Math and sciences are invaluable for explaining the world in terms of facts, but it is only the arts that can attempt to explain the human experience. Music and theatre explore emotions and express what it means to be human. Part of being a whole community and a whole person is having access to the arts. The Givens Performing Arts Center at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke provides that sense of community for many in the region.

“The center attracts world-class talent from around the world. From the Celtic sounds of master fiddlers, Natalie MacMaster and Donell Leahy, to the Chinese National Acrobats, this season will bring engaging acts to our community,” Chad Locklear the director of marketing said.

The GPAC is one of the “premier destinations for arts, culture and entertainment” in the area and it provides a staggering number of opportunities for the community to come and experience.

“We host more than 125 events a year, including UNCP student productions and community events,” Locklear noted.

These opportunities still remain one of the most economical choices for enjoying such high caliber artists.

“For the price of a single ticket on Broadway, you can enjoy an entire season of exciting productions here at GPAC,” said Locklear.

Having this stellar reputation, it comes as no surprise that this year they are again offering the community a star-studded season.

“We’re offering more shows this season than last, so audiences can expect a greater variety of entertainment, like the popular musical Mamma Mia and the standup comedian, Michael Ian Black. We’re also bringing back some favorites: the North Carolina Symphony and the National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China have been well-received here in the past and will return with all new shows.

“Donnell Leahy of the Canadian folk group, Leahy, will return with his wife, Natalie MacMaster and their children in a Celtic concert called Visions from Great Breton,” he continued.

“We’ve also got a few holiday shows this year: an all-new production of the musical, Jekyll & Hyde comes to GPAC right before Halloween and American Big Band: Home for the Holidays is our Christmas-themed show,.”

Local talent also has a place in the season at Givens Performing Arts Center. Threefifty performed at GPAC on Sept 12. The band is usually a duo, but for the first time they performed with a total of eight other musicians just for the show at the GPAC. Band member, Brad Parnell, is from the area.

Givens offers a variety of special programs including the Broadway and More and the Distinguished Speaker Series.

This year’s Broadway and More Series will feature: Broadway Rox! on Saturday, Sept. 20; The National Acrobats From the People’s Republic of China on Monday, Oct. 13; Jekyll and Hyde on Monday, Oct. 20;Home for the Holidays on Friday, Nov. 21; Million Dollar Quartet, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015; North Carolina Symphony on March 21, 2015; Natalie MacMaster and Donell Leahy on March 24, 2015 and The Great Gatsby on Saturday, April 25, 2015.

The GPAC Annual Fundraiser, a golf tournament, is slated for Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Pinecrest Country Club. To register, call 910-521-6634. The Annual Casino Night and Silent Auction is on Friday, Feb. 13, 2015 at the University Center Annex.

Tickets for the entire season are on sale now. Another incredible option to even further enhance the experience at a performance is the Diners Club, which is $30 per person and includes a wine and cheese reception beginning at 6 p.m. and dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required and dinner tickets are available throughout the season. For more information visit www.uncp.edu/gpac or call 521-6361.

Last year a fewer than 7,000 infants were born at Cape Fear Valley Health and close to 10 percent of those infants were premature so that is why the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation presents the 19th Annual Friends of Children Golf Classic on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 a.m. at Highland Country Club.

“The purpose of this signature event is to help our Friends of Children which is one of our Friends’ groups under the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation,” said Tara Hinton, events development coordinator of Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation. “That group provides car seats, gas vouchers, toys, blankets, teddy bears, clothing and all types of programs and services for children and families in need while they are receiving care at our facility.”

Hinton added that the golf tournament plays an integral role in providing the funds for these programs and services and in the past, the golf tournament has helped purchase the first state of the art giraffe bed for the hospital. The giraffe bed mimics the womb of the mother for premature infants. They have since purchased 17 or 18 more giraffe.

“The past few years the golf classic has chosen a project for funding,” said Rachel Richardson, programming development coordinator of Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation. “This year one of the projects for funding is a neonatal transporter for our level three Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.”

Richardson added that Cape Fear Valley’s NICU currently has two transporters but there is great value in providing an additional transporter because if one transporter has any maintenance issue, their NICU team will still have two operating machines. It is also a great benefit when there are prematurely born triplets born at Cape Fear Valley and more often than not, sets of twins and triplets have a higher risk of being born prematurely. The transporter is mobile life support for premature infants and is how the babies are transported from labor and delivery to the NICU. The NICU serves 13 counties in the state of North Carolina.

“With the current state of healthcare reform and the decreasing reimbursements, the foundation and this particular Friends of Golf Classic is able to provide to the children’s areas at Cape Fear Valley Health, which really helps bridge the gap for our hospital as far as needs for patients,” said Richardson.

More than 60,000 children are seen as inpatients and outpatients a year at the Pediatric Emergency Department and the Children’s Center at Cape Fear Valley Health. The remaining portion of the proceeds is going to the Children’s Center renovations at the hospital. If your baby has been born at Cape Fear Valley Health, whether they have gone to the NICU or not, prior to discharge, and if they ever have to go back to the hospital again before they turn 18, they will receive care in the Children’s Center.

“We just want to make sure that we are enhancing the patient environment for children so that they are not lost in the medical world while they are receiving treatment,” said Hinton.

Sponsorship levels for the golf tournament range from $250 to $25,000. For more information and details, call Tara Hinton at 615-1434.

In 1998, Up & Coming Weekly Publisher Bill Bowman came to his young editorial staff with a great idea.

“We are going to celebrate the best that this community has to offer,” he explained.

For those of us on staff, we were a little bewildered. We thought that was what we did every week. But Bill had a bigger plan, and over the next several weeks, planning for the first Best of Fayetteville Reader’s Poll went into overdrive.

To say that we were a little daunted is an understatement, particularly when Bill pulled out the original ballot. Compared to this year’s ballot, that one was pretty small; to us, it seemed mammoth. So we toiled for hours on end to produce that issue. Was it the best we have ever done? No, but it was a beginning.

Since that first issue, we have become more enamored with celebrating the people, organizations, locations and businesses that represent the best of the place we all call home.

I would like to say it has become a little less daunting, but that would be a lie. Remember, the ballot has grown exponentially, and the competition has become fierce. The number of ballots grows by leaps and bounds every year, and with last year’s addition of online voting, the growth has been even more phenomenal.

So while, we, as an editorial staff, have a sort of dread at this time of the year, it is overcome by our excitement. The Best of Fayetteville is truly an opportunity to recognize and recommend those people, places, organizations and businesses that make our community so unique. That makes the work worthwhile.

So enjoy this year’s edition. Peruse it. Save it.

Remember the folks who won and then pay them a visit. Let them know that you appreciate their commitment to making our community better. Let them know you saw it here. And keep your eyes open so you know who to vote for next year! Thanks for reading, thanks for voting and thanks for being part of what makes our community the best of the best.

Renaissance reenactment is an excit-ing way to involve friends and family in the history and culture of the past. The Fourth Annual Fort Bragg Renaissance Fairee will be held on Sept. 20 and 21 starting at 10 a.m.

Renaissaince Faires include a number of activities that engage performers and audiences to interact with one another. Activities will include: Paragon Jousting, which actually pits warriors against each other on horse-back. If the joust gets your blood stirring, you can participate in swordsmanship classes. If, on the other hand, fighting isn’t your thing, you can stroll through the Marketplace, where you will find handcrafted clothing, candles and jewelry, hand-forged medieval cloak pins, ladles, cutlery sets, chainmail and fire pokers.

The Faire runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. At 4:30 p.m., there is a masquerade ball, followed by a Pub Sing. On Sunday, activities will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. There is an “Are you smarter than a royal?” competition at 4 p.m., also followed by a Pub Sing.

During the Faire, attendees are asked to refrain from using cell phones on site and encouraged to dress the part if able. This creates a more realis-tic environment and adds to the fun.

The absence of technology gives everyone a chance to experience life as an everyday person during the time period. This also is an educational opportunity for children to learn about history and to delve into the event without distraction.

The Faire will offer roasted turkey legs, beverages and treats while magi-cians, musicians and dancers entertain the public. To reenact this age, the Medieval Fantasies Company travels statewide so everyone can experience and be involved in rebirth.

Chris and Mia Pugh founded the company in 2003 where they conduct a number of medieval and renaissance themed services.

“We are dedicated to offering family-friendly events filled with appropriate entertainment and educational opportunities. While our Faires are not strictly living history, we strive to offer performers that provide high quality historical demonstrations,” said Chris Pugh.

After doing some digging into his family tree, Pugh found that his family was actually a part of the Renaissance and the Middle Ages.

“We are shaped by those who have come before us — our values, talents and faults are as much a part of us as they are of our ancestors. It is our responsibility to pass on this history to those who follow us. Not only for our children, but those who we meet everyday,” he said.

Renaissance Faires are outdoor events held to enlighten the commu-nity about the rebirth stage, which occurred roughly from the 14th to the 17th century. The Dark Ages were an era of war and disease before the re-birth period. Before the people where given the rebirth of their freedoms they suffered through times of oppres-sion. The Renaissance period brought forth more freedom and access to art, religion, science and music.

