department to assist you in beginning your journey to a brighter, better future through education. 

Erinn Foote, a Fayetteville native, cannot be accused of sitting on the couch this summer — not while she’s at Running Start’s 11th annual Young Women’s Political Leadership Program, which runs from June 19 to June 24. 

According to a press release, “Running Start is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C. that encourages young women to run for office early so that they can establish the tenure necessary to rise to political leadership positions.” 

The press release continued to say that the Young Women’s Political Leadership Program gives women in high school the “encouragement, support, knowledge and inspiration” they need to be leaders where they are now and in the future. 

Foote is 17 years old and is a rising senior at South View High School. She’s one of 65 young women from a national pool to be accepted into Running Start’s program this year. 

She was in French class when she got the good news and said she couldn’t contain her excitement.

“I applied Jan. 31 just for fun,” she said. “But I only found out I was accepted March 28. When I found I was accepted I called my mom in the middle of class.” 

She said she kept the information mostly to herself until she knew for sure she was going, but when her dad found out, he began calling her “Madame Congresswoman,” and her mom made “a billion Facebook posts.” 

Melody Foote, Erinn’s mother, said she’s excited and proud of her daughter for applying entirely on her own and being accepted into the program. 

“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for her to actually explore and see if this is a field she... wants to go in,” Melody said. “As her mom, you just can’t pass up that experience.”

All of this excitement called for a celebratory dinner with Rudino’s pizza, Erinn said. 

According to the Running Start website, the program will include a week of political training, a trip to the White House and one-on-one meetings with Congress members. 

The one event Erinn said she looks forward to most is meeting her favorite congresswoman, House Representative Tulsi Gabbard, who represents the 2nd District of Hawaii. 

Erinn said she’s nervous but wants to tell her how much respect she has for her and “hopefully get a selfie or two.” 

“She stays very true to her beliefs and her promises,” Erinn said. “She left her position in the (Democratic National Committee) so she could verbally support her candidate during the election.” 

Susannah Wellford, president and founder of Running Start, said every one of the 65 young women was chosen based on their “passion to make a difference in people’s lives and (their) work to give back to (their) community.” 

“These young women are the political leaders of tomorrow,” Wellford said. “They give me great hope for the future of our country.” 

Erinn was given the highest allotted amount in scholarship, which will cover half of her expenses for the program. 

She wants to study political science and psychology at Duke University leading up to a master’s degree in law, and wants other students to know that “hard work will always pan out.” 

Photo caption: Erinn Foote with Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.)

Imagine touching the lives of literally hundreds of members of a family over the course of a lifetime. 

Cathy Bell’s unofficial extended family was the Fayetteville Police Department. She served as an office assistant at the Police Training Center off N. Eastern Boulevard for 23 years. 

Carolyn “Cathy” Bigford Bell died earlier this month shortly after her 65th birthday. Officials said hers was the first civilian FPD death to be honored by officers who wore mourning bands on their badges. She was the first person virtually all police recruits became acquainted with as they launched their careers. “Cathy treated everyone as family and had a special place in her heart for you, and you knew it every time she spoke to you,” said Police Lt. Todd Joyce. “Cathy was a welcoming face to everyone who came for an interview,” he added.

When Bell first received her cancer diagnosis, she continued to work, sometimes from home, and kept her phone with her.  Joyce said when someone called the main number at the training center, they forwarded it to her cellphone with the ever-cheerful greeting, “Police Training, this
is Cathy.”  

Interim Police Chief Anthony Kelly presented Bell with the inaugural “Career of Excellence” award at her home. At the FPD Awards Ceremony that followed, the department showed a video of that presentation. “The ‘Civilian of the Year’ award will be named in honor of Cathy Bell,” said Kelly. 

The department has about 180 civilian employees and 433 sworn officers. Bell is survived by her husband, three children and their extended family.

Photo caption: Cathy Bell

Cumberland County patients dependent on inexpensive basic healthcare will soon be deprived of services that have been available for more than 25 years. 

