New Year’s Day is a holiday full of traditions and superstitions — especially in the South. As the new year dawns, many people consider it important to do what they can to ensure that it will be a good one. One of the most common ways to do this is through the food served on New Year’s Day. In Fayetteville. the superstitious (and the hungry) can cover all their bases at one of the long-standing traditions; the Black-Eyed Pea Dinner. Truly, it is as much about tradition, friendship and service to the community, but the “lucky” foods add an element of fun to the day. The Black-Eyed Pea dinner began in the ‘70s with Sherriff Ottis F. Jones but in recent years has been carried on by Register of Deeds Lee Warren as his way of giving back to the community.

“The menu includes a great traditional southern meal of black-eyed peas, collard greens, candied yams, bar-b-que, tea and coffee and it is all topped off with some great live Southern Gospel music. Bring the kids out to see Truman from Kidsville News!” said Warren. “It is a lot of fun seeing old friends every year and making sure that no one has to cook on New Year’s Day.”

The tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day goes back many years in the South, but it may have originated in even older cultures. In Jewish culture, in Babylonia circa 500 AD, black-eyed peas were commonly eaten as good luck symbols to celebrate Rosh Hashana, which is the Jewish New Year. This tradition likely made its way to the southern United States through the Sephardic Jews. This group immigrated to Georgia in the 1730s. The popularity of these peas in general can be traced to the Civil War. In the early 1860s, black-eyed peas were only fed to livestock, but when the Union armies came through the South and burned all of the other crops, the peas were eaten out of necessity. The drought resistance also made the peas a popular crop in difficult years. Traditionally these peas are intended as a symbol for prosperity in the coming year, representing coins and swelling in size as they cook. There are also several sayings that are associated with this belief in lucky peas centering around the idea that the act of eating humbly on New Year’s promising better food in the year to come. One common phrase is “Eat poor on New Year’s, and eat fat the rest of the year.” Black-eyed peas are usually prepared with pork, which is considered lucky because pigs are known to root forward when they forage.

Collard greens are another southern New Year’s tradition aimed at bringing luck and prosperity to a family. Collards had a rise in popularity thanks to the Civil War, too. The Union Army left behind these crops, and considered them animal food, but they are packed with valuable nutrients. As far as bringing prosperity on New Year’s Day, the collard’s symbolism is quite easy to see. Thanks to their leafy green appearance they represent paper money. Green is also a color symbolic of hope and growth, both valuable traits for a new year.

The dinner starts at 11 a.m. on New Year’s Day, at the Crown and is free to the public. The dinner grows every year and it is a great way to meet people from the community. Not only will the food be delicious, but also the fellowship and friendship will be an incredible way to start the new year.

Photo: Don't miss the New Year's Day Black-Eyed pea dinner.

Karl Merritt and Bobby Washington have been friends for years. As friends do, the two often chat about things that matter to them. “One Sunday morning …we can’t remember exactly how it happened, Bobby Washington and I started talking and somehow we ended up talking about our daughters,” said Merritt. “I have a daughter about the same age as Bobby’s daughter. That led to a discussion of black males. They (our daughters) had talked to us about the crisis among young black men.”

In a nutshell, America has lost a generation of black males. People seem quick to point out the under-education and poor employment opportunities young black men face. Few seem willing to do much about it. Washington and Merritt could have shrugged and walked away from the problem like so many do, but they didn’t. They decided to do something about it. Washington was working on a Ph.D. in nonprofit management, and an acorn of an idea took root – an organization that would “… provide a foundation for achievement and success among male youth by directly providing educational assistance, mentoring, leadership and life-skills training and cultural-awareness activities.” He showed the plan to Merritt. “I looked at it,” said Merritt. “In a later conversation I said, ‘What are we gonna do about this?’ and Bobby’s response was ‘Let’s make Great Oak happen.’ I said, ‘Okay, I am in.’” 

The two teamed up with Catrina Murphy and got to work. The result was an all-volunteer organization that pairs youth with positive male role models — men who will invest in them, mentor them and hold them accountable. While committing several hours a month to something may sound intimidating, Washington sees it as a matter of perspective. “I’ve been doing it for a long time and it is pretty easy. It is a matter of prioritizing. If I had an antique car I wanted to spend 17 hours a week on, or if I wanted to golf 20 hours a week, I would figure out how to do it. We just ask for six hours a month. It is based on priorities.”

The Great Oak website points out that “Other issues include the lack of men willing to invest a few hours a month to mentor a boy; the policy ramifications of public dollars invested after a child gets in trouble versus investment in preventative solutions; and the general apathy regarding the problem at far too many levels. The black boys across America who are adversely affected by these conditions have tremendous potential and great promise. They simply need to be nurtured.”

For many of the young men who come to Great Oak, just knowing that someone cares can be enough to turn them around. The boys that come to Great Oak often show up with angry hearts. They’ve built emotional walls that can be tough to penetrate, but patience and consistency on the part of their mentors usually win out. “We had our first boy go to college in 2012 and three more in 2013,” said Merritt. “These are the stories that show the effectiveness of what we are trying to do. A lot of it is anger management — 80-85 percent of our boys come from single-parent households with black females as the head of the home. There are some things going on that contribute to the crisis among black males, one of those is the anger generated in these boys because their father is not present. I hear teenage boys say things like ‘I haven’t talked to my father since was 2,’ all the time.”

Instead of feeling sorry for the young men, the men at Great Oak show them that they are valuable and that they have potential and then challenge them to reach for the stars, empowering and encouraging them along the way. Men and Boys Unity, one of the Great Oak programs, meets one Saturday a month, eight months out of the year. Guest speakers are often invited and the men and boys discuss things like responsibility, healthyrelationships, financial management and etiquette. But they do much more than talk. Once they are in high school the boys draft a life plan. “Some understand it but most ask ‘Why do I need a plan? I am just in 9th grade.’ Then you explain that this is not a choice and we explain that planning is part of critical thinking. Sometimes you do get the wide-eyed look or they will say ‘No one ever asked me to think about what I am going to do with my life.’” 

Then a door is open to explain the importance of having a plan. The boys are given a template that asks about hobbies, classes and what they like to do and are good at. “If they say they want to go to college,” said Washington, “then we will assist with that process or with whatever their plan calls for.” To help the young men plan, Great Oak brings in military representatives, as well as professionals from Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville State University, community leaders and businessmen. People talk with parents about their critical role like making sure the boys take the right courses and tests for post high school life, too. 

To teach the young men the value of hard work, Great Oak gives them something to work toward. Since 2009, Great Oak has managed a few plots at the Fayetteville Community Garden each year. The boys prep the soil, tend the plots and help maintain the common areas and abandoned plots. 

To develop critical thinking skills, and help improve performance at school, the Men and Boys Unity program added a Chess Club to the program in 2012.

During the summer, Great Oak offers a leadership and entrepreneur camp. Educators, business leaders and civic leaders in the community participate in programs that focus on leadership development, skills instruction, confidence building and orientation for success.

The Great Oak mentoring program matches each youth with a volunteer who is committed to them for an extended period of time. Through these relationships mentors teach the boys important life skills: they help them plan for the future; they help build confidence in the young men; they encourage positive attitudes and more. Sometimes it is as easy as showing up at school to have lunch with the boys and talking with them about their grades. “It means the world to them that someone is interested in them for them,” said Washington. “They may not show it at first but the boys really do appreciate when someone takes an interest in them.”

To be a Great Oak mentor, volunteers submit to a background check, are interviewed by a social worker and undergo training before being paired with a youngster. Youth can be referred to Great Oak by school officials, community officials or by parents/guardians. Find out more about Great Oak at www.goydc.com.

Sure, most people have heard of Haymount, but not everyone knows about the magic of this part of town. Not only is there a great camaraderie between the residents, there are unique one-of-a-kind businesses that offer everything from food to clothing and gifts to healthcare to petcare to entertainment and more. While this community spends most of the year tending to the day-to-day business and busy-ness of life and looking out for each other, this holiday season the Haymount community is excited to host Haymount Lights for the greater Fayetteville area through Jan 1.

The Haymount areaof Fayetteville has a lot going for it. The cozy eateries, quaint shops, churches, award-winning theater and neighborhoods with tree-lined streets all contribute to the charm and distinct personality of Haymount. Named for John Hay, an Irish-born lawyer who built his home on the corner of Hillside and Hay Streets, the area was originally named “Hay Mount.” This later became Haymount and later still, the spelling Haymont came into play.

Officially, the boundaries of Haymount are from the foot of the hill up Hay Street to Fountainhead Lane, all of Hale Street, all of Hillside Avenue, Brandts Lane and part of Athens Avenue. “This area is a nationally registered and local historic district,” said Fayetteville Historic Properties Manager Bruce Daws. “It was established because of the cluster of homes in that area that represent Federal-style architecture that was popular through the mid 1820s as well as some of the other architecture of the time.”

Officially or not, just a bit further up the hill are establishments that are considered part of the Haymount district by the people who live, shop, worship, eat and play there. These establishments are as much a part of the psyche of this town as other distinctive areas like downtown, Skibo Road and the Cape Fear River Trail.

Pulling the community together even more is a relatively new organization called Happenin’ in Haymount. Throughout the year businesses and residents come together for things like hosting neighborhood dinners, welcoming new businesses and neighbors and building a sense of community in Haymount through group activities. This holiday season the organization is adding some extra sparkle to the festivities.“We were looking for a traditional event that people can look forward to every year,” said Ashley Culliton, Happenin’ in Haymount organizer and spokesperson. “Throughout the year we have get-togethers and things like yoga in the park and mommy groups. We want to create that neighborhood camaraderie and sense of community where neighbors look out for  each other and have life-long friendships. We are trying to make Haymount the community that other areas look to as an example of how to do it right.”

