Habitat for Humanity is an amazing force within the Fayetteville community. This organization provides a platform for individuals to work together to benefit individuals as well as the community in one. Tammy Laurence the Executive Director is excited about the many ways Habitat for Humanity helps the community. “Just in the last year, the Habitat homeowners paid $150,000 in property taxes. This money would not have gotten back into the community without Habitat owners having their own home for the first time.”

This year delicious cake can also be added to the list of benefits the organization offers, with the Have Your Cake and Eat it, Too Luncheon and Cake Auction. All proceeds will go to support building a home for a family in the community.

This luncheon and cake auction is the first fundraiser of its kind in Fayetteville. Ruthie Dent the Director of Communications and Volunteer Services explained what to expect. “People will be able to walk in and look around at all the cakes. The cakes are donations from area bakers. We are going to have some pretty yummy cakes from home bakers and churches. People will be able to look wine in hand. They will have cards to write down their top picks. Then the Hill Top house will serve lunch and the attendees will talk to the people at their tables and unanimously decide on their top three cakes. The tables will act as a unit. Then they will pool their money in the envelope. Then habitat for humanity staff will go around and sort through the bids. The top five bids will win their cake and it will be brought to the table and served. The rest of the cakes will be divvied up and we will all eat desert together. Then individuals can bid on three cakes to take home with them. They won’t be eaten that day. There will also be a brief presentation from the habitat homeowner, who is actually the beneficiary of this auction. The proceeds will be going to provide her and her children with a home. This is going to be a great and moving show. This event is a great place for people to have fun, mingle and network, but this is also about providing a home and that is what Habitat for Humanity is about.”T

his auction is an illustration of how a community can come together to do great things and help provide stability for a family. All of the cakes, as of now 22, were donated from bakers in the community. Everyone from professional bakers to amazing home cooks have provided for the auction. Even the logo was donated. It was designed by a local student of graphic design at Methodist University. “People hear about it and are ready and willing to donate,” Dent said.

The luncheon will be held on March 12 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., at the Hilltop House. The Hilltop House is located at 1240 Ft. Bragg Rd. To reserve a seat call 483-0952. Tickets are $25 per person, but corporate tables are available. Dent said, “Tickets include lunch at the Hilltop House, dessert, wine and champagne. I think we will all have a great time. This event is geared a little more towards women leaders in the community so we wanted to make them feel like their time is well spent.”

Thank You PWC and First Responders for Keeping Us Safe

Well, there’s nothing like back-to-back snow storms to prove the mettle and patience of any community. As you read this editorial, the weather is probably mild, over 50 degrees and sunny with absolutely no hint or residue of the treacherous snow and ice storm that recently plagued our community less than a week ago.

Ah, life in the south. Where else can you play golf one day and be covered in snow the next? As I listened to the regional, statewide and nationwide reports on how these devastating storms were affecting our nation, I could only think of how proud I was of the way Fayetteville and the Cumberland County community responded to the nastiness of this dangerous and freaky winter weather.

Our local government officials, both city and county, were at the top of their games making quick and timely decisions that put the safety and welfare of our residents as their highest priority. From opening up shelters to the timely closing of schools, government offices and businesses, our leadership made all the right decisions at the right time.

As damage from wind, frozen rain, heavy ice and snow generated reports of fallen trees and downed power lines leaving tens of thousands of people without electricity and heat, Fayetteville and Cumberland County suffered no such travesty. And, for this, we must give thanks and credit to the dedicated men and women of our local PWC and our fearless, relentless hard working first responders. Police officers, utility linemen, snow plow operators, firemen, EMS personnel all working together in concert to keep our community safe. No doubt these organizations were prepared and at the top of their game.

Some will say that Cumberland County was really lucky not to have been ill affected by this recent storm. However, many more will say that Fayetteville and Cumberland County made its own luck by having those smart, dedicated leaders and loyal hard working people all in the right place at the right time to help us forge ahead and react to what could have been a very tragic situation.

We also need to thank Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Dr. Frank Till and school officials for making wise decisions about closing schools and keeping our children safe. There was some rumbling in the community about the school closings, but those questioning the decision do not see the big picture. Our county schools serve children who live in remote areas of the county, many of which did not see sand or salt trucks until several days into the storm. Dr. Till must look at the safety of all the children in the community – not just those who live in the city proper. These were smart and prudent decisions that again prove good leadership perpetuates itself.

Stay safe and enjoy reading your Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: Fayetteville first responders did a great job keeping people safe during last week’s snow storms.

Home owners and renters alike are sure to find something to love about this year’s Carolina Home Show. With more than 60 vendors offering the latest in home-related trends and technologies, there is plenty to see and do at this weekend-long event. Mark the calendar for Feb. 22 and 23 and come out and enjoy the day.

“This is our 15th year,” said Natalie Fryer, executive officer at the Home Builders Association of Fayetteville. “Not only will we have all the vendors that people look forward to each year, we are also excited about adding the Healthy Living Expo to this event.”

The show has a reputation for bringing in vendors that offer the latest products and best information about trends in the homebuilding industry and routinely draws visitors from as far away as Raleigh, Wilmington, Pinehurst and Columbia, S.C. The vendors love it, a fact that is proven by the high return rate. “I believe in homebuilders and they believe in the show,” said Kevin Shortridge, chairman of the Carolina Home Show. “I think it brings good publicity to our area, it brings in several visitors to the show and it gives businesses a chance to show what they can do.”

The visitors love it, too, if attendance is any indicator, along with the fact that admission to the event is free. “Usually 3,000 – 4,000 people come through the doors, which is great,” said Shortridge. “Homeownership is the largest investment you will make in your life and people are always looking for the newest technology or ways to make it look better. Landlords tend to look for products that will help keep the value of the home up, people looking to sell usually look for things they can do to add value to the property before they sell it, people who are planning to stay in their homes are often looking to personalize it and make it their own and renters usually gravitate more to garden projects and things like that — and we have things here that will accommodate all of these groups. And then this year we also have the Healthy Living Expo, as well, which is one more thing that people can enjoy while they are here.”

The Carolina Home Show vendors offer the latest innovations and design trends that include cabinetry and countertops, flooring, sunrooms and additions, energy efficiency, heating and A/C, windows and exterior products. Each day also features speakers that offer tips and information about gardening and lawn maintenance.

On Saturday, the Healthy Living Expo, sponsored by Beasley Broadcasting, runs from 10 a.m. to 6p.m. Roger Mercer will speak about Camellia breeding at 11:30 a.m. followed by George Quigley at 12:30 p.m. Quigley is scheduled to speak about low impact lawn maintenance. Don’t miss Charles Allen at 2 p.m. for a talk about ground covers for hard to grow areas. Myra Norton talks about container gardening at 3:30 p.m. and outdoor living design at 5 p.m.

Mercer returns on Sunday at 11 a.m., to discuss tactics for choosing hardy foliage. If you can’t make Quigley’s presentation about low impact lawn maintenance on Saturday, it is offered again at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Allen presents plants for fencing alternatives at 2p.m. and Quigley closes out the presentations for the event at 3:30 p.m. with smart tree planning tips.

While the Healthy Living Expo is a new addition to the event, Fryer and Shortridge are both excited about it and see it as a bonus for people who come out to the event. “The Carolina Home Show is already a one-stop-shopping kind of event and it just makes sense to build on that and add to it where we can,” said Shortridge.

Whether you are in the market for new products, researching a special project or upgrade, considering what to plant this spring or looking to get out and enjoy something different, you are sure to find something interesting at the Carolina Home Show. Vendors offer give-aways, demonstrations and more. It’s free to get in. The Carolina Home Show is Feb. 22-23 at the Crown and is open Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.carolinahomeandgardenshow.com/attendees.html for more information.

Photo: The Carolina Home Show is a great place to check out the latest trends and technology in all things home and gar-den related. The event features more than 60 vendors, exhibits and educational sessions as well as free admission to the Healthy Living Expo.

Fayetteville State University will host the 4th Annual Frederick Douglass Debates on Monday, Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. in Seabrook Auditorium on the campus of Fayetteville State University. The university will debate Hampton University.

“It is a public debate series that started four years ago at FSU,” said William Thomas, lecturer and director of debate at Fayetteville State University. “We invited another debate team from another university to come in and debate on three issues of social significance to tie in partially to Black History Month and issues that Frederick Douglass may have been interested in.”

Thomas added that they wanted to bring two historically black colleges and universities together for the debate.

The significant topics debated include the stand-your-ground law, prayer/religion in school and other public areas and the Affordable Healthcare Act. Stand your ground is a type of defense law that gives individuals the right to use deadly force to defend themselves without any requirement to evade or retreat from a dangerous situation.

Prayer and religion in school entails that in the United States, school prayer is proscribed in accordance with the establishment clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution which provides the foundation for the separation of church and state.