County Commissioners are closing the county’s Adult Health Clinic and Dental Clinic, located at 1235 Ramsey Street. Services are being discontinued because of budget cuts. These clinics are typically utilized by uninsured, low-income residents who receive treatment for as little as $10 a visit. 

“In many ways, the health department is a safety net for people who can’t get care or services elsewhere,” said Public Health Director Buck Wilson. “The people who are getting primary care or cancer screenings here may not be able to get it anywhere else,” he added. A county spokesperson said, “Patients will need to find another physician or medical practice.” Wilson resigned effective July 7. He didn’t give a reason.

The care typically provided at the county health center includes diabetes management with hemoglobin A1C point-of-care testing; PSA for prostate health; care of hepatitis C to include genotype if needed; asthma management to include breathing treatment; and pap smears and breast exams, in accordance with American College of Gynecology recommendations. Lab services provided include monitoring and managing diabetes, hypertension, HIV and blood clotting disorders, as well as labs for seizure disorders. These are just some of the healthcare services hundreds of patients will likely do without.

State law requires that the county give patients 30-days-notice that the clinic is being closed. Consequently, the county must continue to provide care to current patients through July 20. The dental clinic will discontinue services July 1. Patients who have appointments will be seen through July 20. Longtime County Commissioner Jeanette Council, who serves on the Board of Health and has advocated for the agency, was among the slim majority that voted to adopt the budget that cut the funding.

Cumberland County Commissioners and Fayetteville City Council have adopted their respective operating budget ordinances for the new
fiscal year. 

The FY2018 county budget includes a general fund of $323,622,861, which is a $3.7 million reduction over the current fiscal year. In a split vote, Commissioners Glenn Adams, Larry Lancaster, Jeannette Council and Charles Evans voted for the budget. Commissioners Marshall Faircloth, Jimmy Keefe and Michael Boose voted against it. The plan includes a property tax rate increase of 5.9 cents, which is 1.7 cents above the revenue neutral rate of 78.2 cents. Coupled with that is another 15 cents for fire protection and recreation in unincorporated areas of the county. There will also be an eight-dollar countywide increase in the annual solid waste fee, from $48 to $56. A majority of Cumberland County residential property lost value this year during a revaluation. The revenue-neutral tax rate is supposed to produce funds equal to the amount collected in the previous fiscal year, plus natural growth. 

A 2 percent pay raise for county employees will go into effect Jan. 1. Millions of dollars in cuts required the elimination of 41 full-time and 49 part-time government positions. Thirty-seven of those positions are vacant. Cumberland County Schools will receive $80,362,412 in FY18. Funding in the new year for Fayetteville Technical Community College is $12,101,992. 

Both budgets rely principally on state and federal funds. Some of the so-called outside private agencies had their funding reduced by 15 percent. Others — such as the Boys and Girls Club, Child Advocacy Center, Cumberland County Coordinating Council on Older Adults, Cumberland Veterans Council, Southeast North Carolina Radio Reading, Vision Resource Center and the 2-1-1 information referral system sponsored by United Way — were renewed at current levels. 

Fayetteville Holds the Line on Property Taxes

Meanwhile, City Council avoided raising the municipal property tax rate of 49.95 cents per hundred dollars of valuation by making significant cuts in operations. The general fund of nearly $231 million has previously included an $8 million subsidy to augment the city’s sanitation service. It was cut in half for the coming fiscal year, but the annual solid waste fee will go up from 44 cents to $1.08. The stormwater fee will be increased six dollars annually to $51. The fees are tacked on to annual tax bills. 

Commercial businesses are net gainers at the expense of homeowners. They all pay the same tax rate. But, businesses don’t use city sanitation service and will not be assessed the much higher $1.08 solid waste fee. They hire private garbage haulers. 

City Council had been divided 5-5 until last week when Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin proposed holding the line on taxes while increasing enterprise fund fees. His motion passed 9–1. Mayor Nat Robertson dissented. He’s seeking re-election in the fall. Public Safety step pay plans for police, fire and 911 employees were approved. All other city employees will get a 2 percent pay raise. 

