A par-fect event is on tap for the Lightning Friends and Family Memorial Organization on Aug. 2. A golf tournament is planned at the Baywood Golf Club. The organization was formed to construct a memorial to honor fallen soldiers and veterans of the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and 525th Military Intelligence Brigade. The money raised from this event will fund the memorial the organization plans to build at the 525th BFSB Headquarters at Fort Bragg.

Malinda Cox, whose husband is a soldier, first thought of this idea when her husband was deployed and she realized there was no memorial for the fallen soldiers of the unit. The founding group of the Lightning Friends and Family Memorial Organization put their heads together and eventually came up with the memorial idea. Figuring out what the fundraiser should be wasn’t hard, either. A lot of members on the committee play golf and know it can be a great fundraiser. Emily Damboise, fundraising chair and a good friend of Cox, grew up in a family that plays golf and reiterates the positive affect golf tournaments can have.

“It’s a lot of fun seeing friends and family coming together. It’s so great to honor our fallen and to see teamwork and support in such a big task,” she said. Participants can also join in on the silent auction, 50/50 raffle and a raffle to win two free golf entries to the tournament. Each will be going on all day at the tournament. There are fantastic items available for the silent auction including a one-week stay at the Massanutten Resort in Virginia, spa certificates and free rounds of golf offered by Hooters. The memorial organization is also accepting donations and sponsorships.

“No item is too small,” Damboise said.

Winners of the silent auction and 50/50 raffle will be announced at the awards ceremony after the golf tournament. Winners of the free golf entry were announced at the Lt. Col. Toy Tisedale Maintenance Facility on July 15.

By next year, the memorial should be ready to go. Members have been getting the word out and after it is completed, the next step is sustaining it and funding scholarships for 525th members and their families.

Registration starts at 7 a.m. and the tournament is at 9 a.m. Lunch is provided and a cash bar is available before, during and after the game. Practice space is also available.

“We are still currently seeking volunteers and encourage people to come out and talk to military personnel about their lifestyle. It’s about coming in for fellowship and doing something good for service members,” Damboise said.

You can register for the tournament online at lightningmemorial.com. Tournament fees include: $45 for retired veterans, $50 for civilians and E7-above, $35 for E6 and below. There is a late entry fee (after July 19) of $65. Visit lightningmemorial.com for more information about sponsorship opportunities and the tournament; also check out the group’s Facebook page.

Tournament entry fees, contributions and sponsorships are tax deductible, and proceeds, net of expenses, go directly to the Lightning Friends and Family Memorial.

Proper golf course attire is required including collared shirts and Bermuda length shorts, no jeans or T-shirts.

Photo: The 525 Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and 525th Military Intelligence Brigade are raising funds for a monument to honor their fallen soldiers.

Send a Message: City Hall Is Not for Sale!

Finally, the filing period is over and the 2013 municipal campaigns are in full swing. Thanks to all that have committed to serve our great community. Candidates — On your Mark, Get Set, Fundraise! All of the talking heads and Op-Eds have declared, if you don’t raise the most money, you won’t win.

It’s one of the oldest political tricks of persuasion and “psychological operations” in the book. The premise is that if you hear a message time and time again, you start to believe it. Well, I’m not buying it and I don’t believe you will either. Recent campaigns have proven that hard-working, well-organized candidates are more than capable of winning elections.

Unless a candidate has the means to finance their own campaign, some level of fundraising comes with the territory. Instead of spending time developing their message and speaking with citizens, many candidates will spend a great deal of effort scrutinizing campaign donor lists and dialing for dollars. Asking for contributions from friends and family, school mates from kindergarten through college, people they’ve served with in the military, fraternities and sororities and checking for coins in the couch is the reality for most candidates willing to serve our community via public office.

Fundraising often discourages unconnected but well-intentioned and exceptionally well qualifed ordinary citizens from seeking public offce. It is a big reason why many good people choose not to seek reelection. This environment undermines the integrity of the governmental process and the competitiveness of campaigns. The amount of money raised by many candidates and committees can erode public confidence in local offcials by creating the appearance they may be unduly influenced by contributors.

In Union City California, self-described as a small diverse community of 69,000 people, individual contributions cannot exceed $600. The Union City’s Municipal Code Chapter 2.06.010 Campaign Contributions reads:

“It is the purpose and intent of the City Council in enacting this chapter to minimize the potential for undue infuence by individual or groups on the Mayor and Council members by placing realistic limits on the amount of money that individuals or groups may contribute to political campaigns in municipal elections while providing for a level of discussion of public issues adequate for a meaningful election campaign; to insure and promote integrity, honesty and fairness in decisions of public policy; to provide for a campaign contribution and expenditure reporting process that will inform the public; to enhance the opportunity for challengers to be competitive with incumbents.”