This Christmas season, the Haymount neighborhood is coming together to bring Haymount Lights to Fayetteville. Sixty-one participants, including 21 Haymount businesses, have signed up to participate. It’s fun, it’s free to the public and it is a chance to get out and enjoy the Christmas season. Although there is a lot of love between the participants, no Christmas light display is complete without some competition from the neighbors. Visit the Happenin’ in Haymount Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Haymount for a map and for the form to vote for your favorite lightdisplays.

We are all in the midst of holiday festivities. 

There are neighborhood gatherings, office parties, social occasions, presents to be bought and wrapped, a few more decorations to add to what is already there, cards to send and the list goes on and on.

All of this is going on in our homes and workplaces, or at least in proximity to us, whether we feel festive or not.

Truth be told, many of us are not in a
festive mood. 

Many of us are sad for all sorts of reasons, and some of us are actually hungry even as others are making and sharing goodies which surface only this time of year. Some of us are coping with loss, with aging, with loneliness, even as our televisions show happy folks in their party clothes in sparkling settings and toasting each other with everything from grape juice to champagne. 

Elizabeth Dreesen, a surgeon, writes an occasional column for the News and Observer. A recent one recounts her elderly father’s knee replacement surgery and her family’s struggles as they coped with the same health and aging issues facing millions of American families. Her mother, plagued with respiratory problems, resisted in-home help, and although the knee surgery was uneventful and successful, Dr. Dreesen acknowledges a much clearer understanding of what many of her patients and their families go through both within the medical system and with the difficulties of aging parents. If she, a smart and highly-educated medical professional, was flummoxed by this common experience, no wonder the rest of us are as well.

Two of my oldest friends, women I have known and loved since college, died within 12 hours of each other last month. Both had battled debilitating illnesses with courage, and their deaths were not surprising but were still deeply painful. Both leave families who are going to have very different holidays this year with empty spots where their loved ones used to be.

Another friend lost her husband a year ago on Christmas day. She is a person of many interests and who has many friends, but I know the holidays are especially difficult for her this year.

When I see the holiday television commercials in which everyone seems good-looking, happy, healthy and glowing with seasonal goodwill, I somehow assume they are all wealthy as well. Probably not, of course, but it is true that in our country the rich are indeed getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Forbesmagazine reports the highest number of billionaires ever recorded in the world, with the United States having more than any other nation. This sort of wealth creation has got to be a good thing, but it is mirrored by other sad and alarming numbers. 

The Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire reports that almost 1 in 4 American children now lives in poverty. In addition, the U.S. Census Bureau says that mean household income continues to fall at the same time safety nets, including basic food assistance, at all levels of government are shrinking. Home ownership is also declining, down for the fifth year in a row to just over 63 percent. A drive around our own county confirms the obvious need for life’s basics by the number of people begging at intersections.

I feel a bit like Mrs. Scrooge writing all of this in the midst of what is supposed to be a festive and joyful season, and which many of us pretend is, even if we are not feeling so joyful or festive ourselves. 

I write it, though, to remind us that many among us — friends, neighbors, coworkers, relatives, face challenging situations in their lives that darken not only their ordinary days but their holidays as well. Some of their problems are of their own making, some are out of their control, and some are both. But however they arose, they are driving factors in the lives of people around us, some of whom we know and love.

Some of us blessed to feel festive and joyful can and do volunteer for others not only during the holidays but the rest of the year as well. Some of us can and do share not only our time and talent but our treasure with others at this time of year and at other times. 

All of us can pick up the phone, write a note or pay a visit to someone who is struggling for whatever reason this holiday season. All of us can reach out in some way to someone who is short of cheer this year. All of us can show generosity of spirit in a way that eases the care of another.

Wishing you and those you love a warm, wonderful, and giving holiday season.

A prosperous local economy is almost at our fingertips; however, if you are a fledgling organization or local merchant trying to establish and maintain a profitable small business in Cumberland County, you just may have to reach a little further. 

Doug Peters, president of the Fayetteville Area Chamber of Commerce, understands the importance of promoting and supporting local independent businesses. Small business is the cornerstone of a strong and enduring community and local economy. Bringing awareness to what local communities have to offer is the key to developing a vibrant local economy. This was one of the motivating forces behind the recent Shop Local campaign staged by the Chamber of Commerce.

Becoming familiar with our local community reaches far beyond just doing business locally. Our residents are becoming involuntarily detached from the very community in which we live. 

This is most evident to those of us who work in the media industry. We can attest to the growing trend that people are not familiar with their local surroundings and that small businesses are going out of business at an alarming rate. Why? Because we have been lured into the 21st century infatuation with the Internet, online services and social media like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. As 21st century human beings, our heads and eyes are constantly focused on our computers, iPads and iPhones. Consequently, we know more about what’s going on halfway around the world then we do right here in our own backyard. 

Fortunately, the Internet is not the be-all-and-end-all solution when it comes to developing awareness and communication especially in our own local community. Granted, social media has its place in our society; however, one must be aware that it is gradually deteriorating our involvement and intimacy with our family, friends and local surroundings. 

Why? Because involvement and intimacy take time and effort to develop. The Internet and all its addictive facets for knowledge and entertainment allows us to live in the moment. In reality, the Internet is just another media source that can complement any business or organization by providing information. However, when it comes to establishing credibility, touting the quality of your product or service or actually developing your brand,
 it is extremely ineffective and, in many cases, destructive. Brand, being defined as who you are, what you are and what you stand for cannot be defined on the Internet. This pertains to people, organizations and businesses. 

Here is a case in point, which happened very recently. Deborah Mintz, president of the Fayetteville and Cumberland County Arts Council, and I hosted 25 members of the Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Fayetteville. Our task for the day was to give them a brief introduction to the arts, history and cultural venues that can be found within our community. Deborah and I have been doing this as a team for nearly 20 years. We take great pride in showcasing these venues. Our guests are always pleasantly surprised at the quantity of quality venues our community has to offer. Even more amazing was how many of these folks, many of them Millennials, were totally unaware and out of touch with the community. How can that be? 

Full disclosure, these people were participating in Leadership Fayetteville to learn about the community. But, some participants have lived here in Fayetteville and Cumberland County for 10, 15 and 20 years or more and were not aware of some of the basic community arts, entertainment and cultural gems at our disposal like the Dogwood Festival, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, the FireAntz hockey team or the fact that we have not one, but two, symphony orchestras. 

There is no real excuse for this except to realize that the Internet, iPhones and iPads are robbing us of our sense of community. Finding the good stuff takes effort and with effort comes reward. 

I invite all of our readers to take the time to get to know our community. You won’t find it on the Internet. You need to put down your phones, open your eyes and look at all that is around it. Fayetteville has much to offer and one of its best offerings is the warm and open people who call it home. Get to know them. Enjoy our community. You might just be surprised. Thank you for reading Up and ComingWeekly.

Ryan’s Reindeer Run is more than a foot race. It is a celebration. It is a celebration of the life of Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh and his amazing story but it is also a celebration of love, life and passion. Don’t miss the chance to be a part of this celebration on Saturday, Dec. 21. Ryan’s Reindeer Run is a 5K walk/run that is not only a great time, but it is a chance to make a difference. Named after Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh, Ryan’s Reindeer Run raises funds for the Ryan P. Kishbaugh Memorial Foundation and other charities that provide services to kids in need and cancer patients. 

 

Ryan was an athlete, an amazing community advocate, volunteer and a scholar. He had been accepted to Princeton and was ready to embark on an amazing future when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma; Ryan died from complications of a bone marrow transplant in 2003. He fought valiantly for 15 months before he died. His mother, Roberta Humphries, chooses to celebrate his life each year. Since Ryan was a stellar athlete and loved to run (he even wrote a book called Run Because You Can) having a race seemed like a great way to honor her son.

 

“I wanted to do something fun to remember Ryan,” said Humphries. “I was visiting Charleston in 2005 and they had a Reindeer Run going on. It just seemed like a great way to remember him and to do something fun at the same time.”

 

Hardcore runners are sure to enjoy the course. It is hilly and a bit of a challenge — but that is by design. 

 

“The run is a lot of fun, but the fact that the course is fairly difficult is significant,” said Humphries. “It is to remind people that life can be challenging sometimes.”

 

People who are interested in just having a great time while knowing they are giving back to the community will love this run, too. Sure, there are the standard awards for winners like the male and female runners who get the best times in their age groups, but there are also some awards that are all about fun. There are prizes for the top three pet finishers and their owners; the top three family finishers; the best-costumed runners; the top three strollers and runners; and the best decorated strollers. 

 

“We have a category where families can register together and their times are combined for an aggregate time and then the family with the lowest aggregate time is recognized,” said Humphries. “We also have a best-sweatered runner category.”

 

In planning this event Humphries is always on the look out for ways to embrace the joy and love of life that she remembers most about Ryan and turn it into part of the event. The trophies are reindeer. Every year she looks for reindeer that she can use as trophies for the event. The medals for the winners are shaped like Christmas ornaments. 

 

“I want people to be able to hang these on their tree if they wanted to so they can remember the fun they had at the reindeer run instead of just putting it in a drawer,” said Humphries.

 

There is such a feeling of connectedness that surrounds this event that Humphries considers it a chance to celebrate each and every year. 

 

“Many of the people who run in this race never even knew Ryan, but to see them running and laughing and having fun with their friends and family is a lot of fun for me,” said Humphries. “There are families who have been doing this since the first race eight years ago. One family chooses a theme every year and comes in the most wonderful costumes. They have come as Whos from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, they’ve come as characters from A Charlie Brown Christmas, they have come as Christmas packages. It is just so much fun to see what they will come up with next. Then there are Ryan’s friends who are runners. Many of them have married and have families of their own and they are bringing their children to run in the race.”

 

The fundsthat are raised at the event go right back into the community through the Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Memorial Foundation. Since the race was established in 2006, the foundation has donated more than $100,000 to different organizations in the community. Each year The Duke Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Friends of the Cancer Center, Better Health, the Care Clinic and the Child Advocacy Center receive funds from this event. Every spring the Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Memorial Foundation also awards a $1,000 writing prize to a student at the Fayetteville Academy where Ryan was a student.