The only new initiative in the coming year is Sunday bus service. Ten of the most popular bus routes will run from 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sundays. Full service won’t get underway until well into the new fiscal year. Officials say it will take four-and-a-half months of preparation. 

“Additional operators, supervisor time and maintenance staff” would be required, said Assistant Transit Director Kelly Blazey. “We will need time to get through the hiring process, provide training, update our printed materials, hold any necessary public meetings regarding the changes, advertise the changes, etc.,” she added. Fayetteville is the last major city in North Carolina to provide bus service on the Sabbath. 

Violent Deaths Down in Fayetteville

A near record-setting two-month period of no homicide investigations has significantly cut into the usual pattern of violent deaths in Fayetteville. The city was murder-free for eight weeks, officials said. The peaceful period was broken with the death of a woman June 18 at a home on Lamon Street near downtown. Her death was the ninth homicide of the year, compared to 16 murders recorded during the same period in 2016, said Lt. Todd Joyce. Last year, police had to deal with an all-time high record of 31 homicides.

Ballpark Design OK’d 

Design work for Fayetteville’s minor league baseball stadium has received final approval from city council. “Its unique features will make this one of the best ballparks in the country,” said Mike Sabatini, senior architect for Populous. Populous is a global sports architecture firm which designed the $33 million downtown Fayetteville stadium. 

The ballpark will be a multipurpose facility to accommodate football and soccer as well as baseball. It will also be used as an entertainment venue for live concerts. 

Main access will be from Hay Street between the Prince Charles building, which will be converted into affordable apartments, and a new eight-story hotel and parking deck where the off-street train station parking lot is now. 

Construction is expected to begin in mid-August and will take about 18 months to complete. The Advanced Single-A Houston Astros farm team will begin playing during the 2019 spring season. 

Can Haymount Be Pedestrian-Friendly?

Fayetteville urban planners say the Haymount five points commercial center is a busy auto-dominated area that could be transformed into an active people place. The idea is to make the area at the top of the hill more pedestrian-friendly. 

Longleaf Pine Realtors, the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals and others have applied for a Smart Growth Grant for a “Build a Better Block” event from the National Association of Realtors. The idea is to demonstrate how automobile-dominated streets can be transformed into places where cars, pedestrians and cyclists can coexist. The City of Richmond, Virginia, is among communities already developing such a plan. A YouTube video demonstrates the project: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCIJXZb-POs. 

A preliminary Haymount “Build a Better Block” Meeting was held last week to illustrate how local residents can co-exist in the commercial center of Haymount. “It will take three months to plan and implement the project,” said City of Fayetteville Urban Designer Eloise Sahlstrom. 

Former City Councilman to Run Again

Former City Council member Johnny Dawkins said he will file to succeed Bobby Hurst as Fayetteville’s District five councilman. 

“Fayetteville is once again at a crossroads. Will we begin to grow again and improve our quality of life, or will we continue to muddle along and accept the status quo?” Dawkins asked in a news release. “The simple answer is more jobs must be created. How do we create more jobs, grow our economy and produce a city in which our children and grandchildren will want to live, work and raise their children? The City Council must create an environment in which new businesses will start up and create an environment in which existing businesses will take risks, hire more workers and expand,” Dawkins added. “As a former City Council member and successful business owner for over 35 years, right here in Fayetteville, I have the leadership experience, vision, and job creation experience to serve as your Voice on the Fayetteville City Council,” Dawkins concluded. 

No. 2 at FAST Is Moving to the Triangle

The Fayetteville Area System of Transit is losing a valuable employee to the Cary Transit system. Assistant Transit Director Kelly Blazey has notified friends and colleagues at FAST that she will be resigning at the end of the month to take a post with the Town of Cary as the Transit Services Administrator beginning July 3. 

Blazey has been with the City of Fayetteville for several years, the last half dozen with FAST. Before that, she was in the finance department.