Before you dismiss Union City as an exception, there are many cities (including Los Angeles) that have and are developing similar policy. This movement isn’t primarily about campaign finance laws, it is about allowing our political process to be accessible to everyone, no matter your social circles or level of affluence. Municipalities are increasingly interested in ensuring the voices and choices of everyday citizens are not silenced by well-financed political machines.

Citizens — if there is a candidate that you support, make a financial contribution. Recognizing we are a community with 9 percent unemployment with many that are impacted by sequestration, you may not be able to write a check for a few thousand dollars. However, $25, $50 or $100 may be a possibility and would be appreciated by your candidate. However, the real equalizer to this fundraising conundrum is free — it is the power of the vote.

Many are hedging their bets that since this isn’t a presidential election, certain blocks of voters will not come out to the polls. I’m betting they are wrong. I believe our citizens can and will send a very powerful message: Fayetteville’s City Hall is not for sale.

Candidates, let’s have great dialog about jobs, safety, families and supporting our military — real vision and real solutions for our city. Invest in a good pair of sneakers, drink lots of water and I’ll see you on the campaign trail. Thank you for your willingness to serve and good luck!

Our Future, Our Community, Our Fayetteville.

Photo: Val Applewhite with some of her supporters.

The Name Game

My chum since childhood, exercise buddy, travel companion and proofreader extraordinaire long since threatened to withhold her excellent editing services if I wrote yet another Up & Coming Weekly column on either of these topics:

• Tattoos, why people get them and whether they regret their choice to get inked.

• The names parents hang on their beloved babies.

Because I value her friendship, not to mention her focused editing skills, I have pretty much sworn off these topics although I remain fascinated by them myself. So imagine my surprise when, as we sat on our exercise mats at 6:30 one recent morning, she suggested a column on names.

Hurricane names, that is.As I write this, Tropical Storm Chantal has just fizzled out in the Caribbean, thank goodness, even though early projections had the storm posing a threat to the eastern seaboard of the United States.

Chantal?

I do not know anyone named Chantal, so I checked it out with the U.S. Social Security Administration, which maintains a handy and addictive website detailing the most popular baby names for boys and girls born in the United States since the late 19th century. Here you can find that the most popular names in 1900 were John and Mary. In the year I was born, Margaret came in at an impressive 14th, but James and Linda took the top spots. Last year, Jacob and Sophia were the most popular names with parents of American newborns, although we in North Carolina prefer William and Emma. Who knew?

But back to Chantal.

Chantal had a bit of a run several decades ago. The Social Security Administration keeps track of the top 1,000 most popular names, and Chantal first appeared in 1968 at 955. It shows up most years in the 1980s and ‘90s, reaching a robust 581 in both 1987 and 1989 before declining to 922 in 1999 and has not been heard from since.

So what other names has the National Weather Service dreamed up for the 2013 hurricane season in the Atlantic?

First a word about process.

The National Weather Service uses names because they are much more practical than actual latitude-longitude designations, and names make it easier to distinguish among several storms which might be churning around at the same time during a busy hurricane season. The names themselves are selected by regional committees of the World Meteorological Organization, which has a six-year list of storm names that will be repeated indefinitely. The only exceptions are names of dreadful storms that no one wants to hear again — think Hazel, Andrew, Fran, Floyd and Katrina and you get the picture. Originally, like ship names, hurricane names were all feminine, but in 1979 men’s names were also adopted, alternating with the women.

So who is on tap for 2013?

Andrea, Barry, and Chantal are already history, and we have Dorian, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastian, Tanya, Van and Wendy to look forward to.

And how do these names stack up with what parents are blessing their precious jewels with in 2013?

Parents and hurricane namers apparently have very different tastes. None of the 2013 hurricane names are anywhere near the parental top ten, or even the parental top 100. Some never even made the top 1,000 list. Since 2000, only four of this year’s hurricane names — Erin, Gabrielle, Melissa and Sebastian — have made the parents’ top 100. Several others, including Dorian, Humberto and Ingrid, made it into the parents’ top 1,000, while Fernand and Olga flamed out completely.

We have lots of time and plenty of waves to ride before hurricane season officially ends on Nov. 30. We all hope, of course, for fewer, smaller and weaker storms, even though the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting an active season in the Atlantic with as many as 20 named storms, three to six of which could be major hurricanes — categories 3, 4 or 5.