 

Register early to make sure that there is a shirt reserved in your size on race day. The race starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Medical Arts Building on Hay Street. For more information or to register, visit www.active.com or www.ryansreindeerrun.com. 

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the Cumberland Oratorio Singers will join in song to bring Handel’s Messiah to Galatia Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, Sunday, Dec. 15 at 4 p.m. It is the 6th Annual Messiah Sing, where everyone is welcome to bring their Messiah scores, sit in the audience and join in song together with the choir. Admission is free. 

 

“We really encourage people to bring their scores, stand up and sit down with the choir where it’s appropriate, and
sing along,” said Michael Martin,
director of choral activities and music education at Methodist University and this year’s conductor.

 

“Handel’s Messiah is kind of unique and non-unique at the same time in that — it’s a community sing, which is done all over the world,” said Martin. “Everybody knows the “Hallelujah” chorus, and we only do the first part because it follows the birth, life and death of Jesus, which is an appropriate part to do at Christmas time.    

 

“I think it’s kind of right that the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the Cumberland Oratorio Singers do this together, because they’ve been playing together for quite some time,” said Martin. “It’s good for the community to know that their arts organizations are working together and it makes for a big house.” 

 

The partnership between the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the Cumberland Oratorio Singers is actually broad and goes beyond the Messiah.“We do this, and then we do a large work in the Spring together,” said Martin. “We’re always trying to find opportunities in which the partnership will benefit both groups. They get a chance to pull some of our audience, we pull some of their audiences, and when we get together, we have both of our audiences sitting in the same place.”    

 

Martin was appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of the Cumberland Oratorio Singers in 2008 and has been alternating with Fouad Fakhouri, another conductor in the music department at Methodist University, for the past five years. Due to the way the graduation calendar worked out last year for Martin, Fakhouri ended up conducting Messiah for the past two years in a row. Martin is excited to have the opportunity to conduct this year. 

 

“The reason we do this is because we’ve always considered the Messiah Singto be a gift back to the community,” said Martin. “We don’t want money to be the reason people don’t come and experience this. 

 

“We just want people to come,” Martin continued. “We want it to be a gift for the community, and we’ve always called it that.” 

 

For more information, please contact: Julia Atkins, orchestra personnel and marketing manager for the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, at P.O. Box 53234, Fayetteville, NC 28305 or jatkins@fayettevillesymphony.org. 

 

The Galatia Presbyterian Church is located at 8800 Galatia Church Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28304.     

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the Cumberland Oratorio Singers will join in song to bring Handel’s Messiah to Galatia Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, Sunday, Dec. 15 at 4 p.m. It is the 6th Annual Messiah Sing, where everyone is welcome to bring their Messiah scores, sit in the audience and join in song together with the choir. Admission is free. 

 

“We really encourage people to bring their scores, stand up and sit down with the choir where it’s appropriate, and
sing along,” said Michael Martin,
director of choral activities and music education at Methodist University and this year’s conductor.

 

“Handel’s Messiah is kind of unique and non-unique at the same time in that — it’s a community sing, which is done all over the world,” said Martin. “Everybody knows the “Hallelujah” chorus, and we only do the first part because it follows the birth, life and death of Jesus, which is an appropriate part to do at Christmas time.    

 

“I think it’s kind of right that the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the Cumberland Oratorio Singers do this together, because they’ve been playing together for quite some time,” said Martin. “It’s good for the community to know that their arts organizations are working together and it makes for a big house.” 

 

The partnership between the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the Cumberland Oratorio Singers is actually broad and goes beyond the Messiah.“We do this, and then we do a large work in the Spring together,” said Martin. “We’re always trying to find opportunities in which the partnership will benefit both groups. They get a chance to pull some of our audience, we pull some of their audiences, and when we get together, we have both of our audiences sitting in the same place.”    

 

Martin was appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of the Cumberland Oratorio Singers in 2008 and has been alternating with Fouad Fakhouri, another conductor in the music department at Methodist University, for the past five years. Due to the way the graduation calendar worked out last year for Martin, Fakhouri ended up conducting Messiah for the past two years in a row. Martin is excited to have the opportunity to conduct this year. 

 

“The reason we do this is because we’ve always considered the Messiah Singto be a gift back to the community,” said Martin. “We don’t want money to be the reason people don’t come and experience this. 

 

“We just want people to come,” Martin continued. “We want it to be a gift for the community, and we’ve always called it that.” 

 

For more information, please contact: Julia Atkins, orchestra personnel and marketing manager for the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, at P.O. Box 53234, Fayetteville, NC 28305 or jatkins@fayettevillesymphony.org. 

 

The Galatia Presbyterian Church is located at 8800 Galatia Church Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28304.      

Among the few certainties in life is that it changes.  

 

Some changes are dramatic — the birth of a baby, a sudden accident, an unexpected death.

 

Some are more of an evolution than a stark change, which is the case with the Dickson Thanksgiving tradition.

 

For more than 30 years, our family has celebrated this quintessential American holiday with cousins, extended family, friends and the occasional stranger at a favorite cousin’s home in Chapel Hill. Our celebration evolved for Thanksgiving 2012, when my cousin and I made the executive decision to move the whole operation to a lovely North Carolina beach where both of our families have vacationed for decades. We enjoyed our first beach Thanksgiving with about 35 hungry celebrants.  

 

Thanksgiving 2013 was quieter — about 16 cousins and friends — with our usual fare of real turkey and an ice cream turkey and some new items including a ham and a mac-and-cheese casserole so rich and creamy that it could surely be considered a sin. The holiday weekend continued to unfold with an oyster roast and visits by several more cousins from the younger generation and a longtime friend and former roommate of one of the Precious Jewels.

 

We had such a full house that even the improvised bunks built into a closet were full!

 

It was all great fun, but it also means that scheduling meals and other activities is a challenge and that the mom in charge — that would be me — does not always know exactly who is doing what and when they are doing it.

 

That was the case with an early Saturday morning duck-hunting expedition involving two Precious Jewels, our great friend Ben, and Ben’s faithful wonder retriever, Belle.  I got wind of the planned hunt the night before, heard the hunters stomping around and departing early that morning and was dozing fitfully when my cell phone rang shortly after daylight.

 

Now, every parent’s heart skips a beat when such calls some in, and mine did an extra little flip when the caller ID told me that Ben was on the phone.

 

Why was Ben calling me when the rest of the household was still snoozing?!?!?  

 

It was Belle. She had wandered into a marsh — one paved with oyster shells, and she was cut and bleeding. The hunters were on their way in and could I try to find a veterinarian open on Saturday morning of Thanksgiving weekend in a beach community?

 

Flooded with maternal relief but concerned about sweet Belle, I called around and discovered that the closest vet — about 20 miles away — is usually open on Saturday but had taken Thanksgiving weekend off. An emergency clinic in Wilmington would open at noon, but that was hours away. I considered ringing up a favorite god-child who is a vet, who was home for the holiday from California, but nixed that plan when I realized she probably did not pack her doggie medical supplies and equipment in her overhead bin suitcase.

 

In the meantime, the hunters arrived with Belle who padded around pitifully, leaving bloody paw prints on our concrete floor.  

 

Ben, Belle’s human parent, got on the phone himself and took the recommendation of the emergency clinic’s answering service of another vet practice that was open on Saturday morning, and off they went — Ben, Belle, a Precious Jewel, and a cousin who needed a ride back to his car.

 

Our medical update came in, informing us that Belle was heading into surgery to close cuts on three paws and several gashes on her legs. The rest of the gang would go get something to eat — breakfast not having happened that morning — and then await Belle’s eventual coming to and release from the clinic.

 

Several hours later, the gang appeared, full and relieved, all except for Belle who was bandaged, bedraggled, a bit dazed and frustrated as all get-out by the “halo” around her neck to keep up from chewing at her stitches and dressings.

 

All of us, including Belle, are back in our respective homes, and I am deep into my annual tizzy preparing for the next round of holiday festivities. Ben reports that Belle has had a good checkup with her own vet and that the halo, which should come off soon, is still driving her crazy.

 

My take away here is that little in life turns just the way we think it will. I never imagined Thanksgiving at the beach with no pumpkins or fallen leaves, but that is not the point. The point is that we were packed into a house with those we love. 

 

I can hardly wait for Thanksgiving 2014!

“Say good night, Gracie,” was the familiar quote made popular by the iconic 1950s and 1960s actor/comedian George Burns when he was signaling his young, precocious wife Gracie that she was finished, through and done with her monologue. 

 

“Say good night, Gracie,” meant it was over. Period. Well, someone very recently asked me: “Bill, why don’t you write something about the Prince Charles Hotel?” What? Are you kidding me? January 2014 will mark Up & Coming Weekly’s 19th year serving Fayetteville. During this period we have stayed extremely up-close and personal to the goings on concerning the crown prince of Downtown Fayetteville, the Prince Charles Hotel. Why? Because we have always admired and respected the Prince Charles for its historical value and past contributions to our community. However, anyone not familiar with our publication or the last two decades of history and controversy swirling around this historic icon may think we have ignored the situation or at best had trouble making up our minds or taking a solid position editorially concerning the future of the property. I can assure you this is not the case. 

 

The fact is, we have written dozens of stories, editorials and features about the noble Prince over the years. Yes, in hindsight, our positions may seem a bit contradictory. We love it, we hate it. We need it, we don’t need it. It’s an historical beauty, it’s weather beaten, dilapidated and ugly. It is an economic “tour de force” for the city, it’s an economic disaster and drain on our downtown development. Need I go on? You get my point. 