“I am a United States Air Force veteran, and as such, I know how important programs such as the Faire are for our service members and their families,” he said. “It is an honor and a privilege…to provide a place for them to set aside their cares and respon-sibilities for a short while. To enter a world where they can relax, have fun and truly enjoy their time at Fairee is our ultimate goal.”

The Renaissance Faire is at the Smith Lake Recreation Area, 1200 Honeycutt Road. Entrance to Smith Lake Recreation Area is accessible off of Honeycutt Road onto Smith Lake Road. The access road off of Murchi-son Road is now permanently closed. Admission is $ 5 per carload. For more information, visit the Fort Bragg MWR website at www.fortbraggmwr.com or www.medievalfanta-siesco.com.

In 1920, a group of “20-odd young vital businessmen” gathered to listen to a representative of Kiwanis International. A week later, that num-ber grew to more than 75 as the men gathered to charter their club and hand out membership applications. Since that time, the Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville has gone about the business of improving the community one child at a time, living up to the Kiwanis International motto, “Serving the Children of the World.”

On Sept. 18, the club will take another step toward helping Cumberland County’s children by sponsoring the Kiwanis Club’s Annual Care for Kids Golf Tourna-ment to benefit the Child Advocacy Center. The tourna-ment, held at Cypress Lakes Golf Course, in the Gray’s Creek Community, is one of many fundraising events the club holds throughout the year. In 2013, the tour-nament raised more than $25,000 and organizers hope to meet or exceed that amount this year.

The Child Advocacy Center is a 501C-3 nonprofit whose purpose is to alleviate the trauma children experience once a disclosure of sexual abuse or seri-ous physical abuse occurs by creating a community of collaborating advocates.

They do this through a number of programs that stress education and prevention to change the community, but also include therapy and other help for children who have been abused. The work of the center is truly a community activity, as a multidisciplinary team from across the community works together on the various programs and to meet the needs of abused children.

The center, located on Ray Avenue, is a safe and child friendly facility that supports the prevention, investigation and prosecution of child abuse.

None of this would happen without the generous support of individual donors, grants and work by organizations like the Kiwanis who give self-lessly to support the mission of the organization.

The donations given to the center will not only help the children and families that suffer from abuse, but also assist in keeping the center in operation.

“The center uses the donations to help the families in any way possible. We buy food, clothes, school supplies and provide psychological care. The center also helps the families figure out the next steps for their children,” said Roberta Humphries, the executive director of the CAC.

“The donations collected from July 2013 to June 2014 aided 616 children. In the past year the CAC has seen a 37 percent increase in t services provided to children,” continued Humphries. “Law enforcement and the Department of Social Services refer the majority of the families that benefit from CAC services.”

Donations also help inform the public about pre-venting, noticing and protecting children from abuse. Abuse can be defined as emotional, physical, sexual and neglect.

The Darkness to Light (D2L) Stewards of Children is a class held by the CAC to teach adults how to prevent child sexual abuse. Adults are the fundamental part to counteracting child abuse because kids are in the attention of adults. The program is also helpful for organizations that monitor or care for children.

In addition to the Caring for Kids Golf Tournament, the club also hosts many other events throughout the year such as: Reading is Fun, Kiwanis Talent Night, Terrific Kids program and Salvation Army Bell Ringing.

Check in for the tournament is at 11:30 a.m. at Cypress Lakes. Registra-tion is $100 for individuals and $400 for teams of four. Entry fee includes: golf cart and green’s fees with an amenities bag and dinner after the tournament. There is a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. For registration forms or more information, visit www.fayettevillekiwanis.org.

Photo: The Kiwanis Care for Kids Golf Tournament rais-es funds to support the Child Advocacy Center.

It’s a Party and You Are Invited

In just a few days one of the biggest parties of the year is going to happen — and, you are invited. Yes, that’s right. We want you to help us celebrate. So grab your party clothes, bring your horns and confetti. On Tuesday, Sept. 16, Up & Coming will unveil the winners of the Best of Fayetteville. You aren’t going to want to miss it!

Celebrating one of Up & Coming Weekly’s biggest and most celebrated editions and events of the year — The 17th Annual Best of Fayetteville Awards — has become a tradition in Fayetteville. Each year it gets a little bit bigger and better and this year is no exception. So mark your calendars and plan to be our guests at It’z Entertainment City from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. as we celebrate the people, businesses, services and organizations that have been recognized by our readers and the Fayetteville community as being the “Best of the Best”.

Join us for the music, food, fun, prizes and surprises as we honor those who have helped shape and define our community. Join special guests Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson, Doug Peters of the Fayetteville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Cumberland County officials, and, of course, our winners, as we come together in recognition of these local assets that impact our everyday lives.

This very special edition of Up & Coming Weekly is our biggest, most popular and most read edition of the year. From a credibility and reliability point of view, we describe the “Best of” edition as a local Fayetteville resource that combines the attributes and characteristics of JC Powers, the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List. This is why we post the Best of Fayetteville edition online and use it year round to showcase Fayetteville and Cumberland County to our guests and visitors.

If you can’t attend the party make sure you pick up a copy at any one of our 500 locations across Cumberland County. Make sure you get it early, because these issues don’t stay in the stands long. In fact, they fly off them. Once you’ve read the issue and found out what businesses have earned the trust and respect of your neighbors, take time to pay them a visit. Look for the colorful window decals or the prestigious gold and white plaques that designate a business or organization as the “best of the best” and congratulate them on the accomplishment. The party celebration is not just to recognize and celebrate the winners of the 17th Annual Best of Fayetteville reader survey. It is to also thank our readers and community leaders for their commitment to enhancing our community and our quality of life.

This survey and the event itself is always a huge undertaking with lots of moving parts. It would be impossible to execute it without the help and assistance of many people who practically guarantee its success. This includes our sponsors, our staff of talented and dedicated writers, editor’s, designers, marketing consultants, distribution drivers and administration. To get out the Best of Fayetteville, it truly takes a village.

This is a very exciting time of the year for us. Please note that Up & Coming Weekly is extremely proud to be Fayetteville’s community newspaper. We cherish every moment we are allowed to bring to the forefront those people, places, businesses, services and organizations that make this community a great place to live, work and raise a family. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. We look forward to seeing you and celebrating with you on Sept. 16.

If the phrases, “I’m not dead yet,” “It’s a flesh wound” and “I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries,” leave you laughing and speaking in your worst English accent, then you are probably a pretty big fan of Monty Python’s Holy Grail.

That being the case, you are definitely going to buy a ticket to the upcoming show at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre: Spamlot.

Spamalot is a musical adaptation of the Holy Grail, which has left audiences in stitches all across the world. During the 2004-2005 Broad-way season, Spamalot had more than 1,500 performances during its initial run and was seen by more than 2 million people. The show garnered three Tony Awards, include Best Musical. All of which affirmed what Eric idle, one of the shows creator’s, said, “I like the title Spamlot, a lot. We tested it with audiences on my recent U.S. tour and they liked it as much as I did, which is gratifying. After all, they are the ones who will be paying Broadway prices to see the show. It comes from a line in the movie which goes: “We eat ham, we eat jam and Spam a lot.”

The outtake from the movie for the title, is really what the show is comprised of — some of the funniest bits from the movie. But in the case of Spamalot, the outtakes are brilliantly woven together to not only tell a story, but also to end in a big Broadway finish, one that CFRT Artistic Director Tom Quaintance will not only leave his audience laughing, but keep them coming back for more.

Quaintance recalls his first introduction to the show. “Someone gave me tickets to the show, and I went with-out any real expectations,” he recalled. “I just didn’t really think the show would be for me. I was wrong. I laughed so long and so hard. It really stuck with me because it is as broad as it can be. There’s great music, dancing and it is as funny as it can be.”

With that in mind, Quaintance, along with the season selection board at the CFRT, decided to bring it to the stage.

“This is a show that fits really well in this season and it fits really well with out community of actors,” said Quaintance. “In this show, all of the performers are regional, with all of them coming from within an hour of the Fayetteville. To bring a Tony Award play to stage with regional actors is something that we really want to do at the CFRT.

When adding the show to the season lineup, Quaintance also weighed it against the other shows in the line up. The next show coming to the stage is The Bluest Eye, which is a pretty intense show. Adding a huge musical comedy like Spamalot to the lineup rounds out the season nicely.

“This show is not heavy,” he said. “It is fun, fun, fun. There is something really important about bringing a community of people together to share a laugh.”

While the entire cast of Spamalot is exceptional in Quaintance’s opinion, King Arthur played by veteran CFRT actor Ken Griggs and The Lady of the Lake, played by Raleigh actor Lisa Jolley, will leave the audi-ence in stitches.

“Although these two have only worked together once before, they are a little like an old married couple, up on the stage” noted Quaintance. “They play very well off of each other.”

As Quaintance makes his point, the two break into a side conversation on who is the better dancer and Griggs laughingly makes fun of Jolley’s phobias.