The Affordable Health Care Act puts consumers back in charge of their healthcare. Under the new law, a new patient’s “Bill of Rights” gives the American people the stability and flexibility they need to make informed choices about their health.

“The debate team decided that we wanted to do something to service our community,” said Thomas. “We could use the skills that the students have in debating to help educate the community about issues that are important and timely to the community.”

Special guest judges are Mayor Chris Rey of Spring Lake, Dr. Karla Holloway, professor of Duke University and lawyer Katherine Hudson from Legal Aid of North Carolina.

“We invite community judges that people will recognize and that will help draw in an audience so they can come in and learn more about the issues,” said Thomas. “Winning the debate is not really the point.”

Thomas added that the winning team will receive a glass bowl trophy.

Invitations were sent to all of the schools in Cumberland County in order to bring students to see the debate.

“Please come out and support the debate,” said Thomas. “Most people feel that debates are boring but it will be full of energy and it is a really entertaining event.”

The event is free and open to the public. For more information contact William Thomas at wthomas3@uncfsu.edu.

Photo: The 4th Annual Frederick Douglass Debates are scheduled for Feb. 24 at Fayetteville State University.

Youth for Christ will host a fundraising event to benefit the youth of the Fayetteville community onFeb. 28. The event is set to take place at New Life Center, Haymount United Methodist Church.

The event features Bob Stromberg, a clean comedian and inspirational speaker who grew up in the Allegheny Mountains of rural Pennsylvania. He has traveled the world starring in the megahit theatrical production Triple Espresso; a production that can only be described as a highly-caffeinated comedy. Triple Espresso has been seen by nearly two million people in dozens of cities ranging from Seattle to the West End of London, and has become the longest running stage production in the history of San Diego, Minneapolis and the entire state of Iowa. Stromberg is also known for his many appearances on the award winning TV comedy Bananas.

“Stromberg has done this kind of work with Youth for Christ chapters throughout the country,” said John McIntyre, executive director at Youth for Christ. “He’s a comedian by trade, but what’s neat is the reason he likes to work with Youth for Christ chapters is that when he was a young man, people came in and helped influence his life. So this is part of his story.”

Aside from the theatrical productions and TV comedy shows Stromberg is featured in, he is known for several books such as Finding the Magnificent in Lower Mundane, the award winning, beautifully illustrated family story The Miracle at Stinky Bay and the best selling Why Geese Fly Farther Than Eagles. Stromberg has been delighting audiences of all ages with his perfect blend of standup, story and shtick for more than 30 years. He’s always clean and his presentation is a disarming healthy blend of knee-slapping comedy and a whole lot of wholesome encouragement.

“This event is a fundraiser,” said McIntyre. “We are nonprofit and we exist on the generosity of folks who love the mission and really get behind it. This event is a neat way to say, ‘Thank you,’ to those people who give, and it’s going to be a solid hour of comedy, man.”

“This guy is hilarious. We want folks to have a good time. We want people that don’t know about us to hear about us — and hear about some good things that are happening and feel good about supporting it.”

“A lot of events are built around personality or groups, depending on what those people are known for,” said McIntyre. “Like when the Crown brought in Bill Cosby, or when people go see other comedians or whatever show they go see. There’s something that they know they’re going for, and Bob is one of the few comedians who has a similar heart [as Bill Cosby] and wants to support the mission of Youth for Christ.”

“We love this kind of event and we hope to make this event an annual one,” said McIntyre. “We’ll obviously need to rotate comedians because people want to see different acts, but as people have the same mindset, the same heart and the same purpose — we’ll see how it goes as we move forward.”

Tickets are on sale now! For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.yfcfay.org, or call (910) 433-5630.

Photo: Comedian Bob Stromberg is set to perform at  Haymount United Methodist Church on Feb. 28.

Love is a beautiful emotion that is supposed to make you feel good, but sometimes the person you allow in your heart can cause so much pain. The Crown Center presents the latest Tyler Perry Production, Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned on Thursday, Feb. 27 –Saturday, March 1.

Tyler must have written this play about me. The play is about Anita Lincoln, a single, successful woman who has a great job, family and friends but cannot seem to find a loving man. Anita meets Randy online and he appears to be loving and charming, but things change during a trip to Las Vegas.

“I play the character Anita in the play and I am the woman who has been scorned,” said Cheryl Pepsi Riley. “Anita is in her 40s, an overachiever, has a good heart and has always tried to do the right thing when making decisions in her life.”

Riley added that Anita has a best friend who sets her up on an online date and with a little hesitation she decides to go on the date with the guy. As always, it is too good to be true and from there the story gets really good.

“It is a story that all women can relate to,” said Riley. “Women should bring their significant other with them to the show as well.”

Riley added that women need to be wiser in their counsel about relationships because the flesh can sometimes make decisions that spiritually we would not do.

Riley is best known for her number one hit 1998 ballad, ‘Thanks for My Child.’ After a hiatus from the music industry, she reemerged as a star in a number of gospel plays for playwright Tyler Perry. She has started “Black Velvet Mondays” which is a platform for up and coming artists which is her way to pay it forward for the next generation.

“Everybody knows someone that has dealt with some not so wonderful relationships,” said Riley.

“You really get the complete ride on this show and the cast is amazing.” Riley added that the singing is phenomenal and people will laugh, cry, think, question and ponder as they watch the show.

Show times are Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $41.50 for Thursday’s show, $47.50 for Friday’s show, $48 for the 3 p.m. show on Saturday, and $51 for the 8 p.m. show on Saturday. Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com, the Crown Center Box Office, and all Ticketmaster outlets. For more information call 1-800-745-3000.

Though February is the shortest month of the year, it is packed full of exciting events. Besides Valentines Day, this February will also have a 4th Friday celebration on the 28th. Downtown Fayetteville is a lively destination every day of the week, but on 4th Fridays the activities extend into the night.

4th Friday fun will start a little early this month with the 7th Annual Bread and Bowl’s event. In support of Operation Inasmuch, the Hay Street United Methodist Church offers an opportunity to support the community and enjoy a hearty meal of chicken Brunswick stew. Operation Inasmuch helps the church reach beyond its walls to help those in need. There are two options for meals. A $20 meal is served in a handmade pottery bowl created by local artist Greg Hathaway and other talented local potters. The Inasmuch volunteers also serve a $10 meal in a freshly baked bread bowl. Each meal includes chicken Brunswick stew, a brownie and tea or coffee. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. The dinner hours, which are 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., allow patrons to go directly from dinner to the fun of 4th Friday, which begins at 6 p.m. The Hay Street United Methodist Church is located at 320 Hay St. Tickets and more information are available at www.FAOIAM.org or by calling 433-2161.

Fascinate-U is a gem in downtown Fayetteville, and a must-see for any 4th Friday participants with kids. This museum is focused specifically on children and provides a fun and educational experience. Every 4th Friday, Fascinate-U also offers a free event for families to enjoy. Beginning at 7 p.m., Fascinate-U will host Family Fun Maracas. Children are invited to create their own maracas with the provided supplies and can bring them into the museum for some musical fun. Fascinate-U is located at 116 Green St. For more information visit www.fascinate-u.com or call 829-9171.

The artistic culture in downtown Fayetteville is also on display during 4th Fridays. There are multiple galleries downtown, and they are all open late.This month, the exhibit at the Arts Council, a staple in Fayetteville visual art, celebrates African American culture and artists. The exhibit is entitled The Pilgrim-age: A Lifetime of Collection by Dr. James and Juanita Pilgrim. The exhibit is generously on loan from Dr. James and Juanita Pilgrim. All of the art work was created by African-American artists, and pays homage to their great skills and passionate representations. Some of the featured artists are William Tolliver, Jonathan Green and Paul Goodnight.

“The Army Ground Forces Band’s Freedom’s Groove will play at the Arts Council during 4th Friday this month from 7 to 9 p.m. We’re calling our program a A Celebration of Dance,” said Mary Kinney, marketing director of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. “We are excited to have members from two dance groups, Cape Fear Ballroom Dancers and Swing Dance Heritage Club, who will help get the crowd going during 4th Friday. They will mingle on the dance floor to keep everyone swinging and moving to the music.” Admission to the Arts Council is free. The museum is located at 301 Hay St. For more information, visit www.theartscouncil.com.

For those interested in history, stop by the Market House, which is in the center of downtown. This beautiful building also acts as a museum. It has a rotating exhibit for each month that focuses on an aspect of the area’s history that includes a permanent exhibit called View from the Square, which explains the history of Downtown Fayetteville. The Market House is located at the convergence of Hay, Gillespie, Person and Green Streets.

Each 4th Friday the Downtown Alliance, in conjunction with downtown businesses, offers a Fanatics Card that offers discounts, prizes and more. Stop by the Downtown Alliance and pick one up. They are free.