 

But, in our defense, there have been many people and organizations over the years like the Old Fayetteville Association, Fayetteville Downtown Development Association, Downtown Alliance, Chamber of Commerce, Fayetteville Historic Resources Commission who also respect and admire the Prince Charles and, have loyally followed its progress and plight with sincere and earnest interest in its revival, rejuvenation, rehabilitation, development and success. The numerous attempts good people have made to resuscitate the Prince Charles and restore it to its former self is a matter of public record. 

 

Let’s face it folks, time has told the hotel’s true story. This is not going to happen. As a documented advocate of the Prince Charles Hotel, I have extreme respect for its historical designation and its significance to downtown, but, economically, it is just no longer feasible. Realistically, with the needs being what they are in Downtown Fayetteville, that property, which is directly across from city hall and only blocks from the train station and Airborne and Special Operations Museum, is much too valuable for hosting or harboring a deteriorating and dilapidated building no matter how beautiful or significant it was in the past. The Prince has served this community; now his purpose and usefulness is gone and he must go.  My only wish is that he goes out with grace and dignity and not with the swell of loud and mis-directed protest from people screaming we can’t tear down history. 

 

Let’s not forget that our noble Prince was acquired by a New York investor named John Chen for $1.9 million at a foreclosure sale in 2007. This guy was no friend of the Prince Charles or of Fayetteville. Matter of fact, when the hotel was finally closed down by city inspectors for major building violations, Chen was well on his way to turning the Prince Charles into a grandiose flop house. If protests do arise, it will be from people who have no understanding of business economics or the true value of money. 

 

Bottom line? The property that the Prince Charles Hotel sits on is extremely valuable to the successful economic development of our city. Sure, I know that recently David Levinson, a wealthy developer from Harnett County proposed to the City of Fayetteville a $4 million plan to save the Prince Charles. Well, I doubt if that is ever going to happen. Levinson’s plan was to partner with Chen to restore the building into residential and office condominiums. Success will be elusive. The numbers just do not work.

So, where do we go from here? Actually, I have no idea. Except, if the decision is made to tear the Prince Charles Hotel down, that property should not be used for anything else but to house a three or four star mid-range hotel (Hampton Inn, Marriott Fairfield, etc.) so there will be rooms and meeting space in downtown Fayetteville to support the arts, attractions like the ASOM and other existing ongoing businesses. I firmly believe if downtown is to succeed, if downtown is going to prosper economically, visitors and guests need a place to stay when they come downtown. 

 

When the Prince Charles was revived in the ‘90s, it was supported by downtown businesses organizations and government. The Rotary Club met there. The arts community held huge receptions in the lobby. We had jazz festivals there and it was a convenient gathering place for the entire community. It would be a huge mistake to miss this opportunity to move the downtown economic-development effort forward by not adding good hotel to the downtown landscape. But then again, we have a terrible track record when it comes to placing buildings in the right location. This should be a no brainer. We’ll see. Stay tuned. This is about to get interesting. Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

 

A tradition in Fayetteville since 1977, The Nutcracker Ballet is many things to many people. This year it has special meaning for Director Charlotte Blume and one of the guest artists, Adam Chavis.

When the North Carolina State Ballet’s Nutcracker returns to the Crown Center Theatre on Dec. 8, 14 and 15, it will be a homecoming for Chavis.

“This is a very good opportunity not only for dancers to display their talent, it also provides a performance opportunity for dancers,” said Blume. “And we do use regional dancers and guests. It provides a good show experience for the region.”

A Fayetteville native, Chavis trained with Charlotte Blume for seven years and performed various roles in The Nutcracker as a student. Chavis is like many of Blume’s students.

“They grow up at the studio; they start at early ages and spend a lot of their time at the studio,” said Blume. “To get to the level to perform, it takes a lot of years of training. The dancers become committed, and their parents do as well. It takes teamwork to create productions like The Nutcracker.”

This year, Chavis guests with Alicia Fabry as Cavalier to Fabry’s Sugar Plum Fairy. Chavis went on to study at the North Carolina School of the Arts and was an apprentice with the New York City Ballet Company before joining the Carolina Ballet in Raleigh. Both Chavis and Fabry are principal dancers with the company. They perform on Dec. 8.

Jessica Fry and Ramon Gaitan will dance the roles of Cavalier and Sugar Plum Fairy on Dec. 14 and 15.

A supporting cast of 65 dancers and actors perform in the two-act, three-scene production.

Alicia Fabry was raised in France and studied ballet at the English National Ballet School in London. She danced with the Ballet Chicago Studio Company before joining the Carolina Ballet Theatre and Pennsylvania Ballet.

Ramon Gaitan, a native of Nicaragua, began dancing at the age of 18 with the Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park, Ill. He is a Northern Illinois University graduate with a bachelor of fine arts. Gaitan has danced with the Richmond Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Maryland and the Dayton Ballet. He is currently an independent guest artist. This is his first time dancing with the North Carolina State Ballet. Gaitan will double as the Nutcracker Prince with alternating Claras Mary Maxton and Ashley Watters.

Wei Ni, assistant director of the North Carolina State Ballet, will dance the Nutcracker Prince on Dec. 8, with Deprecia Simpson as Clara. Ni trained in China and was a principal dancer with the Carolina Ballet in Raleigh before joining the North Carolina State Ballet.

Other leading dancers in the Nutcracker are alternating Little Claras, Ella Lewis, Marissa Morris and Hannah Reader. Snow Queens are Ashley Watters or Deprecia Simpson. Flower Queens are Ashely Watters or Deprecia Simpson.

Local actor Daniel Moore returns as Drosselmeyer.

While the community looks forward to the production of The Nutcracker each holiday season, for Blume, the dancers, parents and staff, it is a labor of love that starts in late summer and requires serious commitment from everyone involved. Auditions take place in August. While Blume insists the dancers come to the auditions prepared and in top form, the real work starts once the parts have been assigned.

“We start rehearsal in September,” said Blume. “It is a big show. It is 1 hour and 45 minutes long. It is all intense dance and it has to be at a professional level. It does take a lot of rehearsal — we meet seven days a week to practice for The Nutcracker and this is separate from class time.”

Each year the dedication and practice pay off, as the performances do not disappoint.

The Nutcracker is performed for area schools on Dec. 6,9 and 13. Public performances are Dec. 8, 14 and 15. All performances are at the Crown Center Theatre. Tickets for the public performances are $16 for general admission and may be purchased at the Crown Center Box Office or at ticketmaster.com. Curtain time is 3 p.m.

The days are getting colder and the nights are coming earlier. In North Carolina this can only mean one thing: Christmas is coming. As Dec. 25 approaches, the Christmas spirit can be felt at most every shop and on every decorated lawn. One of the ways that Hope Mills shares all this spirit is at the annual Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting. What better way is there to spread the holiday spirit than by driving huge colorful floats and brightly decorated vehicles through the streets and singing carols with the community?

Hope Mills Parks and Recreation has been organizing this parade for many years. The very first year they had 40 units participating in the event. The parade has grown tremendously since then. In 2012, there were 114 participants. Though the size of the parade may grow, it has never lost the fun and festive spirit on which it was founded. “This is a traditional parade and a great way for families to have fun. There will be bands playing traditional Christmas carols and many different floats to watch,” says Kenny Bullock, Hope Mills Parks and Recreation director, who has been working with the parade for six years.

The parade is a family-oriented event. Beautiful floats and Christmas music will capture the imaginations of young and old and many floats will also hand out candy. The entire goal of the event is to bring fun and holiday spirit to the entire community. Bullock reflects this view by saying that the most rewarding part of the parade is, “Seeing the kids excited. It is especially exciting if the people in the crowd know someone on the float, it really hypes them up. It’s great to see the community come and support the parade.”

There have been some changes made to the rules in the parade this year. In past years people have been able to throw candy from the floats. This year that will not be allowed. Floats will have people walking beside them to hand out candy. This rule is intended to make sure that children don’t run into the streets and into possible danger. Like always, the floats will be as beautiful as ever. “Color, bright colors, and the people on the float being excited and involving the crowd is important. I love the colors of the red, green, white and gold.” Bullock said when describing the ideal float, “I remember going to parades when they were at night and seeing the Christmas lights. When we saw the bright colors coming we would say ‘Oh, that’s gonna be a good one.’”

The Hope Mills Christmas Parade starts on Main St. and will run from 3 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 7. For more information visit http://174.132.145.94/~hope/index.php/departments/parks-and-recor call 424-4500. After the Christmas Parade, there will also be the Hope Mills Festival of Lights at Hope Mills Lake at 5:30 p.m.

People often think that there’s never much to do right here in the heart of Fayetteville, so they look to neighboring cities like Raleigh and Cary for a great time, but on Dec. 15, the Fayetteville Downtown Alliance will host its 14th Annual Candelight Loft Tours, which promises to be a very interesting downtown event that showcases architecture and living in Downtown Fayetteville.

“We try to showcase Downtown Fayetteville as a great place to shop, eat, play and live,” said Janet Lee, the chairman of the tour. “This is an event that everyone can be a part of and see what it’s like to live in Downtown Fayetteville.”

Just past the traffic circle and on to the cobblestoned streets of Downtown Fayetteville, Hay Street will be candlelit for a guided tour of artistic, original and cutting-edge loft designs. Residents will open their doors to the public in what will feel like an intimate experience of their unique versatility, creativity and decorative elegance in a location that overlooks the small shops of Hay Street. Participating businesses will also open for anyone who’s looking to do some shopping throughout the evening.

Each year, residents are asked if they would like to put their residence on tour for this one-day event in which participants vary from year to year, depending on who’s going to be in town, who’s decorated for the holidays and who’s ready to have people walk through their residence. “The experience is very similar to that of a neighborhood tour except that this will take place in residences that are downtown,” said Lee.

Daniel Brumm, a resident who participated in last year’s event, will participate in this year’s event as well. In light of the tour, he ensures that there are candlelights throughout his residence for the sake of a complete showcase. He enjoys decorating for the holidays and putting an interesting twist for those taking the tour.