“This show is curing all of my phobias,” confirmed Jolley. “I am afraid of heights, drops and movement. If they could add a roller coaster to the set I would be cured. This is good therapy for me.”

“I was 10-years-old when I saw my first Monty Python sketch,” said Griggs. We didn’t have cable and all that stuf, so I had to wait for public TV to show it. The Holy Grail is wonderfully, hilariously, unrelentingly funny. I memorized every of every scene of every sketch. The chance to do this show is awesome.”

For Jolley, the show is a bit of a change. “I’m not used to playing the girl,” she said. “I’m usually the old lady, the best friend, the table, the dog. So being the Lady of the Lake is a really different role for me. But I like it a lot.”

In Spamalot, the Lady of the Knight sends King Arthur on his quest to find the Lady Grail. Throughout the performance, she makes ap-pearances with her Laker Girls to keep the quest on its way.

And of course, big production numbers help keep the show moving.

“It seems like there is a cast of thousands, but there are really only 18 people in the cast,” added Quaintance. “There’s a really big finish over and over again.

“The hardest working people in the show are the ensemble,” he continued. “They have a 100 different parts and when they are not on stage, they are just off stage doing very quick costume changes.”

In the ensemble, you will also see some familiar faces. Of particular note are the Knights of the Round Table played by Jeremy Fiebig, Jacob Barton, Matt Lamb and Bill Saunders.

Griggs cautions that people shouldn’t come to the show expecting to see a remake of the movie.

“We aren’t doing the movie or the Broadway show,” he explained. “We are doing our version, and I think we are making some pretty smart choices.”

Previews for Spamalot are Thursday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the preview are $15. The show opens on Saturday, Sept. 20 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 12. All shows, with the exception of the Saturday and Sunday matinees start at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are at 2 p.m.

For tickets and information, visit the CFRT website at ww.cfrt.org or call 323-4233 to buy tickets..

The 9th Annual Ribbon Walk & Ride will take place in downtown Fayetteville on Sept. 20. Proceeds from the event benefit the Friends of the Cancer Center and will directly benefit local patients who are fighting cancer. The Friends of the Cancer Center helps to provide hundreds of cancer patients and their families with emotional support, information resources, food supplements, assistance with wigs and turbans and emergency needs funding.

Tara Brisson Hinton, development coordinator for the Cape Fear Valley Foundation explained, “Our event keeps the funds in our community helping local cancer patients right now as they go through treatment at Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center. This is our ninth year with the 5K walk and motorcycle ride that continues to grow, as our patients needs continue to grow.

“Our mission is to support our patients right here at home through Friends of the Cancer Center by helping them through a profoundly emotional time and to improve the quality of our patients’ lives,” she continued. “This event plays an integral role in helping us provide financial assistance, wig vouchers, transportation assistance, our Oasis Complimentary Medicine program, resource centers, free mammograms and many support programs. This event allows us to help people right now in our community at the same time walking or riding in honor and in memory of our loved ones who have had to fight the battle of cancer.”

New, at this year’s race, is an honorarium and memorial wall for people to purchase a frame from the Cape Fear Valley Foundation office for a $15 donation. The frames can be decorated and turned back in by Sept. 8 for display at the respective wall during the event.

The team that raises the most money will take ownership of The Crystal Ribbon Trophy until next year’s event. In addition, the top three teams raising the most money will receive recognition at the Foundation Board of Directors Annual Meeting, a certificate of appreciation and a thank you letter from the Board of Directors of the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation.

The Survivor Reception is Sept. 19 at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church from 7-9 p.m. for survivors and a guest. Registration is $25, $30 the day of and survivor registration is only $15. Survivors will receive a special T-shirt. Register early because shirts are limited. You can register at www.ribbonwalkforcancer.org or call 615-1434 or stop by the foundation office at 101 Robeson St. The reception is a fun night of celebration to honor survivors and those who survive within our hearts.

Hinton continued, “Without our volunteers, participants and community support we would not be able to help as many cancer patients as we do through the annual Ribbon Walk & Ride for Friends of the Cancer Center,… you never know who you may be helping.”

The event is presented by Stanley Steamer, PDQ and Community Home Care & Hospice. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Late registration will open at 7:30 a.m. Opening ceremonies, hosted by Don Chase of WKML and Nicole Carr of ABC 11 News, begin at 8:30 a.m. The bike ride begins at 8:45 a.m. and the walk begins at 9 a.m. Due to the popularity of the event, this year’s race is returning to Festival Park from the Medical Arts Building. For more information, or to register for the race, please visit http://www.ribbonwalkforcancer.org.

If you had your choice of sitting at home and watching TV or dancing and laughing and learning about one of the oldest cultures in the world, which would you choose? If you’re smart, you’ll choose the first option and head out to the 24th Annual Greek Fest at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, which organizers promises will be big-ger and better than before. So grab your keys and kin and be Greek For a weekend!

The Greek Fest, a much awaited and loved event in Fayetteville, will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday Sept. 5 and will run through 6 p.m. on Sun-day, Sept. 7. For three fabulous day, you can soak yourself in the traditions and history of our Greek neighbors, and in case we haven’t mentioned it, you can all fill yourself to the brim with some of the best Greek food in town.

For the Greek Community, the Greek Festival serves a two-fold purpose. First, it allow the com-munity to share the culture, history and heritage of their people through food, music and dancing, as well as their Greek Orthodox faith. Second, it raises funds to help numerous charities within the community. The Greek Community looks at it like being good neighbors.

Not only are they good neighbors, they are also great hosts! John Batzolas, a mem-ber of the Greek Fest Committee, explained, “We are going to have Greek food, Greek dancing, a live Greek Band and a Greek marketplace.”

He noted that the food, all lovingly made by the members of Sts. Constantine and Helen, is one of the biggest draws. Community residents flock to the church in droves to taste the succulent dishes, and of course, to get their hands on the fresh-baked pastries.

Batzolas noted that the annual baking of the pastries is a community affair.

“Most of the ladies from the church come together and pitch in to bake the goods before the event,” he said.

The love and care they put into their baking is greatly appreciated by the people who line up to not only sample while they are there, but also to take it home.

This year, as in year’s past, there are two food lines; one line offers a full, traditional Greek meal, while the other offers typical Greek snack food like gyros or pitas. (The baked goods are sold separately. ) Batzolas cautioned that Friday lunch will offer a limited menu; however, come Friday night, the festival is in full swing.

In addition to the food, visitors will also have the opportunity to visit a Greek Marketplace, where they can find the typical things found in a Greek store. After you’ve shopped there, you can step over to the Greek grocery store, where you can purchase products found in Greece from olive oil to ouzo and from Greek wine to nuts, as well as water and soft drinks and Greek wine to comple-ment your food..

And while you are there, you can listen to the great Greek music provided by the Nick Trivelas Band, and, if the spirit moves you, join the Greek dancers for a dance or two.

Batzolas added, “If you like to dance, join us!”And before you leave, make sure you by a Greek Fest Raffle ticket for only $5. You have a chance at winning at winning the grand prize of either $2,000 cash or two round trip airfares to Athens, Greece, a large screen televi-sion or some cold, hard cash.

It’s important to note, as Batzolas explained, that the money raised by the festival and the raffle stays in the community, with some money stay in the church and the remainder going into the community to support various non-profit organizations like the Autism Society and the American Red Cross.

Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church is located at 614 Oakridge Ave., in Haymount. Admission and parking are free. The festival runs Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 6 p.m. For more information, call 910 484-2010, or visit the website at www.stsch.nc.goarch.org.

The Fury in Ferguson: Quest and Question of Justice

Sometimes events happen in faraway places that impact how we live and how we feel in our very own hometowns. All eyes have been focused on Ferguson, Mo., as millions of Americans try to figure out what the 21st century definition of “justice” really is. To this point, I yield my space this week to someone who can speak to that subject.

Ferguson, Mo., erupted onto the American conscience on Aug. 9, when an unarmed 18-year-old, Michael Brown, was shot and killed by Darren Wilson, a police officer with the Ferguson Police Department. That Brown was black and Wilson is white, arguably, is no less important to the narrative than the facts leading up to Brown’s killing. That is true in part because of the existing poor relations between the black public and their police department at the time of Brown’s death, and made worse after white police officers let Brown’s dead, blood-soaked body remain on full display, in the middle of the street, for several hours, while concealing for a week the identity of the white officer who had killed the teen after shooting him six times, twice in the head. The racial flames were further fanned by the account of several eye witnesses who said the unarmed teen had raised his hands in the universal symbol of surrender, while pleading with Officer Wilson not to shoot. And notwithstanding the relevance and importance of those accounts, inexplicably, the Ferguson Police Department chose not to interview the alleged witnesses regarding their statements.