Keep your fingers crossed that the NOAA is way off on that prediction!

No matter what their size, what happens if there are so many storms we run out of names for 2013?

The National Hurricane Center has thought of that, too, and has a plan. If Wendy comes and goes and we still need more names, we will look to the Greek alphabet and proceed with Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and so on.

Not to worry. I have no plans to write about tats next week and what they will look like when the wearer is 80 — even though I am always tempted …

Photo: Hurricane names are selected by regional committees of the World Meteorological Organization.

A recent news story showed an American entertainer defaming the American flag by using it as a door mat in his expression of contempt for the principles represented by the Stars and Stripes. Most Americans were offended by this display; some enjoyed it; and many just didn’t care.

In America, we have a right to freedom of speech and expression. In Colonial times Patrick Henry (quoting Voltaire) said “I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”

Our American Flag means many things to many people. Contrast the defamation of the flag with the historical painting by Dale Gallon entitled “Dress to the Colors.” San Juan Hill, Cuba, July 1, 1898 — the Spanish American War. Color Sgt. George Berry, Troop G, 10th U.S. Cavalry is the central figure in the painting. As a member of the famed Buffalo Soldiers, Berry saw extensive combat in the war. He is pictured here carrying the American Flag of the 10th Cavalry in the assault. As he passed by the fallen flag bearer of the 3rd U.S. Cavalry, he grabbed the yellow regimental flag of the 3rd and took both flags to the very top of Kettle Hill, while braving heavy fire. Berry saw this as his duty — he did it in combat, at the risk if his life. The American Flag meant something to Color Sgt. George Berry.

Our American Flag means a great deal for many Fayetteville citizens. On June 15, a Flag Retirement Ceremony took place on the historic Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Parade Field. “When the United States flag (Old Glory) becomes worn, torn, faded or badly soiled, it is time to replace it with a new flag, and the old flag should be “retired” with all the dignity and respect befitting our nation’s flag. The traditional method of retirement is to incinerate the flag.” (Boy Scout Handbook).

Photo: Dale Gallon’s painting “Dress to the Colors”.

On your mark, get set, race! Run for the Red, held by the Highland’s Chapter of the American Red Cross, is coming to Fayetteville. There are three options for the community: a 10K, 5K or a 1-mile family fun walk. The starting point is Ray Avenue near Festival Park and the finish line is inside the park, too.

Cash prizes and other awards will be given to winners and hands-only CPR instruction is being offered as well. There are usually bands performing but Lu Esposito, spokesperson for the regional communications office for the Red Cross in the triangle region, explains why they switched it up. “This year, we wanted something that would support the mission more and teaching the CPR so other people can learn how to save lives felt more appropriate.”

The event began seven years ago to raise money for Red Cross disaster relief. Overall, events like these help support the Red Cross’s mission, and because part of the mission is to help military members and their families, Esposito feels picking Fayetteville is especially perfect because of the town’s military base. The Highlands Chapter has been about saving lives and also offering courses on how to teach others to save lives. The services include recruiting donors for blood drives, giving assistance to families in every way possible, such as providing food, water, shelter or clothing after local disasters. Other than CPR, first aid, water safety and babysitting courses are taught. All these tasks are what Esposito enjoys about being with the Red Cross. “It’s so rewarding helping people from disasters and being that link to supplying blood and CPR training,” she said. She confirms it’s also rewarding to see the hard work pay off. “These are hard events to plan but it is rewarding to help people who need it. The events always end up being fun and seeing how many people support the mission is really great and worth it in the end.”

Prices and times vary for each type of race. The 10k begins at 7 a.m. It costs $35 to register. Ages 18 and under pay $25. At 7:15 a.m., the 5k starts. The cost to register is $30. Ages 18 and under pay $20. The fun 1-mile walk for all ages costs $5 to register and family members are encouraged to bring strollers. Military discounts are available. The last day to register online is August 1. It is suggested you register online. On-site registration may be available but it depends whether or not the event is full already. Keep in mind registration fees are non-refundable.

Cash prizes are awarded for the top three male and female runners over all. The first-, second- and third-place winner in each age group will also receive prizes. Age groups are 18-24, 25-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 and up.

“I’m excited about this run being that it is in Fayetteville, which holds many service members. Red Cross loves and provides for the military and to see those service members come out and support us is very exciting. Service members and their families in Fayetteville know what we do with the military and it’s a beautiful thing to see both come together,” Esposito says.