Photo: Stop by Hay Street United Methodist Church for a warm bowl of soup in a custom painted bowl before heading to 4th Friday.

For centuries the circus has captured the imagination. The daring shows of agility and strength combined with amazing and exotic animals are enough to make everyone from children to adults smile. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey names are some of the oldest and most famous in the circus business, and for good reason. On Feb. 27-28 and March 1-2, this famous travelling entertainment venue is coming to Fayetteville to present the Super Circus Heroes show.

One of the main attractions of this event is the Lopez family. This tight-knit family of 12 has been wowing crowds for years, and this is their second year with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. They specialize in a high-wire performance and another crowd favorite, the motorcycle globe. The hollow steel globe is the smallest of its kind in the United States. It is only 12 feet in diameter. This makes their act even more challenging and thrilling when they cram motorcycles into it and they zoom around inside at dangerously fast speeds. “There is room for 1-2 cycles only but they wanted to do more crazy and cool things,” said Maria Dominguez, a performer in the Lopez Family Troupe. “It takes a lot of practice and focus. For me, I have to focus because it is hard to [manage] the speed. You can’t go too fast or too slow but if you like the job it is fun and gives you good adrenaline.”

The high-wire act performed by the Lopez Family is just as daring. They perform acrobatic stunts and even sword fight 25 feet in the air and without a net. It takes copious amounts of practice and years of experience to master. The performers practice on average 1-2 hours a day, and many of them grew up in the circus. “My family is from Chile. My dad got a contract in Mexico and I knew my dad worked in the circus. In 1997, I went to Mexico to be in the circus, too, and I never got home,” Dominguez said. She has 14 years of experience on the high wire now.

The high wire and motorcycle globe are breathtaking, indeed, but the there is still more to enjoy. There are traditional acts like trained animals and acrobats. There are also some newer things like karate performances. At this circus even the most traditional acts are thrilling and given a new edge.

Before the show even begins, there is a lot of fun to be had. “Every ticket has entry to the preshow where people can come and meet all the performers and take pictures. You can try on the costumes and see the motorcycles. You can also meet the Lopez Family and try the low wire that is one or two feet high. We can teach people how to do the low wire. We open the back stage area and all the families can go back and see the animals and the performers and what it takes to put the show together. That part is very fun because you can see behind the scenes and how they do everything for the show,” Dominguez said. Patrons can also take pictures and ask all the performers questions.

Feb. 27-28, the shows start at 7 p.m. March 1 will have performances at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. March 2 will have shows at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. All performances are held at the Crown Coliseum located at 1960 Coliseum Dr. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information visit www.ringling.com.

Photo: Ticketholders are invited to a preshow event where they can meet the performers, try on costumes, see the animals and even learn a few circus tricks -- like how to walk on the low wire.

Is Government Expansion the Answer?

The City of Fayetteville’s planning retreat, held this past week, ended on a high note, but has me wondering if our new city council and staff members are aware of the myriad of organizations, businesses and institutions that are already serving this community to encourage local economic development.

This question arises after the introduction and discussion surrounding a proposal recommendation by Deputy City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney to create a new city department. According to Small-Toney this new Department of Economic and Business Development would focus specifically on local citywide economic development.

Hmmmm? In my opinion, this seems like an intrusion of local government into those things best left to the expertise of the private sector. No doubt progressive, healthy economic development that leads to the creation of good high-paying jobs goes hand-in-hand with keeping any metropolitan city’s crime rate low and its unemployment rate under control. Having low crime and unemployment rates lead to a better quality of life. Fayetteville is no exception. However, you would think that after at least four decades of implementing “on-again off-again” economic development plans, programs and strategies in this community (all with limited success) it’s amazing that with this idea, what is old is now new, again.

When it comes to coordinating economic development efforts, recruiting industry and retaining and expanding local businesses in Fayetteville and Cumberland County you would think we would have learned to leave that to the professionals. We should know by now that government employees and full-time bureaucrats have a miserable track record navigating the private sector. So, why go there? Again.

But according to Small-Toney there is a desperate need. She states, “We have a gap and now we have an opportunity to close that gap.”

Really? A gap? Where is this gap and what is it? Can it be defined and quantified? It begs the question whether our new city staffers are even aware of all the current services and programs offered here through organizations like FTCC, Fayetteville State University, Methodist University, Fayetteville Regional Chamber of Commerce and CEED (the Center for Economic Empowerment and Development). Many of these organizations are supported by the City of Fayetteville. I think Small-Toney would be impressed if she sat down with people like Chamber President Doug Peters, Russell Rogerson, vice-president of the Economic Development Alliance or Lexi Hasapis or Sylvia Ray of CEED to find out just what services they provide the citizens of Fayetteville. I think she would come away with a new found understanding of what they are collectively doing to address the issues and concerns she has.

As a matter of fact, I think she would be pleasantly surprised to find that their missions are identical to the ones she would like to see addressed with her proposal, i.e. the need to focus on minorities, women-owned enterprises, startups and small businesses. Interesting that there was no inclusion or mention of assisting our military veterans. A concerning omission.

Councilman Jim Arp and other council members should be concerned about creating “duplication of services.” Fayetteville residents and city taxpayers are already contributing heavily to this process. And, the council will already be challenged to find the funding for Police Chief Harold Medlock’s $5 million plus plan to increase his ranks to fight Fayetteville crime making the community safer place for all of us to live, work and play. The people have spoken. Crime is the #1 priority now and we must support Chief Medlock with our time, talent and money. Yes, it will take money. Tax dollars. So, there is no place for duplication here. We just can’t afford it.

There are other issues with this idea. Besides funding, there’s another more subtle concern with Small-Toney’s suggestion of creating a new in-house city department for economic development. This is that we would again be widening the cooperation and communications gap between city officials, Cumberland County Commissioners, the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development officials. Why would we want to do that? Successful, economic development comes from having everyone at the table when strategizing a development plan. Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson and many other council members actually campaigned on the issue and notion that they wanted to achieve greater levels of cooperation, harmony, teamwork and foster better working partnerships between the city, Cumberland County and supporting agencies. So, this idea of Fayetteville “going it alone” just doesn’t seem like it is in sync with the collective ideals of the council.

This is in no way an attack or criticism of Deputy Small-Toney and it’s not to say I don’t appreciate her initiative. From all accounts, the comments I have heard about her performance have been very complimentary noting that she is extremely smart and competent and is making worthwhile contributions to our city as part of Ted Voorhees’ management team. This being said, one wonders from who or where is she getting her information? Obviously, not from someone who is informed and in tune with the important and pressing issues of this community. The last thing our city needs at this sensitive and critical stage is the introduction of a “community organizer” mentality micro-managing the future of our city.

Now, addressing her idea about the need to market the city’s available business parks and redevelopment areas, well, isn’t this what our local, regional and statewide commercial realtors and economic developers do? Again, why try to compete with the private sector?

Fayetteville does not need to add to the expansion of government bureaucracy by creating a new city department, adding a department director, three new staff members, an administrative assistant, a business recruiter and development recruiter.

Nor do we needlessly need to spend hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars to promote and duplicate the business and industry development process when it is already a coordinated effort between the city, county and region. It will not work and we can’t afford to create or take ownership of a failed economic stimulus package of our own creation. This economic-development strategic plan is not well thought out. There are no guidelines or pro forma for the money, yet, the purpose would be to provide business loans to entrepreneurs and business owners and provide down payments for private funding by providing working capital. Then, this newly created department would advertise, market and promote these services to those residents in need and the local business community. What does this sound like? Community organizing! It is not enough to just make a general statement that the city isn’t doing enough to attract economic development. Nor is it fair or prudent to ignore the conditions of our economy, our tax rates, unemployment rates, incentive programs or lack of, the lasting effects of the recession, ever changing technology and the changing demands and qualifications of the American work force.

So, tell me, what is not working? Can it be defined specifically? I don’t think so. Small-Toney said her idea isn’t to duplicate services but work in partnership to provide people with information and services to start and develop small businesses here in Fayetteville. Well, look around. Not only do we have these services and organizations (CEED, Chamber etc.) but they are currently being supported by taxpayer dollars. So, if the real concern is that taxpayer-funded economic development responsibilities are relegated to outside organizations and they are not being accountable to the city, make them accountable! The city is the client. They are working for the City of Fayetteville. However, it is the city’s responsibility to step up and understand the complexities of the process. This would be a very exciting and worthwhile job for the Deputy City Manager. I’m sure after a full year of this kind of involvement we all will hear a more realistic story about the state of our local economic development affairs and, hopefully, how to deal with them. We’ll see.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: Deputy City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney

The Real Housewives of television fame have nothing on Georgia Rogers Farmer when it comes to entertaining. Farmer headlined Better Health’s Annual Evening at the Theater last year and was such a hit that she’s been invited back to perform at the fundraiser again on Feb. 22.