“We’re always eager to have the public come out and visit Downtown Fayetteville,” said Lee. “The tour will go up and down Hay Street, Old Street and some of Person Street just around the Market House.”

The event is on Dec. 15 and will last from 6-8 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Nov. 29. Tickets are $10 in advance and will be $12 on the day of the actual event. Pre-event tickets are on sale now and the first 100 people to turn in their tickets for an armband will receive a swag bag full of coupons and information about downtown businesses.

Ticket outlets include the Downtown Alliance Office in Downtown Fayetteville, So Chic Bebe, City Center Gallery & Books, Rude Awakening Coffee House, MoonStone Jewelry and Gifts and The Pilgrim, located in the Westwood Shopping Center. With its many historic landmarks, free museums, movie theaters and outdoor dining, there really is a lot to see and do right here in the heart of Downtown Fayetteville.

Additional information for the Candlelight Loft Tours can be found at www.faydta.org or 910-222-3382.

 

 

 

 Once upon a time while I was waiting to pay a bill, I heard a 92-year-old man say something pretty profound. Quote he, “If we live, we’re gonna get old.” This point, while obvious, merits further consideration. I was reminded of his observation on reading that Mick Jagger is about to become a great-grandfather. Yep, the Street Fighting Man’s granddaughter is going have a baby. Jagger’s new status has implications for the rest of us. If Jagger is going to be a great-grandfather, perhaps time is passing by more quickly than we think. Undoubtably, time will ultimately take us with it.

 

Armed with the knowledge that life is fleeting, what should we do about it? I personally suggest deep denial, but that is just me. However, despite the alleged war on Christmas promoted by Fox, you may have noticed that it is Christmas time again. Christmas brings all kinds of events, some deeply theological and some highly commercial. It’s Ying & Yang time. I shall leave the theology to those more knowledgeable about such things. I shall remain in the shallow end of the Christmas pool to ponder the wonders of Yule Tide commercialism.

 

Christmas comes but once a year, but it starts in August and lasts until January. It means Christmas movies, TV specials and buying stuff. Let us count the pretty ways of commercialism. The Christmas season begins in earnest with the Pamplona Running of the Bulls style traditional trampling of the customers on Black Friday at the Big-Box Stores. This year Black Friday has moved up to trampling customers on Thanksgiving. How festive!

 

My favorite holiday movie is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, which theoretically stars Chevy Chase. The real star is Cousin Eddie. Cousin Eddie is the reason I watch this movie. We all have Cousin Eddies in our lives and Randy Quaid is the Cousin Eddiest of them all. Cousin Eddie shows up at the Griswold’s house in his worn out RV and settles in for the duration. Have you ever had relatives show up at your house and outstay the three-day fish rule? Yep. I knew you had. The great thing about Cousin Eddie is that he doesn’t actually show up at your house. He’s on the TV and you can change the channel. Try changing the channel at your own dinner table when Uncle Howard starts his political rant about the wonders of nuclear power with Aunt Donna who is a dues paying member of the Sierra Club. Ah, Christmas cheer.

 

    It is not really Christmas until I hear the Barking Dogs canine chorus howl “Jingle Bells.” How can we celebrate the true meaning of Christmas commercialism without the musical accompaniment of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer?” As for me, Grandpa, and the trial lawyers we believe. If Grandma really got run over by a reindeer driven by Saint Nick we are talking serious money damages. Grandpa’s mailbox is going to be jammed with letters from lawyers wanting to bring a wrongful-death action for Grandpa against the jolly old elf who carelessly, reckless and with wanton malice ran over Grandma while she was in a position of helpless peril due to her consumption of egg nog. It’s an ill sleigh accident that doesn’t bring a contingent fee.

 

   I admit to slightly misting up when Charlie Brown decorates his scraggly Christmas tree at the end of A Charlie Brown Christmas. The tree magically becomes beautiful as the Peanuts gang sings “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” lifting their heads skyward looking like coyotes howling at the moon. It is a beautiful moment. I always look forward to it.

 

   We get 24 hours of the Christmas Story wherein Ralphie dreams of owning a real carbine action 200 shot range model Red Rider BB rifle with a compass in the stock with which he may very well shoot his eye out. As Ralphie’s mom says “It’s always fun until someone shoots their eye out.” Isn’t Christmas about getting new stuff so as to ward off the misery of the lurking wolf of bitter January winds just around the corner? As John Lennon once wrote, “Happiness is a warm gun.” Ralphie puts up with wearing a pink bunny suit and gets his Red Rider BB gun. This teaches us all the value of persistence in getting what you want at Christmas.

 

   As John Lennon wrote, “So this is Christmas/And what have you done?/Another year over/And a new one just begun. “ Merry Christmas but don’t shoot your eye out.

 

 

Congratulations to our new Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson and all of the city council members — old and new.

With less than a week under their belts, they are all no doubt putting their plans, visions and ideas together getting ready to focus on the very best ways to serve the residents of our great city. After all, that’s their job and it is the 202,000 city residents they answer to. There are no universal secrets for maintaining a pleasant, peaceful and growing urban community, both economically and culturally. Each city is different and requires a different touch, a different sort of leadership. But ultimately, it is up to our elected leaders to figure out what that touch is, and they need to do it in short order.

In my opinion, these newly elected public servants would get a fast start out of the gate and be best served by tearing down the barriers that serve to separate, segregate and define their particular districts within the city. Think about it.

Fayetteville is one city and we should view it as that. We are not isolated island sanctuaries of purpose and comfort packaged neatly into nine designated territories that serve to separate rather than unite.

Personally, I have never liked this system of governance (wards and ward politics) regardless of the justification and reasons for the implementation. It is a system that is tired and worn and only serves now to breed and nurture apathy, dull enthusiasm, distort responsibilities, misalign priorities and, yes, unfortunately, has the propensity to call one’s integrity and honesty into question. And, why not?

There are very few checks and balances. It is, what it is. However, if our leaders can rise to the occasion and view Fayetteville beyond districts, if they can look beyond the legal boundaries and see Fayetteville as one entity, I think progress and accomplishments would be made in record time.

Fayetteville One. Say it, Fayetteville One. Has a nice sound to it doesn’t it? Fayetteville: One community, one purpose, one mission. With Fayetteville One how could the arts not flourish? How could city hall not be friendly and efficient? How could crime continue to escalate? How could builders and developers not find it conducive to conduct business here? How could Fayetteville not become the epicenter of efficiency and hospitality that embraces Fort Bragg and all of Cumberland County?

This can be achieved. But, it must be done willingly, collectively and in harmony. Our leaders must lead from the front. This style of forward leadership will permeate throughout all the districts exciting the residents, quieting the malcontents and rallying every citizen in support of Fayetteville One.

Monday marked the beginning of a new chapter about to be written into the annals of Fayetteville City governance. The ball is in their court now. How this will read two years from now nobody really knows. However, if I were a betting man (and I am), and knowing the many challenges that lay before this community and new city council, I would bet they can and will be neatly and effectively managed by this new administration if the vision is Fayetteville One.

After all, who wouldn’t want to be a part of this winning community? Let’s all get to work. Thanks for reading the Up & Coming Weekly.

In simpler time and place, Christmas trees were not adorned with lights and glitter, but with ribbons and bows and handmade decorations. Locally, during the Victorian era, Christmas looked a bit different than what most experience today. North Carolina has a long and rich history as a state. One of the many ways that this history is celebrated and shared is through the Museum of the Cape Fear. Every year the Museum of the Cape Fear offers a peek into the Christmas traditions and life of the past with Poe House Tours.

The Poe House was built in 1897 for Josephine Montague Poe, who is no relation to the author Edgar Allan Poe. This home housed the successful local business man Edgar Allan Poe and his family for many years. Now the beautiful house is a museum that provides a unique view into the early twentieth century. Beginning Nov. 26, the grand Victorian architecture of the Poe House will be transformed into a beautiful example of a Victorian era Christmas. Megan Maxwell, the education coordinator of the Poe House, and local volunteers decorate the entire Poe House in a single day of hard work. “It is a great holiday tradition. It is a beautiful house — especially with these Christmas decorations” Maxwell said.

In addition to the beautiful decorations the Museum of the Cape Fear will also host the Annual Holiday Jubilee. The Holiday Jubilee takes place Sunday, Dec. 8, on the front porch of the Poe House and brings many of the Victorian traditions to the public. “The focal point of this event is the Coventry Carolers. They are Victorian era carolers and they sing the traditional carols in acapella. They will perform at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The event is free.

The Poe House will be decked out in the traditional Victorian Christmas décor, with a slightly modern twist. “We will also be cooking, in the Poe kitchen, some traditional Victorian foods, so if you have never seen anyone cook on a wood burning or coal burning 1902 Glenwood stove this is a great opportunity. We will also have a hands-on craft for kids; they will be able to make either a bracelet or a bookmark. There will also be a Victorian Santa visiting and Christmas stories,” says Maxwell. Additionally the house will be open and tour guides available during the entire Holiday Jubilee.

There will be plenty of holiday spirit to go aroud at the Poe House this Christmas season. It is the passion for the season and the history that makes the decoration and festivities so astounding. Maxwell shares the excitement that the volunteers and employees of the Poe House possess “I love Christmas! I have this gorgeous house and my own, so I get to go crazy twice. This is an opportunity to share history and the Christmas spirit with the public,” she said.

Free tours will be offered of the Poe House that will further explain the beautiful decorations and Christmas traditions of the time. Decorations will stay up until Jan. 5. For more information visit http://www.ncdcr.gov/ncmcf/Events.aspx. Admission to the Holiday Jubilee on Dec. 8 from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. is free. Tours of the decorated Poe House are also free and take place Tuesdays through Fridays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Saturdays the tours are from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. beginning on the hour. On Sundays tours are from 1p.m. until 4 p.m. on the hour

Another Consultant??