Understandably, not unlike the citizens of Ferguson, every other reasonable, rational person on the planet would be hard-pressed to reconcile why investigators would not, well, investigate, which, by definition, would have to include speaking with every person who may have seen or heard anything concerning the cause and circumstances that resulted in Brown’s death. That no such reasonably hoped-for investigation occurred only solidified in the minds and hearts of Ferguson’s already disaffected black citizenry that there would be no justice. And, correctly, the Ferguson Police Department reasonably anticipated there would be no peace, but, as a precaution, incorrectly made containment a priority rather than transparency and due process

.What followed were the unconstrained emotions that can and often do flow from the feeling of being yet again violated, devalued and victimized by a long-term foe, in this case, the police. Blacks and their historical relationship to police brutality necessarily conjures up the painful 1960s images of Birmingham’s so-called Commissioner of Public Safety, Eugene “Bull” Connor, police attack dogs, night sticks and powerful fire hoses that conspired, with impunity, to terrorize black men, women and children. The anticipation of perennial impunity for perceived police misconduct is the fuel that precipitates — though it does not excuse — the violence and property damage that often occurs during these tragic times.

Ferguson’s blacks and whites comprise 63 percent and 33 percent of the population, respectively. And yet, there are only three black officers out of the 53 commissioned officers on the Ferguson Police Department. That blacks account for 86 percent (12percent for whites) of all traffic stops, and 92 percent of all arrests (7 percent for whites) creates more than enough suspicious fodder that white police officers target black drivers (and in Brown’s case, pedestrians) and reserve for them a special brand of policing, which almost a 100 percent of the time leads to their arrest (and in Brown’s case, death).

While not a failsafe, diversity in such important entities as police departments can indicate the presence of equality and justice, or at least, the potential for it. And such diversity can, as amongst the police and those they pledge to protect and serve, boost morale, trust and a willingness to work collaboratively to solve common community concerns. Conversely, where, as here, the disaffected black community does not perceive even an appearance of equality and justice, common to all, and where, as here, there is not even enough of a diverse police workforce to achieve plausible deniability around the question of unequal treatment under the law, each inevitable citizen and cop conflict will only be aggravated and inflamed by the understandable lack of confidence those citizens will have in law enforcement’s capacity and willingness to resolve conflicts transparently and fairly.

Finally, whether or not the fury in Ferguson will reside or rage on, or whether or not the intense quest for, and question of justice will be realized, remains to be seen. But whatever the revelation, it will be “social-vized” on Facebook and Twitter. As such, the world will know the truth, but the truth will make no one free, unless, good men and women affirmatively refuse to allow evil to further triumph.

Photo: Michael Brown

On a hectic Friday afternoon, the Cape Fear Regional Theatre is a bee-hive of activity. On the main stage, the stage crew is occupied with building the set for the upcoming production of Spamalot! In the lobby, everyone from the serious buyer to the looky-loos are perusing the wide array of props and costumes that are on sale during the theatre’s yard sale to clean out its costume and prop room. Volunteers are busy planning the upcoming fundraiser in the Cape Fear Botanical Garden and measur-ing actors for costumes. Orchestrat-ing all of this controlled madness is Tom Quaintance, the artistic director of the theatre.

Quaintance, who is in his third year at the theatre, takes it all in stride. He has earned a few more gray hairs since his arrival in Fayetteville, but the wisdom he has gained in those three years not only about the theatre, but also about the community makes them well worth-while.

“I’m as busy as I have ever been,” said Quaintance, who took a break from rehearsals for Spamalot! to sit down with Up & Coming Weekly. “I am better at the job now, but it’s still a lot.”

Quaintance, who moved to Fayetteville from the West Coast, tackled two big jobs when he arrived in Fayetteville. The first, of course, was take the reigns of a successful and growing the theatre. The second was becoming a dad.

“I look at those two as being a lot alike,” he said. “The responsibility of running a theatre and the respon-sibility of being a father are both extremely rewarding and exciting.”

They are both also both the hard-est jobs Quaintance has ever had to tackle — and the most rewarding.

Quaintance said the responsibility required for each is overwhelming.

“But at the end of the day, when it all comes down, I’d rather be the guy responsible,” he noted.

About two months into his job at the CFRT, Quaintance had his first “we’re not in Kansas” anymore mo-ment while sitting in a meeting at the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumber-land County.

“I was in a meeting with local and state leaders. They were talk-ing about the role of the arts in the state, and it hit me that I had to pay attention to what was being said, to what was going on. It was up to me to engage and be a part of this very important conversation,” he recalled. “I had come up with a way for the theatre to partner with these agen-cies. In the past, when I was teach-ing, I would go to a faculty meeting and kind of blank out because it wasn’t about me, but all of this is.

Quaintance is taking that role seri-ously and is working closely with local and state leaders to position the CFRT as a leader in not only the region, but the state and the nation.

His efforts are not going without notice, as the theatre has received two National Endowment of the Arts grants (the first for the staging of The Parchman Hour) and the most recent, an unsolicited grant to use to engage the local audience. The theatre also receive a national grant to stage the upcoming Voices from the Homefront.

The engagement piece is what Quaintance has being struggling with since coming to Fayetteville. His first observance was that the theatre served a limited part of the commu-nity, and over the past three years, through not only play selection, but also outreach programs to engage the community, he has tried to broaden the reach of the theatre by making it appealing to all members of the community.

“We have been working very hard to reach into parts of the commu-nity that we have not served,” he said. “And that will continue to be our focus, as well as bringing well produced, designed and acted plays to the stage.”

The theatre and its board is in the beginning stages of creating a strategic plan for the growth and success of the theatre. Quaintance is excited about the possibilities, and is encouraged by the increase in atten-dance to shows. All of which he at-tributes to the hard work of the staff, who he says has thrown themselves wholeheartedly into the changes he has made and who have worked tire-lessly to improve the theatre.

“This theatre will live up to its name, we will take some risks with play selections and we will tackle some tough issues, but we will continue to produce quality theatre,” he said. “And I believe, we will be a leader for the arts in our community, the state and the nation."

Photo: Tom Quaintance

Honey is one of those amazing things that nature and bees provide. The golden sweet-smelling stuff doesn’t just taste great, it also contains a wealth of health-promoting properties. Its minerals, vitamins and antioxidants make honey a wonderful topical treatment for healthy skin and hair. Check out some of these uses below. Whenever possible, purchase locally produced honey that is raw, meaning it hasn’t been heated, which can kill its active ingredients. Most farmers’ markets offer local, raw honey.

Pimples and acne. The naturally occurring antibacterial benefits of honey can help kill bacteria and work to quell inflammation. Apply raw honey to freshly washed pimples and leave on overnight.

Intense pimple treatment. The UK Honey Association offers this treatment for pimples: Blend 2 teaspoons honey, ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt and 1 teaspoon turmeric to a thick paste. Apply only to the pimple and leave overnight. Wash your face as usual.

Minor wounds. Honey actually emits bacteria-killing hydrogen peroxide and has other wound-healing properties. Try applying honey to clean cuts and scrapes and cover with a bandage.

Shiny hair. Mix ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons of honey with 2 cups of water. Apply to clean hair and leave on for at least 5 minutes. Rinse. You can follow with conditioner if necessary.

Simple honey mask. Honey’s moisturizing and antioxidant properties make it a wonderful beauty mask. It also gently exfoliates. Apply a generous layer of raw honey to clean skin; relax for 30 minutes and rinse.

Honey bath. This is a luxurious treat that requires 1 cup of honey. Add the honey to bath water and enjoy the light scent while it gently moisturizes your skin. Take a shower first so that you don’t need to use soap.

Honey scrub. Mix a small amount of honey with ground almonds for a body and face scrub that exfoliates and moisturizes.

Lip moisturizing. Simply apply honey to your lips and the skin around them for a moisturizing effect that also tastes good. Leave on for 15 minutes or so and apply moisturizer after.

The Apple Crate offers a wide variety of honey options from regional honey to honey from as far away as New Zealand. Each one offers their own unique benefits, tastes and textures. The Apple Crate staff will be happy to help you choose the right honey for any beauty emergency.

Photo: There are many practical uses for honey that can make you look and feel better. Raw local honey is usually the best bet when it comes to choosing which type of honey to purchase.

Fayetteville and its nearby neighbors are rich with talent. The local music scene thrives with local artists gracing stages, music halls and cof-fee shops pretty much every night of the week. But how do those artists aspiring to enter a full-time music career get from being “in” Fayetteville to being “from” Fayetteville? Unfortunately, the formula for success is not as easy as the myriad of 10-step books lining the shelves of every book store, or they would all be on their way.

The truth of the matter is this: Success for any artist is found only in the eye of the beholder. Period. That’s why WCLN decided to host a regional talent search we called Take the Stage. Putting the call out to musicians and their mothers from Raleigh to Lumberton, we received dozens of entries. We had to work our way through everything from slick, semi-professional videos to recordings made on living room couches, to pare the submissions down to 16 hopefuls we invited to appear on four stages in Fayetteville, Lumberton, Dunn and Clinton.

Show after show, the result was an astounded audience. The profession-alism and musicianship of the bands and artists that entered each venue simply blew each audience away. While there were no losers in the com-petition, we still had to address the challenge of choosing the best. Using a panel of music professionals, we combined their scores with the votes of the crowd to determine a winner for each of the four shows to appear at a final event being staged as part of the Cumberland County Fair on September 7.