A singer, actress and variety show performer, Farmer has a spot-on delivery as well as remarkable sense of humor. The fact that she loves singing and performing helps, too.

“I started singing when I was really young. I have always loved to sing,” said Farmer. “I got into musical theater after college. I stumbled on cabarets when I worked on a cruise ship 14 years ago. They were looking for someone to fill in at the last minute, so I was like ‘well, I’ll do it.’ That is how the whole cabaret thing got started with me. It was really fun.”

The variety and freedom that a cabaret show offers the performer is perfect for Farmer. This form of theatrical entertainment, consisting mainly of political satire in the form of skits, songs and improvisations, provides great opportunities to engage the audience, which is something Farmer loves to do.

“I always make crafts and prizes for the audience. I make stuff that is really fun,” said Farmer. “I always enjoy this gig. I did it last year and there are three musicians who played that I had never met until I rehearsed with them. They are great — incredible. That is very exciting for me. I was very nervous last year because I am used to playing with the same people. It was perfect. They all really played fantastically. The band includes Steve Menendez on piano and Steve Boletchek on bass.”

“We are out of our minds with excitement,” said Robin Sledge, program manager and director of exercise programs and Eat Smart Move More. “We know how funny and talented she is. I went last year and fell in love with her act.”

One of Sledge’s favorite bits was a number about a meek little mild girl who finds the perfect place to live. “She loves it because it is so calm and sedate and it even has a window seat where she can sit and read,” said Sledge.

“Then an opera singer moves in downstairs so she switches to operatic voice. The meek girl starts talking about the opera singer and goes back and forth between them switching voices flawlessly. Then a jazz singer moved in upstairs. She juggled all three back and forth between the three voices seamlessly.”

Last year’s performance also included a song about bacon. “She came out into the audience with a tray of bacon cupcakes and started handing them out,” said Sledge. “She is so funny and so talented. We all had the best time.”

The theme this year is Real Housewives and it promises to be entertaining. Farmer took her inspiration from the Real Housewives television series. “I am a big fan of the real housewives, reality shows, which are ridiculous,” said Farmer. “I though ‘As much as I watch them, I am going to try to make it work.’ I decided to take a shine to them and really bring it home and show what a real housewife does. It is more real reality. I thought it was a catchy title, though.”

Better Health Executive Director Judy Klinck is excited to have Farmer back for a second performance. “Anyone who saw it last year will know why we are having her back. She has a variety of material and we wanted more. We are in a new venue this year at SkyView on Hay. We are excited about that but we are using the same format as last year. When guests arrive they will have hors d’oeuvres and drinks andget to socialize for an hour. Then we watch the show, which is about an hour and we have dessert and coffee afterwards. It’s a good variety show and that is one of my favorite kinds of entertainment. We don’t have this kind of entertainment in our area. I think this a unique opportunity for a fun night out.”

Klinck credits Cassandra Vallery for bringing such a fun show to the area. “We really thank Cassandra Vallery, who has been producer of our shows for seven years and has been magnificent in her part in the show,” said Klinck. “She is helping in several ways. We owe her everything for this show being so wonderful. Georgia is amazing but it was Cassandra who introduced us to her.”

This event is the main fundraiser for Better Health and the proceeds support many of the programs at the organization. Like the name implies, Better Health’s mission is “to provide for the unmet healthcare needs of Cumberland County residents through assistance, referral, and education.”

Founded in 1958, Better Health offers a variety of programs to the public free of charge. The Emergency Medical Assistance program offers help with prescription medications, tooth extractions, orthotics, medical equipment, gasoline assistence for out of town medical appointments and disposable incontinence supplies, ostomy supplies, testing strips, syringes and more for qualified clients. Medical equipment loans are available for free for up to six months. Items include walkers, canes and crutches, wheelchairs, bathroom aids, bedside commodes and hoya lifts. Hospital beds or scooters are not available. Diabetes services include diabetes monitoring clinics with education sessions three times/week, take Charge of Diabetes 7-week self-management class, glucometer training, exercise classes for diabetics, diabetes and blood pressure screening, diabetic supplies (limited), foot care clinics, vision screening for eye disease and medication review. The Eat Smart Move More childhood obesity prevention program is “A four part educational program to provide children with the skills to improve eating and physical activity behaviors to achieve a healthy weight. Eat Smart, Move More is offered in schools, churches, summer programs and other groups at no charge. The program consists of four sessions of approximately 45 minutes each, including a healthy snack.

Better Health is a United Way agency. Find out more about this organization at www.betterhealthcc.org or call 483-7534..

Methodist University has always been incredibly active in the community. This February the university is providing the community with an opportunity to support breast cancer awareness and enjoy local basketball. Although October is the official breast cancer awareness month, there is no bad time to bring awareness to the dangers of breast cancer. Methodist is doing this by sponsoring a few events, all running under the banner of Play 4Kay Breast Cancer Awareness Events. These events all take place on Feb. 15.

The event is the annual 4K Run and Walk. The Student Athletic Trainers Association hosts the 4K Run and Walk again this year. The event begins at 8:15 a.m, but registration opens at 7:30 a.m. Students and faculty have a discounted registration fee of $10. Registration for the public costs $15. The 4K begins at the March F. Riddle Center and all who participate will receive a Play 4Kay T-shirt.

The main event of the cancer awareness effort is the woman’s basketball game. This is the sixth annual basketball game Methodist University has hosted. The game is at 2 p.m. in March F. Riddle Physical Activities Center. The Methodist Monarchs take on Averett University. Breast Cancer survivors are invited to attend, and will be honored during half time. There will also be a reception after the game to celebrate all breast cancer survivors. Tickets are $2 for students and $4 for the public. However, anyone wearing pink and making a donation will be admitted for free. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. Information about breast cancer prevention will also be available.

There will be more than just a fierce competition at this basketball game. A silent auction is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. and will last until ten minutes into the second half of the woman’s game. The auction will be in the Riddle center and promises a wide variety of amazing items. There will be sports memorabilia, jewelry, gift certificates and handmade items. During the game, Play 4Kay shirts are available for purchase.

All proceeds generated by the Play 4Kay events will be donated to two different cancer-oriented foundations. This combination of foundations allows the events to have both a local and global reach. The first beneficiary is the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Friends of the Cancer Center. This foundation provides free mammograms for uninsured women. These mammograms are an important part of detecting breast cancer early, and help keep the women of the community safe and healthy. The second foundation is the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. This foundation was founded in honor of the legendary basketball coach from North Carolina. She was the women’s head basketball coach for North Carolina State University, and unfortunately, fell victim to breast cancer. DeeDee Jarman, the women’s basketball coach at Methodist, feels a special connection to this fund because; “She had a huge impact on my life as a player and as a coach. I strive to live my life the way Kay would want me to. Educating people about cancer prevention will hopefully save lives.”

The fund uses the donations and monies raised during the year to provide grants in order to fund the research of cancer care facilities.

For more information, contact Jarman at 910.630.7283, or visit www.mumonarchs.com/play4kay.

Photo: Although October is the official breast cancer awareness month, there is no bad time to bring awareness to breast cancer.

Local residents will have the rare chance to view an internationally renowned exhibit at The David McCune International Art Gallery at Methodist University.

McCune’s Gallery will be host to PICASSO: 25 Years of Edition Ceramics from the Rosenbaum Collection, an exhibit featuring pottery created by Pablo Picasso. The exhibit will run at the gallery from Feb. 13 through April 13.

The David McCune International Art Gallery at Methodist University hosts student, regional, national, and international artists.

The exhibit will be available for viewing Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. There is no cost for admission to the gallery

.Forty ceramic pieces including plates, bowls, pitchers, vases and plaques, posters and other memorabilia will be on display. The pieces were created between 1947 and 1971 at the Madoura pottery workshop in Vallauris, southern France.

“Picasso is an artist that most people recognize, and have strong opinions about, and this is the type of show that people will travel to see,” said Gallery Director Silvana Foti. “A Picasso show is something that we would normally find in a more metropolitan area. Without the support of our community sponsors, we wouldn’t have been able to bring a name like Picasso to the gallery. This exhibit is also intriguing because we can take a less-known aspect of Picasso’s work — his ceramic art — and bring it to the public eye.”

Part of a national tour, the exhibit’s stop at Methodist University is the only North Carolina and South Atlantic host for display.

The gallery will host a reception to celebrate the opening of the exhibit on Feb. 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The reception is open to the public.

Renowned for his paintings, sculptures and graphics, Picasso became fascinated with pottery after seeing the Madoura potters at a craft fair in 1946. Over the course of 25 years, working with George and Suzanne Ramie, owners of the Madoura studio, Picasso created 633 different plates, bowls, vases and pitchers in limited editions. Most of the pottery was created by the workshop style, a technique where the artist was paired with trained assistants to create the finished piece. From creating clay molds for the pieces and painting pieces that served as models, Picasso’s involvement in the creation process varied from piece to piece.