T-shirts go to the first 750 participants who register by July 25. Extra T-shirts will be available for $8.00. Please, no pets, except service animals, are allowed. All of the race proceeds go directly to the Red Cross.

To find out more about the race and the Highlands chapter visit: redcross.org/nc/Fayetteville or call 910-867-8151. You can also email them at RunfortheRedHighlands@redcross.org.

 Helping Students Prepare for ACCUPLACER Testing

One of the most challenging aspects of college admissions is the dreaded Entrance Assessment. Fayetteville Technical Community College, like any other college, has admissions requirements that include an entrance assessment. Traditional and nontraditional students whose SAT or ACT scores do not meet certain criteria can take the ACCUPLACER© assessment to satisfy this requirement. However, as with any other test, the ACCUPLACER© creates anxiety for students. After all, many of them have been out of school for years. Adding to their anxiety is the belief that, with an assessment, there is no way to prepare. Either you know the information, or you do not.

This is untrue.

The brain, like any other muscle, needs exercise. A former athlete who has stopped working out is likely to incur an injury if he or she suddenly begins vigorous training. Similarly, students who attempt to jump right into the ACCUPLACER© will not succeed. Instead, they end up taking classes that they probably wouldn’t have needed if they had had a little refresher.

At Fayetteville Technical Community College, we are pleased to offer free ACCUPLACER© preparation assistance for new, prospective and current students. One of our free services is a diagnostic test that has been designed to focus on areas where students may need extra assistance. Staff and faculty members are available to discuss the results with students and to work on plans to boost the skills necessary for doing well on the ACCUPLACER©. The free resources include workshops, use of the computer labs for online preparation, and accessibility to faculty and staff who will meet with students for individual assistance on weak areas.

The goal is to prepare students for the ACCUPLACER©. Preparation can save time and money and students who do not prepare for the test often place into numerous precurriculum courses. These courses do not count toward graduation and can add an extra year to a student’s commitment to college. With the recent changes in Federal Financial Aid, students cannot afford to take unnecessary classes.

For those of you who have already taken the ACCUPLACER© and did not do as well as you had hoped, all is not lost. Please come in or call (910) 678-0140. We are happy to assess your scores and help you prepare to take the test again. We are located in The I-PASS Center in rooms 313 and 314 of Cumberland Hall, at FTCC’s Fayetteville campus. Our summer hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. You can also visit www.faytechcc.edu/student_services/IPASS.asp.

Humans have been creating and admiring art since the very beginning of civilization. Over time, techniques have been created and styles have evolved but appreciation has never diminished. Cape Fear Studios is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to bringing free art and art education to the community, and one way that they do this is through nationwide and local competitions. This year CFS will be present its fifth annual National 2D Competition.

This year the exhibit is sponsored by BB&T, and has many incredible and varied works of art. Ellen Olson Brooks, executive director, says, “People who visit this exhibit will find a huge range of painting styles, painting content, and painting approaches. The show includes oils, pastels, watercolors, colored pencil, mixed media, pen and ink, graphite drawings, portraits, landscapes, flowers, beach scenes, abstract work... a huge range of 2D work. It is an exciting show and it is eclectic. The exhibit is one of my favorite shows all year at Cape Fear Studios because it brings in such a huge variety of work, and it offers our community the chance to see a large, rich, national show that is juried by a well-known artist. That is a rare thing in the Fayetteville area.”

Cape Fear Studios are located in downtown Fayetteville, but its reach is extensive.

“We have works from artists who live in California, Texas, Maryland, Florida, South Carolina, Colorado, Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, New York and North Carolina. The competition is growing in reputation and in size,” Brooks said.

There are few competitions in the country, let alone in Fayetteville, that have as far of a reach. Consequently, as the competition grows in reputation and reach, it has also grown in size. This competition is the largest exhibit that the studio has hosted. After placing a call for art , the CFS received more than 70 entries. Forty-six of those were chosen as finalists and are currently displayed in the studio. In the first few years there were around 20 finalists.

This year the award money totals $1,700. $1,000 will be awarded to the Best of Show and $350 will be awarded to First Place and Judge’s Award. This year the juror, Mike Rooney, had quite the challenge in deciding who the top four winners would be from the record number of entries.