Of course, there is a point to all of this. There is an annual event staged by Temple Baptist Church known as NextFest. The free-to-attend event features national acts and has always incorporated regional talent. As the church booked a major tour for 2014, they found themselves relegated to a single local act with some stiff parameters on how they could even stage them. Enter WCLN. Our job is to be part of the bridge between artist and audience. We didn’t see one slot, we saw one opportunity. One chance for a local artist to be exposed to an eager crowd on the same stage as several Top 10 artists.

Now we’re inviting you. We’ve eliminated the judges, and will turn it over to the crowd on September 7th. Four artists will Take the Stage beginning at 6 p.m., at the Crown Complex Theater, and one will walk away with the promise of climbing on the NextFest stage along with Family Force 5, 7eventh Time Down, and the Newsboys in October.

And then we’ll wave goodbye. For together, we will have accomplished the goal: Helping someone go from being “in” Fayetteville, to being “from” Fayetteville.

 Downtown Small Plate Crawl Serves Up Hot Dish

Finally, Historic Downtown Fayetteville is beginning to “get it” when it comes to building excitement and inviting Cumberland County residents and visitors to experience and enjoy the uniqueness of Fayetteville’s downtown community. Build it and they will come. Well, they will also come if you invite them. And, marketing, advertising and promoting Downtown Fayetteville as a fun family destination is the best and most effective way to keep Downtown as a vibrant, must–visit option.

The newly formed Downtown Fayetteville Restaurant Association, in collaboration with the Downtown Alliance and Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, presented a very impressive 4th Friday this past weekend. Yes, there was fun and excitement in the air – mostly from seeing new faces enjoying many new places. This very cool scene made the warm August night stimulating and enjoyable. This was Downtown Fayetteville at its best. There was music, food, fun, art and entertainment. What more could you ask for?

Well, maybe one or two things…

It is puzzling that with so much time, effort and money going into this event, why so many businesses were closed and not participating. Go figure. Hundreds of invited guests walking past your storefront from 5 to 9 p.m.... and you’re CLOSED! Not necessarily the way to go about promoting and developing a successful business – or showcasing a vibrant downtown. The fact is, there are still too many vacant buildings, empty storefronts and closed businesses that present a telltale contradiction to the vibrant image we want to project.

Also, as it appears now, the Downtown Fayetteville experience is hard to explain or define. The Downtown Alliance and the newly formed Downtown Fayetteville Restaurant Association’s inaugural event, the Small Plate Crawl, added fun and purpose to this 4th Friday experience. However, the overall event seemed to lack an identity or theme. People were wondering … “Is this an arts event? Music event? Food event?” There needs to be a cohesive theme, group, organization or purpose to pull all the venues and elements together to create a definable and marketable Downtown/4th Friday brand.

This would address my third observation – that we are losing our attractive side street venues. Hay Street is getting all the traffic and action while there is little to draw people to the unique shops and businesses along Maxwell, Donaldson and Franklin Streets, where these establishments also have much to contribute.

To me, this last 4th Friday event in Historic Downtown Fayetteville marked a new beginning of creating and branding downtown Fayetteville as a fun family destination where we can consistently and proudly showcase our city, not just on special occasions, but every night of the week. This was an excellent start. Congratulations!

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: The Small Plate Crawl added extra fun and excitement to 4th Friday.

It probably doesn’t happen as much as you’d like, but from time to time, you have some extra disposable income. When this happens, how should you use the funds? Assuming you have adequate emergency savings — typically, three to six months’ worth of living expenses — should you pay off debts, or fund your IRA or another investment account?

There’s no one “correct” answer — and the priority of these options may change, depending on your financial goals. However, your first step may be to consider what type of debt you’re thinking of paying down with your extra money. For example, if you have a consumer loan that charges a high rate of interest — and you can’t deduct the interest payments from your taxes — you might conclude that it’s a good idea to get rid of this loan as quickly as possible.

Still, if the loan is relatively small, and the payments aren’t really impinging on your monthly cash flow that much, you might want to consider putting any extra money you have into an investment that has the potential to offer longer-term benefits. For instance, you might decide to fully fund your IRA for the year before tackling minor debts. (In 2014, you can contribute up to $5,500 to a traditional or Roth IRA, or $6,500 if you’re 50 or older.)

When it comes to making extra mortgage payments, however, the picture is more complicated. In the first place, mortgage interest is typically tax deductible, which makes your loan less “expensive.” Even beyond the issue of deductibility, you may instinctively feel that it’s best to whittle away your mortgage and build as much equity as possible in your home. But is that always a smart move?

Increasing your home equity is a goal of many homeowners — after all, the more equity you have in your home, the more cash you’ll get when you sell it. Yet, if your home’s value rises — which, admittedly, doesn’t always happen — you will still, in effect, be building equity without having to divert funds that could be placed elsewhere, such as in an investment. In this situation, it’s important to weigh your options. Do you want to lower your mortgage debts and possibly save on cumulative interest expenses? Or would you be better served to invest that money for potential growth or interest payments?

Here’s an additional consideration: If you tied up most of your money in home equity, you may well lose some flexibility and liquidity. If you were to fall ill or lose your job, could you get money out of your home if your emergency savings fund fell short? Possibly, in the form of a home equity line of credit or a second mortgage, but if you were not bringing in any income, a bank might not even approve such a loan — no matter how much equity you have in your house. You may more easily be able to sell stocks, bonds or other investment vehicles to gain access to needed cash.

Getting some extra money once in a while is a nice problem to have. Still, you won’t want to waste the opportunity — so, when choosing to pay down debts or put the money into investments, think carefully.

At FTCC, we are committed to providing educational opportunities to all qualified students. From Continuing Education courses to degree programs through curriculum, the options are numerous. For students who have a documented disability, the Special Populations Office exists to ensure equal access to FTCC options. The process of registering with the Special Populations Office is completely confidential, and no disability-related information is ever shared with anyone (including FTCC faculty and staff) without written consent from the student.

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), FTCC does not exclude otherwise qualified persons with disabilities, solely by reason of the disability, from participating in college programs and activities nor are persons with disabilities denied the benefits of these programs or subjected to discrimination. Students with documented disabilities often need testing accommodations (such as extended time testing and separate testing location) and/or academic accommodations (such as note-takers, preferential seating, breaks as needed, etc.) in order to put them on an even playing field with other students. For example, a student who has severe arthritis and is unable to write would receive the accommodation of a note-taker in his or her classes in order to get thorough copies of class notes.

Students are often unsure if their diagnosis qualifies as a disability. The ADA does not give a strict list of what does (and doesn’t) qualify. Instead, the ADA requires that certain criteria be met in order to determine a disability. Any student who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities (including walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning or working) is regarded as having a disability.

Students who need accommodations should visit the Special Populations Office at FTCC to begin the intake process and complete the following steps:

1. Submit the completed intake packet. A Special Populations Office staff member will be glad to explain the Intake Packet and answer any questions.

2. Provide appropriate medical documentation. Medical documentation must be current (within 5 years). Again, Special Populations Office staff members are available to answer any questions students may have about documentation.

3. Each semester, students are required to submit a copy of their current class schedule in order to receive accommodations.

4. The completed intake packet and medical documentation will be reviewed by the Special Populations Coordinator.

5. Once the review is complete, the student will be contacted to schedule a meeting with the Special Populations Coordinator to discuss specific needs and accommodations.

6. If accommodations are approved, the student will sign purple accommodation forms which will be sent to each instructor. (Accommodation forms only contain information about the accommodation, not information about the specific disability.)

For more information, please call us at (910) 678-8349 or visit our office at the Fayetteville campus in Cumberland Hall, Rooms 313A and 314A. We look forward to assisting you with your educational goals!

Photo: For students who have a documented disability, the Special Populations Office exists to ensure equal access to FTCC options.

Each September, the greater Fayetteville area is treated to ten days of rides, food, exhibits, shows, pageants, competitions and more when the Cumberland County Fair comes to town. Officially, the fair is supposed to “provide an opportunity to showcase and preserve the history and legacy of the agricultural communities in Cumberland County; to celebrate the diversity of local arts and crafts; to promote a safe setting for fun, healthy family entertainment featuring music, motorsports and animals; and to encourage an environment of friendly competition for all ages.”

What that really means is 10 days of non-stop fun. From Sept. 5-14 visit the Crown and enjoy the many attractions that have been a year in the making.

This year, look for all the favorites that make the Cumberland County Fair something worth looking forward to each year. Rides, food, exhibits and shows are all staples at this event but there are some new features worth checking out, too.

“We’ve got The Wiggles and The Roller Derby as part of the fair this year,” said Hubert Bullard, Cumberland County Fair manager. “They are special ticketed items but they are part of the fair. We are going to have a few more rides this year. We have one of the largest portable roller coasters in the world and some of the most spectacular music rides this year.”

Then there are features that are returning because they were such a big hit last year.