Well, first, let me go on record as saying that I am all for having a Visual, Cultural & Performing Arts Center in Downtown Fayetteville. I will support the initiative 100 percent — both physically and financially. This has always been a great idea. However, what I find hard to support is spending another $63,000 on another outside consulting firm to tell us what a good idea it is, how much it will cost and where to put it. This is no reflection on the recently hired Webb Management Services in any way, but, I think we have the talent and leadership here in our own community to make this kind of determination. After all, don’t you think we may have studied this enough over the last two decades? The City Council, if I remember correctly, spent almost the same exact amount of money hiring Studio Cascade Inc., to update the Fayetteville Renaissance Plan in 2012. And, if my calculations are correct, it will take the same amount of time (one year) and will follow the same process of having local public hearings, interviewing residents, artists, downtown businesses and property owners.

Those of us who have been around for a while have heard many, many shared ideas on how to perk up our economy by perking up our Downtown. I guess you could say this process started in 1996 with the talented late architect Robert Marvin with his A Complete Fayetteville, Once and For All, plan. This was a real Fayetteville eye opener. His $27+ million Fayetteville facelift recommendation called for a huge mound overlooking a water feature, a parking garage, charter school, amphitheater, pavilion, park and plenty of downtown diversity from construction of residential housing catering to various socioeconomic groups. The cost of Marvin’s insights? Hundreds of thousands of taxpayers money. That was nearly 17 years ago. Was it worth it? Did we get good value from this investment? Well, since that time, we adopted the Fayetteville Renaissance Plan (2002) — a neat little package consisting of 3,000 acres of downtown Fayetteville targeted for greatness. This plan was recently revised in 2012 by another consulting firm from Seattle, Washington. So, I ask again, why do we feel we need another feasibility study and what have we learned from the ones in which we have already invested? Has our community really changed in the last 15 years? With the exception of BRAC, I really don’t think so. Big business is not located here in Cumberland County. Unlike the cities of Raleigh, Durham, Winston-Salem and Greensboro that we are often compared to, we do not have the large and generous corporate entities here in our community that can support such large institutional arts venues.

Actually, truth be known, I think we have a lot to thank Mr. Marvin for. Think about it. Granted, we don’t have that huge mound of dirt he recommended as Fayetteville’s central signature showcase feature, but we do have the Airborne & Special Operations Museum — not a bad central signature showcase. In addition, we have benefited from several other insights and ideas Marvin suggested in his original plan — things like a new convenient downtown parking deck and a charter school on the way. Festival Park covers his recommendation for an amphitheater and park as does the Cape Fear River Trail. And, what I feel is our most successful achievement that resulted from this preliminary 17-year-old study, the proliferation and growth of residents and various housing opportunities downtown, including the lofts and apartments, the 300 Block of Hay St., Ralph Huff’s Park View Condominiums and, of course, the Hope VI project. The genesis of all these ideas and accomplishments came from Marvin’s original plan. The execution and refinement came from us.

My point is simply this, we have already heard from the experts so why not now rely on the skills, talents, intelligence and ingenuity of our own residents, local artists and city and county staff and elected officials to determine if there is a real need for a downtown Visual, Cultural & Performing Arts Center. I guarantee that collectively they will know the right questions to ask, and, truth be known, they already know the answers. For $63,000 of taxpayer money, no one should be surprised or disappointed when the findings are things that we have known for many, many years. In my next life I want to be a consultant (from out of town!) or a weatherman. Either way, I could never be wrong and always free from criticism. Thank you for reading Fayetteville’s community newspaper: Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: In the past 17 years there have been several plans for downtown, start-ing with Robert Marvin’s A Complete Fayetteville, Once and For All, plan.

“No space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunity misused” —Charles Dickens.

Don’t miss this annual opportunity to experience the joy and warmth of community spirit. Kick off the holiday season at Fayetteville’s candlelit Dickens celebration and then catch A Christmas Carol, which opens at the Gilbert, Nov. 29.

Local thespian and arts lover, Joyce Lipe recalled, ”My husband Chuck and I took part in the Fayetteville Arts Council A Dicken’s Holiday each year, dressing in costumes of that period as we strolled along Hay Street getting caught up in the beauty of candle light and Christmas decorations. A Christmas Carol, which I narrated for six consecutive seasons became a part of the Gilbert season in its early years. It is still a central part of each Gilbert season. Thus, the dream continues and takes shape and the inspiration of early founders and participants continues to shine.”

This year’s production is an adaptation by director Christopher Schario, who has been Executive/Artistic Director of The Public Theatre, Lewiston, Maine since 1993. His adaptation of A Christmas Carol, published by Dramatists Play Service in 1996, has enjoyed successful productions at professional and amateur theatres. One interesting element of this adaptation is the on stage use of a foley, a person who creates or alters sounds, using such tools as a thunder sheet, wind machine, gongs, etc. “In the fall of 1993 I was looking for a version of A Christmas Carol for my theatre company. Most adaptations of the story required such huge casts, lavish sets and special effects, that we couldn’t afford to produce them. I always felt that the charm of the story was in its simplicity, so I locked myself in our theatre with six actors and a fiddler, and we invented this version, that simply and directly tells the story of the redemption of a human soul. Dickens’ story teaches us that when we peel aside the suffocating veil of materialism, we can see the true wealth life offers through the appreciation and love of your fellow man,” Schario explained.

Some may say, “Bah, Humbug!” However, many wish that the joy and generosity of the season would continue to shine throughout the year eliminating the need for annual stories about the search for a new home for “The Bicycle Man” or pleas for help for other charitable organizations such as The American Red Cross, which had its annual fundraiser, The Red & White Gala, recently. Dickens’ Marley said it best, “Business! Mankind was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business.”The play follows the ever-powerful story of Scrooge, a lonely miser, who, through the help of spirits and visions from his past, present and future, finds a second chance to become a loving, generous human being. “And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!” And so, as Tiny Tim observed, “God bless Us, Every One!”

A Christmas Carol runs Nov. 29 through Dec. 15, Friday – Sunday. Friday and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Don’t miss this traditional holiday production. Rediscover the magic of this timeless tale, when seven actors and a fiddler bring Charles Dickens’ classic story to life in a way you’ve never imagined and will never forget. Tickets are $15/$13 for students, seniors and military. For further information contact the box office at 678-7186 or email the Gilbert Theater at boxoffice@gilberttheater.com.

Photo: Gilbert Theater’s A Christmas Carol is a holiday favorite and a local tradition. The show runs Nov. 29 - Dec. 15.

The Falcon Children’s Home is a haven — and has been for more than 100 years. The home began with just two children in need who were cared for in a small cottage by the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. Since then, and with the support of the community, the home has grown to a 300-acre property that has multiple facilities to support these children in need. One way to support this great cause and the children it supports is through the Harvest Train.

The Falcon Children’s Home is a nonprofit organization that is licensed to take care of 90 children at a time. Needless to say it gets expensive. One way that the home is able to get all of the necessities that the children need is through generous donations from the community, and the Harvest Train is one of the ways that they are able to raise these donations. There are challenges preparing an event of this size, but the joy it gives the children, and the compassion the community exhibits make it all worthwhile, Jessica Dunning, the director of marketing and public relations for the home said. In past years, more than five times the population of Falcon have attended the event.

The Harvest Train is much more than just a fundraiser, however. It is a time to celebrate the generosity of the community and the work that the children have done to prepare this celebration. Dunning explains their expectations for the day, “This is the highlight of the year at Falcon Children’s Home. Guests should expect a festive atmosphere when they arrive. There will be a big crowd, an overwhelming amount of generosity and a wonderful kick-off to the Holiday season. There will also be excitement in the air in anticipation of a program that the kids have been preparing for 2-3 months that will touch guests both emotionally and spiritually.”

For the month of November, the home will be asking for Brownie mix, cake mix and icing, snacks, soft drinks, spaghetti sauce, sugar, canned vegetables, canned fruits, pop tarts, ketchup, cooking oil, juice, salad dressing, chicken noodle soup, pancake mix, grits, flour, rice, mustard and Kool-Aid. There are also more ways to support the Falcon Children’s Home and the children it cares for. “Monetary donations, commodities that will be used throughout the year, volunteering time, sponsoring a child for Christmas, gently used clothing, furniture, food, school supplies, tutoring at the on campus school, and prayers,” will all be gratefully received by the home Dunning and Superintendent Joseph Leggett said. On the flyers for the Harvest Train, available on the Falcon Children’s Home website, is a calendar with needed items for each month.

The Harvest Train will take place Tuesday, Nov. 26. There will be a parade that begins at 8:30 a.m. and the Harvest Train Program itself begins at 10:30 a.m. The parade will march through Falcon and the program is held in the J.A. Culbreth Memorial Auditorium located in Falcon. For more information visit http://www.falconchildrenshome.com/wordpress/ or call 980-1065.

Photo: The Harvest Train in Falcon, N.C., benefits Falcon Children’s Home. The community generously donates items like toiletries, nonperishables, clothes and more. The children at Falcon Children’s Home put on a program after the parade.

If anything, Fayetteville is a city that respects tradition; and the holiday season is packed with unique local traditions that make November and December a blur of fun-filled activities. One of the biggest traditions that makes Thanksgiving Day weekend extra special is A Dickens Holiday. Every year, more than 10,000 people come to downtown Fayetteville to experience the charm that comes with the Victorian era Christmas celebration. The event takes place the day after Thanksgiving and is hosted by the Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County and the Downtown Alliance.

“People look forward to A Dickens Holiday and all that it offers each year,” said Marketing Director at Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County Mary Kinney. “That is why we make sure that Father Christmas is available for photographs each year and why the Downtown Alliance offers carriage rides each year. There are so many elements that the community looks forward to and we don’t want to stray too far from what people have come to love about this tradition.”

Come as you are, or dig through the closet and come in character. So many people enjoy the event that many choose to come in costume. “It’s easy to find things in our closets to put together a Victorian era look that can be a lot of fun,” said Kinney.