Many of the pieces in the exhibit come from the personal collection of Marvin Rosenbaum, a well-respected expert in the field. Rosenbaum has traveled to the Madoura Pottery workshop in Vallauris, France. He has been collecting Picasso pieces for over 40 years and has acquired more than 100 pieces.

The exhibit is made possible through the generosity of local sponsors including premiere sponsorship from Cumberland County Tourism Development Authority, ARCO, and Janet Parks, gallery consultant for the David McCune International Art Gallery.

The exhibit tour was organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions. More information about the exhibit can be found on the Landau website at www.a-r-t.com.

For more information on the David McCune International Art Gallery at Methodist University, please visit www.DavidMcCuneGallery.org or call 910-GALLERY.

Photo: Methodist University will host PICASSO: 25 Years of Edition Ceramics from the Rosenbaum Collection, an exhibit featuring pottery created by Pablo Picasso.

Fantasia Barrino made her debut into the American music scene in 2004 on the popular show American Idol. She won the competition and quickly became a hit in the music industry, at only 19 years old. By 2006, she had three Grammy nominations and in the same year played herself on Lifetime Television in Life is Not a Fairy Tale. Additionally, by February of 2012 she had sold an impressive 2,842,000 albums. Get ready Fayetteville, Fantasia is coming to town on Feb. 16.

Fantasia was born in High Point, N.C., in 1984. Professionally, she is referred to just by her first name, Fantasia. Her primary style is soul music and she strives to infuse every song she sings with love and a piece of her spirit. As a child, Fantasia was steeped in gospel and blues. This is partially thanks to her grandfather’s love of B.B. King. She was inspired by Billie Holiday, Josephine Baker, Elton John, Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Bonnie Raitt and Queen. These inspiring artists helped shape her style of music; her voice and passion make her totally unique.

Fantasia has also faced struggles in her career. In 2007, she was hired to perform in the Broadway production of The Color Purple. Her performance was met with much excitement. Unfortunately, she had to miss several performances. Eventually, it was found that she had a cyst on her vocal cords. After a successful surgery she was able to return to music in full force. By 2008, she had two more Grammy nominations and began working on her new album. Her dedication to her craft and her incredible voice makes her a true star, and Fayetteville will be lucky enough to see her in person.

The concert starts at 7 p.m. and is at the Crown Coliseum located at 1960 Coliseum Dr. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 1800-745-3000. They can also be purchased online with ticket master at http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0E004B7A0EF3BEDA?brand=crowncenter. Tickets will cost between $55-$75. For more information visit the following website www.atthecrown.com/index.php?s=fantasia.

Photo: American Idol winner for the 2004 season and Grammy nominee Fantasia is set to perform at the Crown on Feb. 16.

Collective Impact: Fayetteville’s Heading in the Right Direction

The term Collective Impact has surfaced in various conversations about crime reduction and quality of life throughout Fayetteville and Cumberland County. I’m happy that it is being discussed. Collective Impact (with capital “C” and “I”) is a set of specific conditions that if properly done, can make significant positive differences where implemented. It includes a formal set of tools and strategies and is not a feel-good process-only outcome. I am a believer in Collective Impact based on conclusions drawn from decades of community-based intervention research, collaborative initiatives as well as my own experiences in many locations. Research from the Collective Impact literature is promising (see the Stanford Social Innovation Review for example). Major philanthropic organizations (Ford, Annenberg, Pew among others) and other philanthropy groups have invested in Collective Impact efforts and endorse the approach with confidence. Collective Impact is outcome driven, its five essential conditions are well documented, and the success that comes from well-implemented projects can be enduring and sustainable (when support and resources remain in the system).

The secret sauce of Collective Impact includes much of what Bill Bowman, publisher of Up & Coming Weekly, noted in his Jan. 29 Publisher’s Notes column — strong and enduring political support, creativity and innovation so that cross-agency and cross-community solutions can be implemented; but most importantly, the backbone organization (or organizations) must be created within a safe zone of work so that politics and ideologies do not erode the mission or the staff in place to do the work. Collective Impact is transparent. Backbone organizations build forward-facing dashboards filled with reports and outcome data on each participating entity. The management and board members of the Collective Impact project hold each element of the project accountable for its portions (including themselves and the backbone organizations). The results are posted for all to see. Efforts are data-driven and outcome focused. All voices are at the table and the governance structure of a Collective Impact project is set up to neutralize the typical problems that often confront community and/or grassroots initiatives. Collective Impact initiatives find innovative and cost-effective ways to solve problems such as the use of community service banks, shared services and bartering, blended funding streams and strategies, innovative trade and educational strategies AND civic crime fighting tools among other ideas.

If the political, civic, business, faith and “grassroots” communities get behind a Collective Impact effort, support will be needed from the greater Fayetteville-Cumberland County area. What really drives the work is the backbone structure itself to enable an effective and high impact initiative fostered through Collective Impact strategies. The backbone organization(s) do not sit within existing government entities. They should be built as expansions or evolutions of existing nonprofits, university or college departments, collaborative philanthropic entities, or innovative twists on these types of agencies/organizations and should not duplicate existing programs. They should be resourced for 4-6 years minimally and should have clearly defined goals, objectives, strategies, tools, measures and outcomes reported routinely to all participants and the general public. Most of all, stakeholders within the governance structure must be empowered and able to make tough decisions. And the public must be willing to support them. Budgets may change, organizations may evolve (some may come, some may go). People’s lives will surely change.

I applaud Up & Coming Weekly, Mayor Nat Robertson, Chief Medlock, Sheriff Butler, the faith and business community folks, Fayetteville Publishing Company, and many others that are considering this dialogue. There are a myriad of ways to engage folks that have not been tried before here in Cumberland County. Collective Impact can be a highly effective pathway for our community to dramatically improve the quality of life for its citizens.

Due to the weather, the Gallery 208 opening reception scheduled for tonight has been moved to Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Work Ethic and the American Way

I love people who work. I especially admire people who really work hard. It’s the American way, and yet, today, too many people feel that the true American work ethic is falling by the wayside. Really?

Well, I’m resisting that notion, but, then again, I’m a child of the ‘50s. I have fond childhood memories of attending school assemblies and viewing short films with titles like Industry on Parade that showcased patriotic music and images of scientists in lab coats and muscular, sweaty, shirtless men in hard hats pounding and forging metal with gigantic vats of red-hot molten steel pouring out in the background. Chilling.

There were also images of four or five farm tractors working in tandem, harvesting a wheat field. These films celebrated pride, integrity and ingenuity; virtues that America was built on. Some things just don’t change.

Ah, the American work ethic. Americans getting their hands dirty, doing manual labor or serving the public in thousands of retail positions; working and giving 110 percent to provide the best possible service to their customers. Nothing symbolizes or expresses the American Way better than hard work and excellent customer service.

This past week, one of the highlights at the Fayetteville Regional Chamber of Commerce annual awards dinner, which took place at the Crown Coliseum, was seeing 23-year-old Alexis Kondratyk practically speechless with pride when presented the 2013 Outstanding Customer Service Award. Kondratyk, a cashier at IGA located in Eutaw Shopping Center, was nominated for her warm personality and consistent and extreme sensitivity to the needs of her customers. Mike Lallier, general manager/owner of Reed-Lallier Chevrolet, sponsored the recognition and presented her the award and keys to a new Chevrolet, which she will be able to drive for the next year. Her shy response: “I was just doing my job.”

Wow! How refreshing.

Our community, our state and our nation need more people like Alexis. Work ethic speaks volumes about character. The victimization of America is becoming much too prevalent as government entitlement programs paralyze the working class by encouraging dependency and discouraging the development of a sound work ethic.

It is my hope that the Chamber of Commerce will continue to recognize people who and businesses that exemplify sound business practices, excellent customer service and the proliferation of solid work ethic and the American Way.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: Alexis Kondratyk receiving the Reed Lallier 2013 Outstanding Customer Service Award with (l-r) Fayetteville Regional Chamber President and CEO Doug Peters, Mike Lallier, owner of Reed Lallier Chevrolet and Chairman of the Board Vincent Venturella.

Breast cancer is one of the leading diseases in the United States. With an estimated 220,000 individuals diagnosed every year, it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. According to womenshealth.gov, breast cancer affects every 1 out of 8 women and is second only to lung cancer as their leading killer in the United States. This very serious disease destroys lives, families and affects many mothers, daughters, wives and sisters across the country. Only with research, application, and the loving support of family and friends can we hope to beat this cancer and work toward a better life for all.