“We have the skate boarding demos and a huge competition the second weekend of the fair,” said Bullard. “It will include skaters from up and down the east coast. Locals can compete in it , too. This event is sponsored by Daville Skate Shop. And the Kidsville News! entertainment stage is returning.”

Last year, the Kidsville News! stage offered a chance for visitors to see some of the local talent in the community. Different dance groups, singers, gymnasts and other entertainers from around the community graced the stage and performed for the crowds. There were games and activities scheduled every day and Truman the Dragon was there, too. Visitors can expect to have a lot of fun this year, as well. The groups returning this year include Kerry’s Dance Beat, The Charlotte Blume School of Dance, Cumberland Dance Academy and Firehouse-Eastover’s Studio of Performing Arts. The Kidsville News! stage is excited to welcome some new groups that include 4D Straw of Wood Boy Entertainment, REJOICE!, Mizz Fabulous and Lil’ Blizzard and more.

There is so much going on throughout the course of the fair that it might be difficult for some to choose which days to attend. There will be helicopter rides, monster truck rides and camel rides. Look for a one-ring circus this year.

“We have a large outdoor circus called Torres,” said Bullard. “It is a lot of acrobatics and they also have animals. They are new this year. We try to keep the really good things each year and also bring new things in. We have the largest exotic petting zoo of any fair in North Carolina.”

One of the things that makes the fair such a success is the great care that is taken by the planners and vendors.

“We take all measures to be safe in the petting zoo. We don’t let parents go through with food, drink or strollers. We sanitize hand rails once per hour minimum and require everyone to wash their hands when they leave the petting zoo.”

Some of the exotic animals this year include zebras, giraffes and porcupines. There are also domestic animals like goats, rabbits, sheep and pigs. In all, Bullard estimates that there are between 85 and 100 animals in petting zoo.

There are more than 200 people who work to bring the Cumberland County Fair to town each year — and it takes a year to make it happen. Whether it is the racing pigs, the livestock shows, the pageants, the food, the rides, the exhibitions, the skate board demos or other live performances that make the fair special to a person, Bullard says it is worth every bit of work and planning that goes into it to see people having fun.

“It’s a monumental task putting different aspects of a fair together. We start working on next year’s fair as soon as this one gets over. The rewarding part is seeing so many children leave with a warm fuzzy feeling, smiling faces and having had a good time.”

The fair runs from Sept. 5-14. Visit cumberlandcountyfair.org/ to purchase tickets or to find out more about the fair.

On Sunday, Sept. 7, The Crown Complex will play host to a night of pro wrestling when the stars of Total Non-Stop Action’s Impact Wrestling World Tour (TNA) come to town for a night of live entertainment. Fans will see many wrestlers like North Carolina’s own, Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy. Also scheduled to appear are; Eric Young, Mr. Anderson, Ethan Carter III, “The Cowboy” James Storm, X-Division Champ Samoa Joe, Gunner, Magnus, Knockouts Champ Gail Kim and many others. TNA is sponsoring this one-night-only-event in conjunction with the Cumberland County Fair.

TNA will also include entry into the “Fist Pumpin’ Pre-Show Party” with every ticket. The party is hosted by TNA President Dixie Carter’s Chief of Staff, Rockstar Spud, and begins when the doors open one hour before the opening bell. The party will allow fans the opportunity to meet the wrestlers, get autographs and take pictures with the athletes while wrestler DJ Z plays popular music to add to the party mood.

One of the biggest names to appear on the card will be Jeff Hardy. Hardy is a world-renowned professional wrestler who was born and raised in Cameron, N.C. Jeff and his brother Matt make up one of the most popular tag teams of all time, the Hardy Boyz. After making their debut in the World Wrestling Federation in 1999, Jeff and Matt would go on to win the Tag Team Titles a total of seven times and become one of the promotions biggest box office draws.

After a successful run as a tag team competitor, Jeff also gave being a singles wrestler a shot. His greatest success as a singles competitor came in 2009, during his second run with the WWE, when he became the World Heavyweight Champion. The same championship won and held by the likes of Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan.

Jeff Hardy now calls TNA Impact wrestling home saying, “I have a dream job right now, TNA has been great… I can go hard then I have plenty of time to come home and heal. It’s not overdoing it.”

During his time with TNA he has held its World Heavyweight Title three times.

He expressed excitement about TNA coming to North Carolina to put on a show in Fayetteville, “It’s always good to return to Fayetteville… Every time we are back in Fayetteville it is always cool to tear the house down...”

The night is billed by TNA as a night of “Fist Pumpin’ Family Fun” that Hardy says is, “well worth the money spent.”

He went on to say,” We have a crew that works extremely hard. It has been a consistently good, solid show. To witness it live and in person, there is nothing else like it. As far as being a pro wrestling fan and loving the art of pro wrestling, it is the best out there as far as I am concerned.”

Photo: Jeff Hardy returns to Fayetteville.

To commemorate the birthday of our city’s namesake, The Marquis de Lafayette, The North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County and the Lafayette Society will hold a Festival of Yesteryear: A Celebration of Early America at Arsenal Park; part of the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex. The event is on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Lafayette Society has plenty to add to the festivities as well.

The event at the museum is described as a “living history” of our Colonial and Revolutionary War history. Costumed re-enactors demonstrating various aspects of daily life from the general chores to military drills will be on display.

“This is something that is a lot of fun and a little different from the Civil War activities that are popular here. This is actually focusing on things going on during the Revolutionary War during the colonial time period, which is when Lafayette was here, too,” said Megan Maxwell, the 1897 Poe House education coordinator. “Something new we are excited to be adding this year is the Tryon Palace’s Fife and Drum Corp from New Bern. That should be a lot of fun.”

Tryon Palace’s Fife and Drum Corp will perform cadences for the crowds at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.

“Captain Dry’s Militia will be here, too. They come in uniform, which is different,” said Maxwell. “They have a fun activity for the kids where they can sign up to fight in the Revolutionary War.”

The North Carolina Highland Regiment and Captain Dry’s Militia Company will demonstrate military drills of the era and will also hold firing demonstrations at 11 a.m., 12:30, 2:30, and 3:30 pm.

The living history group, Camp Flintlock is going to provide demonstrations of day-to-day living of Colonials.

Children who come out are encouraged to visit Apprentice Alley. There they can learn and experience history through a “hands on” set of activities and crafts.

Admission to the event and all activities are free and open to the public. Additional information about the event is available online at www.ncdcr.gov/ncmcf/Events.

More specifically focused on celebrating Lafayette and educating people about his contributions to nation, the Lafayette Society has a fun-filled weekend planned as well. Friday, Sept. 5, at 6 p.m., don’t miss Arias and Artifacts at Methodist University, which includes an exhibit of Lafayette memorabilia recently gifted to Methodist University.

Saturday, Sept. 6, is packed with activities. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Lafayette Birthday Farmers Market will be open at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. follow Lafayette’s footsteps from his 1824 visit to Fayetteville. “This is really a fun event and has sold out for the past three years,” said event spokeman Dr. Hank Parfitt. There is space for 30 on the tour. After an educational tour of the area, enjoy a French picnic inside the Market House hosted by Sherefe’s.

“The tour is led by City Historian Bruce Dawes and includes some walking. He does a fantastic job of bringing history to life and showing people how the events and places are relevant still today,” said Parfitt.

Call 910.678.8899 for tickets.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. enjoy the Lafayette/Rulnick Fencing Tournament at the All-American Fencing Academy.

Downtown merchants have planned a Lafayette Birthday Sidewalk sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. While you are downtown catch the Lafayette in Fayetteville exhibit at the Transportation Museum, which is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Don’t miss the Lafayette District Scouting Expo at Cross Creek Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Army Ground Forces Band will make an appearance in Cross Creek Park at 1 p.m. In celebration of Lafayette’s birthday there will be free birthday cake and ice cream to the first 100 guests.

Round out the evening at the French Wine and Cheese Tasting at the Wine Café.

“An expert is on hand to tell people about the wines,” said Parfitt. “It will be a lot of fun and educational, too. That is really the best part of big celebrations like these. All of these events are enjoyable but they are also educational and it is always better if people have fun while they are learning.”

Find out more about Lafayette’s Birthday celebration at www.lafayettesociety.org.

Photo: Marquis de Lafayette

Keeping the Faith in Fayetteville, Our Nation and

the World

I have a lot of faith in God, America and humanity in general. I also believe that when day-to-day circumstances get too far out of sync we, as Americans, will endeavor to take just and proper action and get things back on track. Historically, that’s what true Americans do.

In the meantime, as we get bombarded with the news of unfortunate, sad, hurtful and hideous acts taking place in our hometown of Fayetteville, as well as in Ferguson, Mo., or the Far East, we must try to remember to  “keep the faith.” Many challenges abound causing us to question our faith, doubt ourselves, our local, state and national leadership and our very own traditional American way of life.

In view of this, we must remain strong and diligent by preserving American values and not allowing fear, apathy, racial tensions, social or governmental intimidation to weaken our resolve as a Christian nation.