Find out more about fun, easy ways to dress for the occasion at www.theartscouncil.com/A Dickens Holiday/How to Dress_2011_LS.pdf

“We want people to feel comfortable and enjoy themselves no matter what they are wearing,” said Kinney.

The shops, restaurants and galleries are open for business and there will be vendors as well. Items like top hats, scarves, Christmas wreaths and decorations are typically available for sale. Actors portraying characters from A Christmas Carol will roam the streets acting out portions of this traditional Christmas tale.

“This event is definitely for the community, but in many ways it is the community,” said Kinney. “Even the actors who portray characters from A Christmas Carol on the street are members of the community. In fact, the actor who plays Scrooge has been doing this for several years.”

A Dickens Holiday starts at 1 p.m. The streets are filled with actors dressed in Victorian era garb.There are carolers, characters from A Christmas Carol, vendors, carriage rides and more. Sip hot cider and stroll the streets of downtown Fayetteville enjoying the shops, restaurants and galleries.

Don’t miss the gingerbread contest at SkyView on Hay, which is located at 121 Hay St. “We are excited to host local high school culinary students again this year,” said Kinney. “Although gingerbread is a traditional medium, the theme for this competition is structures from the original colonies, which should be interesting.”

The competition starts at 1 p.m. and the public is invited to stop by and vote for their favorite gingerbread structure.

Carson Phipps is the Coordinator in the Career and Technical Education Department at the Cumberland County Schools system and he gets to help the students plan and execute this sweet operation.

“We’ve got seven schools competing in the Gingerbread Competition. This year, one team is going to do a house that is different than the rest,” said Phipps. “They are actually doing an H&H designed home. We have never done this before, but H&H is a sponsor so one of their homes will be featured in the contest.”

The rest of the contestants will be making houses that look like the capitol buildings of the original 13 American colonies. “We thought this would work because the colonies were founded around the time that Charles Dickens was alive,” said Phipps. “By doing the colonial buildings we could tie in to the time period but make the competition uniquely American. We had about 3,000 people come through last year and they all seemed to enjoy it.”

The official judging takes place at 7 p.m., but the People’s Choice Award will not be announced until 8:30 p.m. The winners get $500 for their school.

The second floor of the Market House will feature a display sponsored by the Fayetteville Area Transportation & Local History Museum called This Victorian Life. The exhibit takes a look at how Victorians celebrated Christmas and includes items like coins, ceramic plates and other commemorative pieces from Queen Victoria’s reign.

The Arts Council exhibit, Winter: An Invitational, features the works of professional photographers and shares their unique perspectives on winter. “This show is not just about classic winter photographs,” said Kinney. “It includes pictures that offer fresh and different interpretations of what winter means to the different artists — like a man bundled up for the cold, but he is sitting in a beach chair looking at the ocean.”

While the festivities are sure to put even the staunchest of scrooges into the Christmas spirit, the real magic happens after the sun goes down. Late in the afternoon, stop by local merchants or the Arts Council and pick up a candle for the procession from the Arts Council to the Market House. People start to gather at the Arts Council around 5 or 5:30 p.m. For many, this is the highlight of the day, as the crowd moves slowly to the market house. Once at the Market House, the crowd is treated to a fireworks display. “Some people think that this is the end of A Dickens Holiday, but far from it,” said Kinney. “The carriage rides run well into the evening, Father Christmas is still available for pictures until 8:30 p.m. and most of the local businesses remain open until 9 p.m.”

Find out more about A Dickens Holidayat www.theartscouncil.com.

Photos: Father Christmas visits A Dickens Holiday each year and is available for pictures.Story and cover photo credit: Wick Smith

For 15 years, Fayetteville residents have made attendance to the Heart of Christmas Show an annual tradition. The show, which combines music, comedy, dance and more, kicks off the holiday season for many, is scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 30 through Dec. 1 at the Crown Theatre.

Laura Stevens, a talented musician and songwriter, is the force behind the show. Stevens has mentored many talented performers in our community with her showcase vocal group Voices of the Heart. The group, which is made up of young ladies, is the backbone of the show, but Stevens brings together a dynamic cast of 26 singers and dancers to make it a spectacular show that can compete with similar productions seen at theaters in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Branson, Mo.

Since its inception, Voices of the Heart has raised more than $500,000 for the Friends of Children, The Child Advocacy Center and many other children’s agencies and the public schools.

“If you would have asked me 15 years ago if I would have still been doing this, I would have said no,” said Stevens. “But this is what I am supposed to be doing, so everything has fallen into place.”

Reflecting back on the past 15 years, Stevens is proud that her sponsors have been with her since the show’s inception. The sponsors are part of the “family.” They come year after year.

“These sponsors support the show because they love it, they believe in it. They see the good works we do. They have seen the money accumulate to over a half million dollars to bene踀t our community. They just love it. They have a sense of ownership of it,” said Stevens.

She added that many in the community have watched the children grow up in the cast and see them as part of their extended family. The cast returns year after year until they age out, and the audience has enjoyed watching the cast members develop and their talents grow.

“For me, this is truly a community project. This project makes Fayetteville feel connected and small townish – even though we are not a small town,” she said.

She said the constancy of the sponsors and the agencies that benefit from the performance, make the show unique.

“When you dig into this community and pour out yourself, you find connections and how wonderful the people in this city are,” said Stevens. “It is important to dig in and give and make a difference. That is truly something all of the cast members are learning. They know the cost of time, energy and focus. But they see what the act of sel谀essness does for other people.”

While the show is glitzy, the reason behind the show is its ability to help the agencies that deal with children who are sick or abused.

“When we started 15 years ago, people gave us about three or four years,” she said. “But we have continued to thrive and grow, and I believe that it is because God is at the center of it and because of the tremendous support of the community, the cast and their families. I am so grateful for that.”

Stevens said the second half of the show has become a tradition and cannot be changed very much. She explained that the community does not want to see that portion of the show changed because the audience is inspired by it, which includes the nativity scene, the huge choir number and the dances. She said that for many, it puts them in the spirit of Christmas.

The first half of the show is light hearted with fun songs and dances, while the second half is more serious and speaks to the heart of the season.

“I have tried to bring the most Christmasy song, look, sound, and visual that you can ever imagine,” said Stevens. “You can look at the stage and just know that this is Christmas. There are some new songs this year that are just phenomenal.”

She added that the show is far-reaching and that its impact cannot be found only in the money that is given, but in the impact that it has on the lives of those who see it.

Ticket sales are brisk, and Stevens encourages those interested in attending to purchase tickets early.

“When it gets to the week of the show, it sometimes comes down that a family of four cannot sit together,” said Stevens.

Tickets for the show are $12 in advance and $18 at the door. Group tickets are available for groups of 15 or more, and are $10. The show starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday with a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. For more information, visit the website at www.heartofchristmasshow.com.

Photos: The group, which is made up of young ladies, are the backbone of the show, but Stevens brings together a dynamic cast of 26 singers and dancers to make it a spectacular show that can compete with similar shows seen at theaters in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Branson, Mo.

Crisis in Confidence: Chavonne Sends Out S.O.S.

After speaking to many Fayetteville residents about the results of Fayetteville’s 2013 mayoral election, the consensus is that our community has dodged a political bullet by electing Nat Roberston over Val Applewhite, the incumbent city councilwoman.

A bullet, I might add, that may have proved fatal to a community desperately looking to build consensus for a happy, safe community where economic growth, peace and harmony all come together to accentuate our community’s unique quality of life.

Overwhelmingly, the residents (voters) not familiar with Ms. Applewhite’s past performance on the city council were highly impressed with her poise, intelligence and eloquent speeches. After all, on the surface, what was there not to like?

However, those who know her, worked with her and come in regular contact with her in the course of conducting the city’s business are familiar with a less-than-charming, eloquent and tolerant Applewhite. In this incarnation, she is not so congenial and eager to please or reason with, and surely not a team builder or peacemaker.

I truly believe, had it not been for Mayor Tony Chavonne’s last minute endorsement of Nat Robertson, the end result may have been quite different. Chavonne’s final-hour involvement and decision to not sit on the sidelines added a much-needed sense of urgency to the message. Chavonne’s endorsement of Nat Robertson was more of an S.O.S. Yes, it was an S.O.S. — an emergency message to all Fayetteville residents that regardless of race, religion or political affiliation, if you live in the city of Fayetteville, your future and the amazing progress we have made over the last several decades would be severely in jeopardy. The lesson here is don’t believe everything you hear or are being told. Pay attention to what you actually see and experience. Trust your eyes. Your eyes do not lie. Let what you see and experience help you in determining the truth.

In America, not just in Fayetteville, we are experiencing a crisis in confidence at all levels of government. For America to recover and become responsible citizens, we must at some point, take responsibility for our actions, ask the right questions and demand honest answers. This means holding other people responsible for their actions and resisting being led down a path of ignorance, corruption and dishonesty like helpless sheep to the slaughter. Corrupt people are lying and deceiving us and we are not objecting, resisting or holding them responsible for their actions. Making this situation even more pathetic is that there are no consequences for such actions. Here are just a few examples:

The failed Solyndra Solar Plant, which wasted $50 million. There were no answers and no consequences.

Benghazi, with four Americans killed. There were no answers and no consequences.

The first Benghazi distraction showcased Susan Rice and the video pretense. Again, there were no answers and no consequences, except Rice got promoted.

The second Benghazi distraction, with Hillary Clinton front and center, taking no responsibility. You guessed it, no consequences and no answers.

Fast & Furious, the mastermind of Eric Holder, resulted in one American killed. There are still unaccounted for guns.

Let’s not forget the IRS scandal, where our own government targeted our neighbors, maybe even one of us.

And who could forget the NSA scandal that rocked not only America, but also our allies?

Obamacare. Do I really have to say anything else?

And finally, President Obama and his promise to Americans: “If you like your healthcare, you’ll be able to keep it. Period.”