Annually, a variety of events are held to not only call attention to the need for testing but also to raise funds for research to find a cure for this disease. Most people are familiar with walks and runs, but this year, Fayetteville State University is again hosting a Ball in Pink for breast cancer awareness. The purpose of this initiative is also to help raise funds and awareness to fight breast cancer and bring this plight center stage in our city. On Feb. 15, the campus of FSU will host this event as a part of its women’s basketball game against Winston Salem State University. Beginning at 1 p.m., all breast cancer survivors and their families are invited to come out and take part in this initiative. All survivors will be honored during half-time, and after the game, they and their families are invited to a reception.

Spearheading this event is the First Lady of Fayetteville State University, Nancy Anderson, the chancellor’s wife. Those honored will get the opportunity to meet her along with the Chancellor, Broncos’ head coach, players and several others. Kevin M. Wilson, the assistant athletic director for development and marketing at the university, is one of the main organizers for the initiative. Before joining the staff of Fayetteville State University, he served as the assistant director for development at North Carolina Central University in Durham. Wilson takes great joy in knowing that all of the funds raised at the event will stay in Fayetteville.

FSU’s funds will go to the Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center-Friends of the Cancer Center. There, they will assist with patient care, establishing support groups, and living costs for those who need aid due to the high expense of treatment. What is raised in the community; stays in the community. He went on to say that it is a goal for the university to gain further support from the local area. As well, another goal of this event is to build community leaders and use this as a platform to bring awareness for many dealing with this disease.

Breast cancer is a destructive killer of women and families but with your help, it can be stopped. Come out and support Fayetteville State University’s Ball in Pink. This noble endeavor will not only help save the lives of those locally hurt by breast cancer but, in turn, will enrich the City of Fayetteville. For more information, on the Ball in Pink initiative or to find out how you can help via donations and support, contact Kevin Wilson at 910.672.2565.

Photo: Fayetteville State University is set to host a Ball in Pink to raise breast cancer awareness.

FireAntz fans have a lot to look forward to this month as the hockey team readies for a series of fun-filled nights. Hockey, hijinx and heartfelt apprecia-tion come together at the rink with activi-ties that fans are sure to love. Don’t miss the 2nd Annual Weiner Dog Race Night on Feb. 7. “It is really a lot of fun,” said Jason Fleming, director of media/sales. “This was a big success last year and we already have more entries for this event than we did for last year’s.”

It takes two people per dog to make this race work. At the first intermission every-one, including the canines, head on to the ice. One person stands at the starting line with the four-legged contestant. The other person heads to the finish line. When the race starts, the person at the finish line does their best to entice the pooch in their direction. The first three dogs to finish win a prize.

Fleming says that the race is a lot of fun for the dogs and the people, but there is still more going on at this particular game. “We also have a pet adoption going on that night where Fayetteville Animal Protection Society comes out. Last year they brought 15 or so dogs and they all got adopted.”

The next night, Feb. 8, is Military Appreciation Night and Race Night and is sponsored by Folds of Honor. Not only is this a chance to celebrate local heroes and their families, there will be a jersey auction at the end of the evening.

“This is always a really fun night. We have big crowds that average 6,000 to 7,000 on military appreciation nights,” said Fleming. “We spotlight some of the drag race guys and some of them bring their cars. We set them up in the VIP parking lot. Some of the military units come out and they bring some of their equipment. People can check that out, too. The cars and military things are always popular with the fans.”

The doors open at 6 p.m., which gives everyone plenty of time to check out the cars and equipment before the game starts at 7 p.m.

Folds of Honor, which is affiliated with Budweiser and is the sponsor of the game, has strong ties to the militaryand works hard to support soldiers and their families. The foundation was founded by Maj. Dan Rooney. Rooney is a former F-16 pilot, golf course owner and PGA Professional. The Folds of Honor website www.foldsofhonor.org showcases the many ways the organization works to support service members and their families: “Through scholarships and other assistance, we give back to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or disabled in service to our country. We provide healing, hope and an opportu-nity for dreams to be realized...with the support of people like you. We feel this is our duty as citizens of the greatest country in the world.”

Feb. 11 is a great chance to mix things up midweek and take advantage of $2 Tuesday. Groups of 10 or more can call the office and get tickets for just $2. It’s a fun wholesome way to spend a weeknight with friends and family — and it’s affordable.

The game on Feb. 22 promises to be something special. Star Wars fans should mark the calendar now for this fun themed night. “There is a local group called the 501st Legion of Storm Troopers. They are really cool and have invested in authentic Star Wars costumes. We’ll have them at the game that night,” said Fleming. “They come out deep — like 30-40 different characters.

Throughout the game the storm troopers walk around and interact with the crowd and are available for pictures. The highlight of the night, though, is in-termission. “There is an amazing light saber duel at intermission,” said Fleming. “In the past we’ve had Darth Vader versus Luke fighting on the ice. They do a great job with the choreography and the crowd loves it.”

Star Wars Night is such a favorite that the FireAntz team will wear specially designed Star Wars themed jerseys during the game and auction them off at the end of the night. “These are really, really cool jerseys. This is my favorite of the 60 we have done since I have been here in the last ten years,” said Fleming. “We put a Darth Vader helmet on our logo and his stick looks like a light saber.”

The FireAntz go out of their way to make every home game a fun and com-munity-friendly event. They reach out to various groups, support local causes and try to make sure that everyone who shows up for one of their games has a good time. While all these extras are part of what makes them such a special part of the community entertainment scene, local fans also expect a good season from the team.

This season hasn’t been without challenges. The team took on a new coach and several new players this year. Which, in the long run, Flem-ing believes will be a good thing. “It takes a little while to get to know one another and get that cohesiveness on the ice — and we have done that. Everything is looking good and we are moving forward.”

The regular season ends March 22. There are 10 homes games remain-ing. “We are battling through injuries but still playing well,” said Fleming. “We are in the middle of the pack but we are pushing for the play-offs. The parity in the league now is really good. The competition is great. We are looking for a playoff seat. There is still a lot of hockey left to be played, so there will be moving in the standings, but we are going to keep playing our best and see where this season takes us.”

Find out more about the FireAntz at www.FireAntzhockey.com or call the office at 321-0123 for information and tickets.

Photo: FireAntz games are about more than hockey. They are also about having fun and supporting the community. 

Higher education is a great investment that has many rewards. It is not always easy to afford the rising cost of tuition and that is why Meth-odist University is holding its 2014 Loyalty Day Scholar-ship campaign on Tuesday, Feb. 25. It is so important that Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson proclaimed Feb. 25 Methodist Loyalty Day.

The idea began in 1955 when the fundraising was done by the community. Indi-viduals would walk door to door and ask for money to start a school at Methodist. “It is an annual tradition that Methodist has been doing since before the school was founded,” said Krista Lee, director of annual funds. “All of this is made possible by our foundation board.” Lee added that the foundation board goes out and recruits team members and they are put into teams and there is a competition to see which team raises the most money. The foundation board is made up of business owners and community leaders from all walks of life in Cumberland County.

The fundraising campaign raises money and 100 percent of the donations are given to students to help them pay for their college education. The students are selected by a myriad of criteria: merit, academics, scores from high school and other components handled through the financial aid office. The goal this year is $150,000. More than 95 percent of Methodist University students receive financial assistance and the University devotes more than 29 percent of its budget to scholar-ships. In the 2012-2013 academic year, Methodist University awarded $17.3 million in financial aid to students. There is also a plan for many major structures on campus to be renovated and exciting new academic and athletic facilities will be built.

“This is the largest fund-raising effort that we do,” said Lee. “We have 136 volunteers in our community who have volunteered to go out and they are given assignments to the people they know in the community.”

Lee added that they talk with people about making a donation to Methodist for student scholarships.

Each year a Loyalty Day supporter of the year is selected. The person selected is someone who has supported Loyalty Day for many, many years. The name of the person will be announced at the Loyalty Day luncheon on Feb. 25. Tim Richardson, area vice president of First Citizens Bank, is the Loyalty Day chair this year and will be speaking at the luncheon.

“You can give cash, checks, stocks and land,” said Lee. “You name it and we will accept it because no amount is too small and every bit makes a difference.” Lee added that there are many individuals in the community that give every year to help Methodist succeed because they see the jewel Methodist is and want to invest in it and help Methodist grow. Please make checks pay-able to Methodist University. For more information call Krista Lee at 630-7169 or email her at klee@methodist.edu.com.

Photo: Each year supporters of Methodist University come together to raise funds that are used to help students pay for education and expenses.

Local galleries are hosting exceptional exhibits in Fayetteville area. Most of the exhibits are up until the third weekend of each month, so there is plenty of time to visit the galleries during the month of February.

Cape Fear Studios on Maxwell Street opened exhibits with the paintings and sculpture by Barton Hatcher and a ceramic exhibit by Charles and Linda Riggs. Both exhibits are quite different and reflect the work of highly skilled artists whose bodies of work are skillful and deliberate in meaning and content.