Everyone seems to be asking: Is Christianity under attack? Well, in my opinion, yes, I believe so, and, not just by the murdering militant and radical Islamist tormenting the Mid East. Here in America, little by little, it seems the virtues of Christianity have been chiseled away to a point where we are almost becoming apologetic for our beliefs.

This is sad. Think about the events and revelations of the last several decades and how we have witnessed our nation and the world, nurturing unsurpassed levels of hostility, deception, dishonesty, crime, social injustice and governmental discourse all overshadowing Christianity and the Golden Rule. Well, I’m not a theologian, Bible thumper or even a consistent Sunday church attendee; however, I am a Christian who is quite capable of distinguishing good and bad and right from wrong.  And, since Christianity is based on these principles and those of us honoring and obeying God’s word with respect to honoring and respecting humanity, one can see where the belief in God could conflict, interfere and contradict the kind of subversive ideologies we find ourselves subjected to today.

Honestly, this is not a hard concept to understand. The reality is, of course, eliminate the Christian consciousness and, by doing so, you minimalize and eliminate personal responsibility for love, honesty, fairness, compassion or humanitarian action. What remains is exactly what we are experiencing today. Detached and unresponsive government, social and racial unrest, disrespect for human life, unbridled obsession with a “win at all costs” mentality, gross dishonesty and mistrust, blatant cheating, deception and a reluctance to hold people accountable, responsible or even to punish those who violate the principles of humanity and victimize the innocent.

When will it end? Who knows? Will it end? No doubt. I want to be a part of that awakening. In the meantime, if we must be at war, let’s all pray we are all fighting on the right side and for the right cause.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: Eliminate the Christian consciousness and, by doing so, you minimalize and eliminate personal responsibility for love, honesty, fair-ness, compassion or humanitarian action.

Though summer may be coming to an end, 4th Fridayis in full swing. This family-friendly event puts all that downtown Fayetteville has to offer on display. There is a huge variety of entertainment, culture and shopping; resulting in something for everyone to enjoy on Aug. 22.

The Arts Council has brought incredible exhibits to the downtown area for decades. It provides a space for local artists to display their talents and ideas. This 4th Friday, the Arts Council has two events scheduled. Inside the building is a new exhibit on display titled Mediating Relevance: The Politics of Gender. This exhibit is designed to “investigate and question society’s position or perception on gender roles and otherness.” Outside the building, The Army Ground Forces Band Freedom’s Groove will perform. Both events begin at 7 p.m. and last until 9 p.m. The Arts Council is located at 301 Hay St. For more information visit http://www.theartscouncil.com/fourthmain.php.

Headquarters Library will offer a fun and educational event for all ages. The Cape Fear Mineral and Gem Society will put on a demonstration in the Pate Room from 7 to 8:45 p.m. They will have fossils, minerals and gems of all kinds to show and discuss. There is a demonstration about how to make cabochon gems on a polishing wheel. These gems are shaped polished as opposed to the typical style of faceting. Softer stones are generally used in this process. Refreshments are provided and handmade jewelry and stones are available for purchase. Headquarters Library is located at 300 Maiden Lane. For more information, call 424-4756 or visit http://host7.evanced.info/cumberland/evanced/eventcalendar.asp?ln=ALL.

This month, Fascinate-U will have an activity for parents as well as children. From 7 to 9 p.m. there is a certified car seat technician giving a free workshop on how to properly install a child’s car seat, and the importance of proper car seat safety. For children there is a free craft available. This month it is creating a “funky” self-portrait collage out of food. Admission is free for the evening and the interactive museum is open late. Fascinate-U is located at 116 Green St. For more information, call 829-9171 or visit http://www.fascinate-u.com/contact.php.

Hay Street United Methodist Church is participating in the fun this month by providing live music. From 6 to 7 p.m. the band Double Trouble will perform, with The Ash Breeze performing until 8 p.m. There is also a free fish craft for kids from 6 to 8 p.m. The church is located at 320 Hay St. For more information, visit http://www.theartscouncil.com/fourthmain.php.

There is also live music during the evening at the Market Square Coffee House. The music begins at 7 p.m. and will feature local talent. The coffee house is located at 106 Hay St. City Center Gallery and Books located at 112 Hay St. will also provide local entertainment from 6p.m. until 8 p.m.

Find out more about 4th Friday at www.theartscouncil.com.

  Downtown Fayetteville is packed with diverse restaurants offering varied and delicious food. The Fayetteville Downtown Alliance and the Downtown Fayetteville Restaurant Association have figured out just the way to showcase them. On August 20-22, the community is invited to join the Small Plate Crawl to enjoy a little taste of all of them and discover all the enticing dining options downtown has to offer.

Visit www.faydta.org, download a passport and prepare your palate. During the three days of the plate crawl, bring the passport to participating restaurants, order a small plate and enjoy. Get the passport stamped by three restaurants and become eligible for prizes. The plates cost between $5 and $10 and vary from place to place.

Pierro’s owner Michael Laurenceau is excited about this event and has come up with an enticing plate that includes caprese, bruschetta and a homemade meatball and crostini. “This is just a really fun way to show people how many great restaurants we have downtown,” said Laurenceau. “We are one of the bigger places downtown and sometimes when I ask people who come here if they have tried many of the other places, they are surprised to hear how many different choices they have for dining in downtown Fayetteville. This is a great way for them to see more of what downtown has to offer.”

“Each restaurant has its own flavor and your taste buds will be jumping with joy. It is a small sample of what each restaurant has to offer and a low-cost, fun way to build our customer base with people who may not normally eat downtown,” Anthony Jackson, the owner of Circa 1800, said. The hope is that a little taste will bring people back for more and introduce people to restaurants outside of their usual haunts.

Thanks to the dedication and hard work of many, over the past few years downtown has blossomed into an exciting and thriving place. The Small Plate Crawl encourages further growth, but also highlights the great things already present. “When you shop, eat, and live in downtown and visit the local shops they are all locally owned. Ninety percent of the time, you will meet the owners. This is where we live and work and we pour our hearts and souls into it. You won’t get that from chain restaurants. This will let people see what we put in - the passion - and taste good food in the process.” Jackson explained.

“We’ve been downtown for about eight years,” said Laurenceau, “and it has been encouraging to watch it grow. Things have changed a lot and I think that the more we can get people to see that the more they will come downtown and enjoy all the things we have to offer. Our establishment has done well enough that we were able to open another Pierro’s in Hope Mills this past January and we are excited to be a part of the good things going on downtown.”

Circa 1800 is one of the restaurants participating in the crawl. The restaurant prides itself on using as many local ingredients and products as possible. The bounty of North Carolina is truly on display here. The cuisine for the crawl is Southern-inspired, but much more than the plain fried chicken that comes to mind with the mention of the word southern. “We are trying to present Southern fine dining like you might find in Charleston or Savannah. We will have shrimp and grits with whatever is fresh for that day. We use local produce so our vegetable changes every week,“ says Jackson.

The small plates range from $5 to $10 and if anyone in the group orders a plate, everyone receives a “passport stamp.” “The plate will be a little smaller than an appetizer. If you bring five people in, it will be big enough for each of you to have a bite. One of the main things we want to get across is that a small plate is a small plate. It is not a meal, it is a sample of the restaurants,” Jackson said.

Each participant receives a passport to chronicle the experience. The passport is stamped at each restaurant they visit. Crawlers should leave their passport at the last restaurant they visit at the end of the three days. Those with stamps for two or more restaurants will be entered into a drawing. Winners will be notified by email. For more information or to download a free passport visit www.DTAFay.org. All restaurants begin serving at 11:30 a.m. and all but the Fried Turkey Shop will continue until 9 p.m. The Fried Turkey shop will end the crawl at 2:30 p.m.

There will be a drawing on Aug. 25, to see who will get the prizes. The prize packages include:

One night stay for 2 at Medaloni Cellars with Wine Tasting in the Chateau Bergeron (Cabin) http://www.medalonicellars.com/ ($500 Value)

• Movie Date Night from the Cameo (Tickets for 2)

• $100 Gift Card from Sysco

• $25 Gift Certificate for The Butcher and The Baker

• Brewery Tour from Railhouse Brewery in Aberdeen

• Cooking Class for 2 people at Sherefe’s

• Wine Class for 2 people at The Wine Cafe

The restaurants participating in the event include: Circa 1800- Opened in 2009, this restaurant provides a true taste of what North Carolina has to offer. Nearly all of their products are locally sourced, even the spirits. Their vodka, gin, beer, and rum all come from local legal distillers.

Huske Hardware- This establishment is a unique mix of a restaurant, pub, and brewery called a gastropub. Simplified, it means that there is great food and phenomenal beer. They carry five house brews year round and at least one seasonal brew.

Pierros Italian Bistro- The classic Italian fare and warm rustic atmosphere combine to create a relaxing and welcoming meal at any time of day. Whether stopping in for a glass of wine from the most diverse wine selection in Downtown Fayetteville, or a hand cut steak the experience will be fantastic.