These black-eyes to our nation have nothing to do with political affiliations.

They have to do with integrity and truth. This affects all Americans and all Americans cannot escape the responsibility. With this dubious promise, Obama joins former Republican president Richard Nixon, who in 1973 declared to the American people “... I am not a crook.” He was. And, President Bill Clinton who in 1998 declared, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” He did. And, now the real blatant untruth that Obama perpetrated on Americans by telling them they can keep their doctors and their healthcare plans. It has become painfully obvious to them that they have been deceived by their Commander-in-Chief as they experience millions of cancellations of their existing insurance policies, higher insurance premiums and deductibles. An entire program based on a calculated deception. A lie! How outrageous! Yet, I don’t see the outrage.

In closing, let me say I hope we can come to our senses in the very near future to remedy this crisis situation before it becomes the new normal.

Our involvement by holding people accountable is the only remedy. We dodged the political bullet here locally, now we need to put your sights on the nation. In Fayetteville, we will continue moving forward with our new energetic mayor and his new city council. Nationally, we need to open our eyes, trust what we see and start taking action by holding people accountable. If not, there will be a consequence not unlike the ones we are experiencing now. Only worse. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Put John Poulos, Pete Skenteris and Tony Kotsopoulos in a room and start asking about the World’s Largest Spaghetti Dinner and Greek Pastry Sale that takes place at the Hellenic Center every year and it becomes apparent pretty quickly that the spaghetti dinner is about a lot more than pasta and pastries.

Never mind that the event serves up between 12,000 and 13,000 meals each year, and that’s just in 10 short hours. Never mind that it takes 4,000 lbs. of dry pasta, 900 gallons of meat sauce, 400 lbs. of grated cheese and takes three days and more than 40 volunteers, including 15 or so cooks to pull it off. For these three men the spaghetti dinner is about gratitude and tradition.

Sure, 55 years ago it was a creative way to raise money that the church returned to the community by supporting local nonprofits. That part has not changed. And this year, on Nov. 20, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., the church will serve up mounds of delicious pasta again — and donate proceeds to local nonprofits. But it has become something more.

“In some ways, it seems like it is not about the spaghetti anymore,” said Poulos. “We are thankful that people come year after year to support us and buy our spaghetti. We are very fortunate.”

When the traffic at the Hellenic Center is backed up and volunteers are working frantically to get the orders out, it can be a lot to take in. The community support is impressive and something that is not taken for granted. Seeing the cars lined up all the way down the street and the smiling faces as people drive away with spaghetti and Greek pastries makes the days of prepping, baking and boiling worth it. Poulos, Skenteris and Kotsopoulos noted how truly humbling it is to get such amazing support.

“We get calls at the church all year asking when is the next spaghetti dinner,” said Skenteris. “It is amazing to us that people come from all over Cumberland County to get our spaghetti. We are honored.”

Kotsopoulos is the head chef each year and has been a part of the event since 1989, although he didn’t take over until 1993. He’s been doing this long enough that it is pretty much down to a science.

“We make sure to always use the same sources for our ingredients every single year,” said Kotsopoulos. “There is no room for error or experimentation here. Our reputation is on the line and we can’t afford to take chances.”

In fact, he has turned down generous offers from people who wanted to donate ingredients so that he could protect the integrity of the recipe.

While the community enjoys the food each year, the volunteers gain something, too. The congregation enjoys its ability to give back to the community (and the congregation of Sts. Constantine & Helen give generously), but more importantly, they find working hard for a common goal strengthens the congregation.

“People who work together stay together,” said Poulos.

“It is good for us to work hard at this every year,” said Skenteris. “We need to teach the next generation so this tradition will continue.”

Although he has no plans to hand over his spoon any time soon, Kotsopoulos is already on the look out for a protégé. “I’m looking for someone to train in the next 10 years, someone who will pick up this tradition and carry it on.”

Tickets are available at the door for $6.50. The Hellenic Center is located at 614 Oakridge Ave. Call 484-8925 for more information.

Photo: Tony Kotsopoulos and 40 or so volunteers spend several days cooking more than 12,000 spaghetti meals each year.

Each Christmas season, Samaritan’s Purse chooses to celebrate by reinforcing the adage that it is better to give than to receive. The Samaritan’s Purse is a Christian organization that is dedicated to providing relief to impoverished and struggling people internationally. The very name of the organization, which is based off a parable in the Bible that expresses Jesus’ teaching to help unconditionally, expresses the sentiment on which this organization was founded. One of the many ways that Samaritan’s Purse practices this principle of giving is through Operation Christmas Child.

Operation Christmas Child unites communities across the nation through stuffing shoeboxes, or shoebox-like containers, with gifts to send as Christmas presents to impoverished children all across the world. These small gifts are far more than just simple toys when they are given to children. They are a symbol of the love and compassion that the parable of the Good Samaritan teaches. While these gifts may seem small when they are packed, the impact and the joy that they create in communities, and in a single child’s life are immeasurable.

Operation Christmas Child first began in 1993. Since then, more than 100 million children in more than 130 countries have received these shoebox gifts. This year, the aim is to increase this number even more. In the Fayetteville region alone, the goal is to collect 30,000 shoeboxes in support of the project. Samaritan’s Purse hopes to collect 9.8 million boxes from across the nation. Often church groups or volunteer groups create the shoeboxes, but any and all donations are welcome. The official drop off dates for this year are Nov. 18 - 25. Drop off sites are located all over Fayetteville including Faymont Baptist Church, Cedar Falls Baptist, Hope Mills Presbyterian, Stedman Baptist, First Baptist Church of Spring Lake and Fairview Baptist. There are also collection points in Raeford, Southern Pines, Lumberton and Clinton.

Donations should be made in a shoebox or similarly sized box with a removable lid. The boxes can be wrapped, but the lids should be wrapped separately. Each box should also be sent with $7 in cash or check to cover the expenses of shipping. There are also suggestions on how to pack a box, and what to leave out on the Samaritan’s Purse website.

Generally toys, school supplies, hygiene items, accessories (such as T-shirts, hair clips, or sunglasses), and a personal note are great things to pack. Food, liquids, medications, war-related items and breakable items should be left out of the boxes.

If the drop off dates are missed, don’t worry. Samaritans Purse collects donations year round. Boxes can be sent to the headquarters in Boone, N.C. This address can be found at www.samaritanspurse.org where monetary donations can also be made year round. Now, boxes can be tracked online at this same website, so people can see where their gifts finally arrive.

Operation Christmas Child is not all that the Samaritan’s Purse does however. They have many fundraisers and projects that benefit global victims of war, natural disaster, famine and poverty. Volunteers and donations from all over the nation make the good work that this organization does possible. For more information about Operation Christmas Child, drop off sites, volunteer opportunities or any of the work that Samaritan’s Purse does, visit www.samaritanspurse.org.

Photo: Each year, operation Christmas Child delivers shoeboxes to millions of children around the world.

Election Aftermath

This past week’s local election should be a lesson to some unsuccessful candidates. Keep an eye on your rear view mirror if you have political history or baggage that could prove unhelpful. Specifically, in the ridiculous candidacy of former town commissioner Tonzie Collins, Mr. Collins found out that the voters of Hope Mills do not forgive and they do not forget. To his embarrassment he trailed the field. Maybe it was because Hope Mills’ taxpayers did not want to continue to deal with Tonzie’s questionable behavior and the possible liability it could present to the town if it reoccurred. Or maybe Tonzie’s poor showing was because Hope Mills voters did not want their town to be the joke of Cumberland County. So Tonzie should look to new jurisdictions if he wants to be an electable politician. Somewhere in Alaska would be a likely place to start. But, in fairness there was something positive about ol’ Tonzie. For those who read the newspaper for amusement and enjoyment, his antics did provide that. On the other hand, late news has it that Matt Hoerner who garnered more votes than hard campaigning Tonzie is 12,000 or so miles away and thus may find attending Board of Commissioners meetings difficult. So Tonzie could, by default, be back.

Then came loser Curtis Worthy. A former city of Fayetteville council person whose most memorable accomplishment was to vote for the annexation of 27 square miles of Cumberland County to the city. This was against the will of 40,000 residents of that area and they have not forgiven and will never forget. Worthy had opportunities during his campaign to throw himself on the mercy of the annexed voters’ court. But he chose not to, apparently convinced in his own mind that he had done a great thing supporting the disastrous forced annexation. What is somewhat inexplicable is that Worthy is an accountant and a tax expert. As such, he should have at once, when the annexation was proposed, insisted that the numbers be analyzed for accuracy. He should have seen that the additional ad valorem tax revenues from the annexed areas would not offset the additional costs and liabilities that the annexed areas presented to the city. A thoughtful elected official should have listened closely to the warnings given by PWC regarding the impossibility of providing water and sewer to the new city areas in a timely manner — but he did not. These shortcomings in his past live after him and he now should understand that his political ambitions will never be realized again in the city of Fayetteville.

Val Applewhite lost an election that, by all reasonable reckoning she should have won handily. Her history as a city council person was satisfactory but her behavior during city council sessions did not serve her well. Val has a style and temperament not unlike New Jersey’s Governor, Chris Christie. They both can be abrasive and contentious at times. But the problem for Val was and is that Fayetteville is not New Jersey and what wears well in New Jersey is seen as generally offensive here. Her demonstrated hubris before and during the campaign played into the hands of her opponent. She failed to capture solid support of African-American voters, some of whom found her council behavior disrespectful and unseemly for a sitting council member. But her most damaging error as she planned her run for mayor was to make a public opponent of the incumbent mayor, Tony Chavonne, who made his preference for his successor known in the final stages of the campaign with a well distributed letter. That endorsement of Nat Robertson tipped the scales away from Val. Most likely, she will be back on the local political scene — perhaps the wiser from her unsuccessful experience as a candidate for mayor of the city of Fayetteville.

Photo: David G. Wilson