When viewing the paintings by Barton Hatcher, nature is revealed as shapes — the limited modeling of forms — move across the picture plane in a whimsical way. Hatcher incorporates patterns, close-ups of birds, silhouettes of people in action, flowers and even parts of the human anatomy to reveal something carefree about nature and the human condition – a place where nature and human kind co-exist in accord.

In strong contrast, the ceramics of Charles and Linda Riggs are exquisitely dependent upon a minimal sculptural form and ceramic firing techniques to reveal effortless beauty. Appearing effortless is the result of a highly trained and experienced ceramic artist who knows how to create thin walled forms to support earthen stained surfaces — colors created by a pit firing technique.

Before you leave the Cape Fear Studios, be sure to view the results of their annual college art student competition at the back of the gallery. The Lois Ferrari Memorial Scholarship is a competition for interested art students from Methodist, Fayetteville State University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The winner is awarded a large stipend for supplies and a one-person exhibit. This year, Fayetteville State University art student Eric Longley won the award for his prints.

A young and talented artist, his approach to printmaking techniques are rooted in a search for the expressive qualities of material and process. He shamelessly mixes printmaking mediums in an attempt to evoke a variety of messages and surfaces in the same print.

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County on Hay Street is hosting the exhibit titled The Pilgrim Age: a Lifetime of Collecting by Dr. James and Juanita Pilgrim. Noted collectors, the Pilgrims are sharing part of their personal collection, works by distinguished African-American artists William Tolliver, Jonathan Green and Paul Goodnight. The majority of the exhibit focuses on the works of Tolliver.

The Pilgrims, Fayetteville residents, have spent their life together collecting artworks and often developing close relationships with the artist whose work they were collecting. This was the case for knowing and collecting the work of William Tolliver. Juanita Pilgrim said she was attracted to Tolliver’s work because of the mix of paint and colors. “He did not skimp on the paint and it’s obvious he painted from the heart; Tolliver became a close friend of our family.”

Tolliver’s artistic career as a painter emerged in the 1980s; his brushy style of thick application of paint in an impasto style seems to have occurred after his earlier paintings — a cubist influence where many of the objects and people in his paintings were outlined with a strong black contour.

There are plenty more excellent exhibits opening in February in Fayetteville. Gallery 208 (Up and Coming Weekly) on 208 Rowan Street opens on Feb. 11, with the exhibit Paintings by Earl Gardner (opening reception Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m.)It is free and open to the public.

The David McCune International Art Gallery at Methodist University will present the exhibition, PICASSO: 25 Years of Edition Ceramics from the Rosenbaum Collection from Feb. 13 to April 13, 2014. The opening night gala is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 13. The public is invited to attend.

Rosenthal Gallery on the campus of Fayetteville State University has opened Time, Space and Place: the Works of Leroy S. Robinson. The exhibit runs through Feb. 22.

Lastly, if you haven’t already, make sure to visit a new gallery that opened in December, the Ellington White Contemporary Gallery on 113 Gillespie Street in downtown Fayetteville.

Photo: Granny’s Garden by Barton Hatcher.

Segue is a one-day, high-energy event for youth choirs sponsored by Snyder Memorial Baptist Church on Feb. 8. The event showcases more than 200 singers and includes an orchestra. This experience provides the interaction and inspiration students need to take their choir ministry to the next level and concludes with a pub-lic concert at 6:30 p.m.

Segue is a cooperative effort between Campbell University Divinity School and Snyder Memorial Baptist Church. It is designed to help youth choirs in North Carolina. Dr. Larry Dickens, the Duncan Professor of Church Music at Campbell University Divinity School, started the fes-tival two years ago after seeing a need for a youth choir festival in the Eastern part of the state that would help local churches launch successful youth choir ministries. “We hear of churches throughout our region that need help initiating or reviving a youth choir ministry. This event provides the energy and insight needed to help choirs segue to the next level of per-formance and participation,” said Dickens. The festival seeks to not only involve teenagers musically, but also emotionally and spiritually throughout the day.

“I am working directly with the students, but also, we want to use this event to support and be a resource throughout the region,” said Dickens. “One of my passions is youth choir ministry. Segue is designed to help build a choir ministry where perhaps there has been an interest but just getting it started is where they were struggling. This was designed as an incubator to grow interest among teens and to encourage directors. Some of the choirs that attended our first event three years ago have grown from five or six members or to 30 plus members.”

This year’s Segue festival involves eight choirs from across the state from sev-eral different denominations. Each year an honor choir is selected to showcase what youth choirs can accomplish. This year’s honor choir is CrossFlame from St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Hickory, N.C., directed by Ron Sinclair. The past two Segue youth choir festivals were held at New Hope Baptist Church (2011) and Butler Chapel at Campbell University (2013). Snyder Youth Choir and the youth choir of First Baptist Church Southern Pines were featured as the honor choirs in past years.

“This event is not just music-driven. We are trying to impact lives for teens through choral art and inspire their own faith through this experience,” said Dickens. “We are inviting the community to come hear the choir which is accompanied by an orchestra. They don’t need to buy a ticket or make a reservation. Just come. It’s free and we want to share this with the community.”

For more information about the festival visit www.snydermbc.com or call the church at (910)484-3191.

Photo: The Honor Choir is part of the showcase at Segue each year. This year’s Honor Choir is CrossFlame from St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Hickory, N.C.

Collective Impact

Well, I guess we have new buzz words in our community. Collective Impact is a vogue and stylish term now being used to describe the cooperative initiative that needs to take place in order to enable communities, organizations and municipalities to deal with progress, situations and problems they face.

Interesting.

I had a very social and enlightening weekend; here is what I learned and observed while talking with established Fayetteville residents.

First, I found it amazing how knowledgeable they were of the problems and impediments facing Fayetteville and Cumberland County that keep our community from progressing and moving forward. Everyone I talked with felt the same way about the urgent and contemporary needs of our community. No doubt, addressing Cumberland County’s crime problem was always priority number one. It seems like our new mayor is right on track with that one.

Priority two, also no surprise, is the need to create jobs and explore innovative ways to encourage new business and economic development. (Check the box again for Mayor Nat Robertson).

Finally, local residents believe we need to address the quality of life of our residents through the enhancement of education, the fine arts and more public recreational facilities.

Is anyone surprised?

What might surprise you is that each person I talked to expressed the opinion that it wasn’t ideas or initiatives that kept us from moving forward. Instead, they mined it down to one word: silos.

Obviously, they were not talking about a silo storage cylinder for farm grain or an underground chamber where a missile is housed until it is ready to launch. What they were talking about and what I found myself talking about a lot is the use of the word as a metaphor to describe the mentality of people and organizations that just don’t want to share information.

They are selfish, self-indulgent and protective of their turf, resources and money, while stifling progress and growth of an otherwise progressive community.

What is equally astonishing is that everyone speaks of this as common knowledge and a typical way of life here in our community.

That might have been true in the past. It may not be true now. But for our community to succeed and thrive, it can’t remain that way. If this community is going to move forward and better itself there is no doubt that collective impact will need to take place. This can only happen if there is a cooperative spirit among people, organizations, institutions and governments.

Like in Berlin, the walls must come down! Leaders must lead and emerge with a long-term vision for our community that the community can get behind and to which it can make a commitment. This takes cooperation and leadership.

Can we do it? Will we do it? This is yet to be determined. However, after a weekend of extended discussions with friends, there is no doubt in my mind that we know what the problems are, it’s just a matter of whether or not we have the intestinal fortitude to address them.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: Fayetteville’s new mayor, Nat Robertson, has plenty of work to do to bring the people, organizations, institutions and government together. It looks like he is on the right track. 

In the 21st century higher-education climate, active-duty military and veteran students have become one of the most important interest groups educators seek to capture, both because of the unique needs and challenges they face, as well as the civilian debt of gratitude owed to these selfless men and women. At Fayetteville Technical Community College, our service to military personnel, veterans and their respective families spans both local and international boundaries.

FTCC deeply understands the unique challenges military and veteran students face. FTCC’s MOS (Military Occupation Specialty) degree program helps soldiers complete their educations. Having achieved a #2 ranking in the Military Times “Best for Vets: Career and Technical Colleges” in 2013, FTCC has designed and launched a state-of-the-art learning assessment model based on the individual student’s Military Occupational Specialty. Such a method of turning military experience into a transferable credit is unique among military-friendly schools, and Fayetteville is leading the proverbial pack. We have also devised a flexible and individualized academic plan for military students, offering over 190 programs of study with substantial online opportunities and 8-week accelerated programs. These specific individualized curriculum tracks for key occupational classifications and academic programs map to military credentials, training, and experience. As such, FTCC serves a wide variety of constituents that represent all levels of preparation, expectation, and pursuit of success defined by a variety of descriptors.