The Wine Café-A glass of wine paired with slice of cheese is a classic and beautiful combination. The Wine Café elevates this experience by providing unique small batch wines from around the world and artisanal cheeses. They also have a unique interactive tasting experience that utilizes automated self-dispensing units for the wines.

The Blue Moon Café- Fresh skillfully prepared food and craft beer are the center of what makes The Blue Moon Café an incredible restaurant. What could surpass sitting on the spacious patio surrounded by the beautiful brick buildings of downtown Fayetteville enjoying a flavorful cold brew and a gourmet sandwich?

The Tap House- the Tap House is an offshoot of Huske Hardware. It offers the same high quality of food and brews in a more sports bar themed atmosphere. The food also has a more classic sports bar theme, but with the same high quality as with Huske Hardware.

Sherefe- Sherefe brings a taste of Greece to downtown Fayetteville. The bright flavors mimic the sun-filled beaches along the Mediterranean Sea and the fresh North Carolina produce makes it all the more flavorful. They also pride themselves on being vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free friendly.

Off the Hook- This isn’t your average taco joint; in fact, nothing they serve is average. They take incredible flavors and dishes from around the world and condense them into a stunning four-bite taco. Their combinations are unexpected and unique, but always delicious.

Marquis Market- Today there is coffee everywhere, but the question is, is it good coffee? The Marquis Market is dedicated to bringing the most authentic and delicious coffees from around the world to the public in a sustainable and responsible way. Their passion for quality is also exemplified by their diverse menu

A Taste of West Africa- A meal at Taste of West Africa is a journey. This honest home cooked food transports you to an entirely new culinary continent and tells a story of passion and commitment. The recipes and traditions are ancient, but the love and ingredients used to make them are fresh.

The Fried Turkey Sandwich Shop- Since 2008 the Fried Turkey Sandwich Shop has been providing the community with quality sandwiches of all kinds. Of course, the moist and flavorful fried turkey is the star of the menu, but their other options are crafted with the same care and passion. Every dish is a blue ribbon winner. This shop will be participating from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

“Umoja” is the Swahili word for “unity” and is one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Establishing a sense of community in Fayetteville is essential, so the Umoja Festival will be held on Saturday, August 23 from noon to 7 p.m., at the Smith Recreation Center and Seabrook Park.

“We started back in 1989 and decided to participate in Kwanzaa to celebrate African-American history, arts and culture,“ said Dorothy Fielder, director of the Umoja Festival. “We decided that we needed an activity in the summertime that had a cultural component so we started the Umoja Festival.”

Fielder added that the event will feature storytellers, clothing and food vendors, drummers, dancers and collard green sandwiches. There will be a special performance from E. E. Smith High School and Fayetteville State University’s bands.

One of the highlights of the festival is a special health component.

“We will have two health-wise things going on at the Umoja Festival,“ said Darvin Jones, community health coordinator of Cape Fear Valley. “One is a health fair with 30 local community-based organizations and the other is a health clinic.”

Prevention and early detection improves outcomes. Four years ago, Cape Fear Valley approached the Umoja group about adding a health component to the festival. More than 30 social agencies will display resources ranging from medication assistance to free mammograms. The health clinic involves people calling in to make an appointment for health screenings: cholesterol, EKG, blood pressure, lung functioning, BMI, HIV, dental and blood glucose readings. This year, UNC’s Kidney Education Outreach Program’s Mobile Outreach Unit is part of the clinic conducting kidney function screenings and the blood mobile will be there for blood donations.

“Kidney screenings are very important in Black America due to the high prevalence of high blood pressure, diabetes or family members who may have a family member on dialysis” said Jones. “It is important for them to get screened.” Jones added that a hands-on CPR station and free haircuts for the kids are available if you participate in the health screenings. Agencies such as Better Health, The Care Clinic, Barber Kings, Sickle Cell and many others are a part of the clinic. The African Physicians Association of Fayetteville will interpret the health screenings.

“Last year we had about 1,500 people come through the health fair and we screened more than 250 patients,” said Jones. “We helped more than 70 patients find medical homes for folks who had high blood pressure.”

Jones added that this is a great resource in helping people find everything from medical supplies to their medication.

“My goal is for 2,000 people to come to the health fair and at least 300 of them are screened,” said Jones. “We are so happy because knowledge is power.”

Health screenings will take place from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Free parking is at Fayetteville State University’s Capel Arena parking lot. The hospital’s shuttle bus will transport individuals to the Smith Recreation Center. For more information, to make a donation, volunteer, or to set up an appointment for a screening, call 615-5465.

Back to School: Support Our Teachers

With the end of summer fast approaching it is time to start thinking about going back to school. Sure, the lazy mornings were nice for the kids. The trips to visit relatives, the weekends at the beach, the day-trips with grandparents and extended family to various points of interest were all fun. But we are ready to get back to a predictable schedule and the challenges and changes that come with every school year.

My family has our own version of preparation that includes back-to-school shopping, poring over class schedules, furious textingback and forth with friends to discuss said schedules, talks about expectations and extracurricular activities and attendance at a series of open houses and back-to-school nights. I can’t help but wonder how teachers across the country are preparing for the coming school year. As they attend workshops and prepare classrooms to receive the next generation of leaders, are they excited to meet the youngsters they will spend 180 days with this year? Are they fired up about the subjects they are going to teach? Do they feel supported by the school boards, administrators, parent teacher associations and other education-related groups? I’m sure it is different in every district, school and classroom. One thing I do know is that every day when I release my kids into their care, my expectations are high.

So it seems reasonable to me that I do everything in my power to help my kids succeed and to make the teacher’s job a little easier if I can. I like to believe that my offspring always get a good night’s rest, turn things in on time, study for tests, remember all their supplies and lunch money and play well with others. I’d be lying if I said we pulled it off every day without fail. Multiply that by the number of students in classrooms around the country and it is clear that teachers deal with much more than teaching every day and they are usually quite gracious and patient with kids and families who are truly trying to do their best to make sure the school year is successful.

If you are a teacher and you are reading this, please know that there are many thousands of parents who stand in awe of you and the amazing things you accomplish each day. Thank you for your long hours in and out of the classroom. Thank you for your patience, your commitment, your dedication to children. Thank you for the structure and color that you add to a child’s day and for taking on the responsibility of joining parents in turning our young people into healthy, responsible and productive citizens. I don’t know all the challenges and burdens you face. I do know that I could not do what you do and I am one of the many who stand in awe of you.

As our nation and our community scrutinize the current state of affairs in medical care for our vets, there is reason to take pride in other ways we have stepped up to better serve those who have bravely served our country.

At Fayetteville Tech, no fewer than 3,000 veterans have enrolled since 2012. That’s among the Top 5 veteran enrollments in the country and number one in the state for community colleges. Military Times has ranked FTCC as second highest on their list of Best for Vets for Career and Technical Colleges in 2014. The creation of the All-American Veterans Center (which recently held its grand opening on June 16) supports veterans as they transition to being successful students and employed graduates. The state-of-the-art, 3,500-square-foot All-American Veterans Center serves as a role model for other campuses seeking to support our returning and retiring military personnel.

A significant characteristic of FTCC’s Veterans Center is that it is managed and staffed by veterans. The one-stop-shop concept at the Center promotes not only certifying educational benefits but also connecting veterans with other support, whether or not the veteran is an FTCC student. The impact to the community represents an outreach to as many as 10,000 veterans in that FTCC’s center offers assistance to all veterans. Physical space within the Veterans’ Center is provided to the many daily volunteers who represent the DAV, American Legion, VFW, Patriot Outreach, Cumberland County VA, Fayetteville Workforce Solutions and N.C. National Guard. Partnerships have also been created with the local Wounded Warrior Project office, VAforVets recruiter, Kangaroo Express, Walmart, Home Depot, and several other local veteran-friendly businesses which support FTCC’s initiatives for veterans.

Perhaps the best measure of the center’s and FTCC’s success with veterans is our graduation rate. Of the 3,000 veterans enrolled since 2012, 987 graduated in 2012-13, and another 872 graduated this past May. Over this summer, FTCC saw a 9 percent increase in veterans’ enrollment over last year, prior to the creation of the center. And with a current growth of 3 percent projected for the fall, FTCC’s All-American Veterans Center is making a significant impact within our community by stepping up efforts to serve all veterans.

Engagement through networking with various agencies and companies and attending local meetings of other organizations, who strive to help veterans, helps to increase awareness about the Center and promote ways that various organizations can work together to do the most to help our veterans. Organizations involved with this networking include Community Blueprint, Veterans All-Call, Military family and child/Living in the New Normal, and other active duty spouse groups. The All-American Veterans Center offers résumé workshops, hiring events from local employers, academic and career counseling, and in-house tutoring from faculty. The center is equipped with a lounge with cable, a computer lab, a coffee bar, popcorn, and an employment resource center.

We invite you to visit the All-American Veterans Center located inside the General Classroom Building (Fayetteville campus, 2817 Fort Bragg Road) to see firsthand the unique extension of care, service and honor that Fayetteville Technical Community College is providing our veterans (thewesm@faytechcc.edu or (910) 678-8580).