Of FTCC’s more than 12,500 student population, more than 3,000 are military or veteran students. The college maintains multiple campuses that house state-of-the-art instructional and laboratory facilities, which support high-quality technical career prep programs. The school’s close proximity to the Fayetteville VA Medical Center provides an important synergy between the VA hospital’s military-friendly activities and FTCC’s Health Programs curricula and myriad of course offerings. FTCC’s health degree programs are a significant part of the college’s success, given that the healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of the American economy and projected to employ a significant portion of the country’s workforce.

In short, FTCC is fast becoming a true “educational gateway” for military personnel, from their recruitment, through their service, and into professions and careers post-active military service. Within six months of leaving the college, 93 percent of graduates find themselves employed; close to 40 programs boast a 100 percent placement rate. In the 2012 Community College Survey of Student Engagement, 87.2 percent of survey respondents reported that they would recommend FTCC to family and friends. This endorsement rings loud and clear — FTCC is working hard to give back to a community of learners who have sacrificed much for their country. Our educational and training services to special operations and conventional forces in the Army are especially important to our college and, more important, to the defenders of our freedom that we all treasure highly.

I invite you to visit our college soon to learn more about how FTCC can positively impact your life through education. Our Fayetteville, Spring Lake, and Fort Bragg campus locations, combined with online study, provide convenient options for everyone.

Photo: FTCC is fast becoming a true “educational gateway” for military personnel.

There are just two shows left in this year’s Community Concerts season. If you missed Earth, Wind and Fire, Manneheim Steamroller and Honor Flight, there is still time to enjoy two outstanding shows. Kenny Loggins comes to the Crown Feb. 4 and Joan Rivers closes out the season on March 22

.Community Concerts is in its 78th season. Each year the all-volunteer organization strives to bring “the finest in top-notch entertainment to Fayetteville, N.C., and the Fort Bragg/Cumberland County Community.” While the organization does just that each year, its reach goes far beyond the stage.

Michael Fleishman, attractions director for the Community Concerts, is excited about this season. “It has been a fantastic season. Everyone has had a good time and we’ve had great audiences.”

With Earth, Wind and Fire, Community Concerts hosted its biggest show on record. Honor Flight, while unconventional, was truly a once-in-a-lifetime event for many in the audience.

Since 2004, Community Concerts has awarded scholarships to local high school graduates. Twenty-two scholarships have been awarded since the inception of this program.

“We are most proud of Honor Flight,” said Fleishman. “We ended up having a lot of people come to this, and more importantly, a lot of World War II vets attended. The star of the show was the Honor Flight movie about what it means to be an American. It tells the stories of Worl War II vets.”

This is significant because a lot of veterans are very reluctant to talk about their war-time experiences.

“This captured it in a real way,” said Fleishman. “We had an a capella group and the all county band perform that night as well. This show fired on all cylinders. The stars were the vets that were able to attend. We just lost Dr. Ed Garber. I met him for the first time at the show, and that was probably one of the last things he did with his family.”

In addition to some amazing World War II vets that attended, N.C. Governor Pat McCrory was there to present a $125,000 check to the Friends of the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery. This presentation was on behalf of the N.C. General Assembly, which pledged in July to match funds for the cemetery. Local business professionals, Ginny and Dean Russell, donated $125,000 to the cause as well.

“It has been an unbelievable season so far. We have heard nothing but compliments on Honor Flight,” Fleishman said.

Always looking for ways to promote the arts and connect local talent with opportunity, the organization showcases local artists as a way to involve the community in musical endeavors. During the 2012/2013 season, local music group Voices of the Heart opened for Gladys Knight, the Linda Kinlaw School of Dance performed with Martina McBride and Trae Edwards performed with country legend Ricky Skaggs.

Fleishman is excited to have Kenny Loggins as a part of this season but this particular concert is special for another reason, too. There will be a new induction to the Fayetteville Music Hall of Fame just before the concert kicks off. “This is a very different year — our Hall of Fame inductee is very special. It is our first group to be inducted. It is the 82nd Airborne Chorus,” said Fleishman. “It is kind of different, this year. We wanted to pay special tribute to them because they bring a lot to this community.”

You may not consider yourself a fan of Kenny Loggins, but chances are that you are probably familiar with his work. For well over three decades, Loggins has entertained on a variety of levels. He has written songs, and performed them, too, and covered several genres along the way. In the early 1970s, Loggins was a guitarist for the Electric Prunes. He wrote songs for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, one of which was “House at Pooh Corner.”

In 1972 he released Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin’ In. The album was a big hit and Loggins and Messina spent the next several years recording and touring together. The pair split in 1976, but Loggins set out on his own, recording the albums Celebrate Me Home, and Nightwatch featuring “Whenever I Call you Friend” with Stevie Nix, Keep the Fire, which included the hit “This Is It” and High Adventure.

Blending jazz, rock and pop, Loggins made a name for himself in the industry winning Best Male Pop Vocal Grammy for “This Is It.” He continued to write songs as well and won the Song of the Year at the 1979 Grammys for co-writing “What a Fool Believes” with Michael McDonald, of the Doobie Brothers.

Loggins really hit his stride in the 1980s writing movie theme songs including “I’m Alright” (from Caddyshack), “Footloose” (from Footloose), “Danger Zone” (from Top Gun), and “Nobody’s Fool” (from Caddyshack II). In the 1990s he released Leap of Faith, which included “Conviction of the Heart,” a song that Al Gore claimed as the “unofficial song of the environmental movement.”

He released two children’s CDs in 1994, The Unimaginable Life in 1997, a Christmas album in 1998 and It’s About Time in 2003.

“Kenny Loggins is a great entertainer and he always puts on a good show,” said Fleishman. “You are going to know every single song this guy sings. This is a favorite — he plays all his hits and is very engaging.”

Find out more about Community Concerts and purchase tickets at www.community-concerts.com.

Photo: Community Concerts brings musician Kenny Loggins to the Crown on Feb. 4, as the fourth production in a five-show season.

The Gilbert Theater’s first show of 2014 is a new spin on Peter Pan’s adventures in Neverland. It is written by local playwright, Jeremy Fiebig, and directed by Pittsburgh guest artist, Mellissa Hill Grande. Pan tells three stories: the childhood of Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie and his inspiration for his classic Peter and Wendy stories; the story of a modern-day Wendy whose father is on deployment in Afghanistan and whose mother seems to be lost on the home front; and a new Neverland adventure — Peter and Captain Hook’s search for the Crimson Heart, a jewel of inestimable worth. Each of the stories collide, shatter and are stitched together again in a tale full of heartbreak, adventure, magic, mermaids and fairies.

Jeremy Fiebig explains, “We chose to tackle Pan after considering doing Peter Pan as part of the season — in part because we wanted a show that featured some younger actors. In talks through the spring, we settled on an adaptation that would freshen the Pan story and which would be tailor-made for the space. In writing Pan, one of the considerations for me was that I didn’t want to do something that had already been done in Peter Pan adaptations already, including Hook, Finding Neverland and Broadway’s Peter and the Starcatcher. As I read the Pan stories and how they are centered around the idea of childhood, I wondered what the author’s childhood must have been like. I did some reading and found in J.M. Barrie’s childhood some inspiration for the Peter and Wendy stories and went from there.

Local actress and mother, Marie Lowe, is playing the role of the mother whose husband is deployed. She provides us with an inside story of the action to include the challenges and rewards inherent in debuting a new work. “Pan takes three distinct times and places — the 19th century Scotland of author J.M. Barrie’s childhood, modern-day America and of course, Neverland — and weaves one story out of these seemingly disparate worlds. As a performer, it’s a treat to get to travel between worlds, families, costumes and accents — where else can you be a mother struggling with a family trauma and a lecherous, sauce-pot-wielding pirate all in the same night? I think the show will also appeal to the widest possible audience, as there’s truly something for everyone.

The creative team behind Pan has done a wonderful job. The stage is filled with “found objects” that are used throughout the worlds, so a hockey stick in one world is a sword in another. It creates exactly the playful quality that Peter and the Lost Boys embody, and it engages the audience’s imagination and brings them in on the jokes. As a mother who’s read the story and seen the movie with my kids, I can’t wait for them to see Pan. My 11-year-old daughter has read the script twice, and is constantly asking things like, ‘What does Tinkerbell look like? How are they going to make that trick work? Will there be mermaids?’ And my whole family is working on a Scottish accent.”

Pan opens on Jan. 31 and continues through Feb. 16, Friday – Sunday (Friday and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.). Mild language, viewer discretion is advised. Tickets are $16 for general admission; ask about military and senior discounts. For more information or to buy tickets email the box office at boxoffice@gilberttheater.com or call 678-7186 or order tickets online.

Photo: Paul Sunao Hovey, Sonja Sorady Shah, Madyson Lawrence and Marie Lowe rehearsing for Gilbert Theater’s upcoming production of Pan.