Rooney is a painter who has loved art his entire life. He is strongly influenced by The Cape Cod School of Art, and has a very open minded approach to painting. Brooks explains the judging process for the competition by saying,“The juror judges the first round of all the entries digitally... on the computer and selects the finalists. He then decides the winners in person, by looking at all the paintings personally. This year, Rooney came to Fayetteville, taught a plein air workshop for three days, and juried the winners on his last day. We usually try to have the juror teach a workshop just before we open the show.”

The 2-D Competition exhibit is open to the public until July 22. Admission is free. The exhibit is in Cape Fear Studios, which is located at 148 Maxwell St. For more information. visit the website http://capefearstudios.com/exhibits.html or call 433-2986. Questions can also be sent to the email artgallery@capefearstudious.com.

Photo: The Market Place, by Nancy Guiry of North Carolina is just one of many stun-ning pieces of art in the Cape Fear Studios National 2D Competition.

In a perfect world, children love school and learning. Parents have enough time, patience and money to give their kids the educational support they need and every teacher is a perfect match in teaching style and personality. In the real world, that is not always the case, and as students head into their teen years, overcoming education-related obstacles can be dif̀cult.

Enter the Teen Explosion Conference. On July 26, the Mind Over Matter Youth Development Institute, along with local businesses, colleges and community organizations in the area will sponsor the conference. The conference is designed with teens ages 13-18 in mind and provides critical skills that students need for a successful school year. While education is a topic to take seriously, Teen Explosion is about making the back-to-school transition both engaging and fun.

“There comes a point in the summer when teens are ready to go back to school — although they usually won’t admit it,” said event organizer Dr. Teresa Pinckney. “While this is a day of fun, the bigger piece is making the connection between school and a student’s future. It is about how to excite students about their future and embrace that. It’s about helping students understand that how you do academically will impact your ability to go to a good college, get a better job, have the skill required to be a successful entrepreneur. School is important but after graduation they need to know what possibilities they have for going to college, becoming an entrepreneur or getting job.”

There will be interactive workshops, discussions and exhibits with great information that will help prepare teens for workforce and college readiness skills and even business men and women who will share information with the attendees. The day is ̀lled with activities that are designed to motivate, educate and inspire students. City Councilwoman Val Applewhite will be in attendance and a representative from the library will offer a workshop on job skills. Pinckney is especially excited about the entrepreneurs who support this effort.

“One of the biggest highlights is that we will have student entrepreneurs there,” said Pinckney. “We have six college entrepreneurs, and they will provide insight about being a college student and being an entrepreneur. In addition there are several other small business owners scheduled to attend. It is important for teens to know that this is another option they have.”

Local vendors will also be on hand with information about opportunities available for teens in the community.

Three years ago Pinckney held Fayetteville’s ̀rst Teen Explosion to meet several needs in the community. It doesn’t take much Googling to ̀nd facts and ̀gures about the large amounts of money spent on education, the correlation between high school dropouts and juvenile arrest records or the challenges parents and teachers face when it comes to educating America’s youth. Teen Explosion is built on the premise that education is a great equalizer, a way out of poverty and a tool no one should be without.

“Without a doubt, one of the things I enjoy most is planning the event and creating and developing an event that is creative and is going to have an impact on students and the day of the conference when we see students walking around trying to ̀gure out which session to go to,” said Pinckney.

“Getting feedback and them being excited about what is going on around them and saying ‘I am ready to go to school now.’ This event has an impact with regards to students being ready to go back to school being ready and feeling empowered when they get there.”

One of the wonderful things about Teen Explosion is that regardless of a student’s circumstances, they benèt from the tools and activities at the event. Attendees will learn how to prepare for a successful school year, meet local business men and women and learn about career opportunities and the link between school and workforce development, complete a career assessment and learn different ways to prepare for life after high school. That’s a tall order, but the format is both engaging and exciting.

By spending a day with the community’s youth, Pinckney and other event sponsors are looking to bridge the gap between local businesses and youth so that the teens understand that being successful in school is key to being successful in life. The conference aims to empower the community’s youth and empower them to be successful nut just in school, but in life, too. It is a great opportunity for students to meet local business owners and college admissions representative and take a proactive approach to planning their future. It’s also a chance for the business leaders of the community to connect with the teens and their families and get feedback about how they can help support youth in the community.

An advocate of healthy communication, Pinckney is the founder of T. Pinckney & Associates, a consulting ̀rm that helps organizations and families. Although Pinckney and Teen Explosion sponsors put a lot of time, money and energy into the event, her dedication to helping students be successful is a year-round commitment.

Find out more about Teen Explosion and register to attend at www.mymindovermatter.com.

As the workday comes to an end and the weekend begins, downtown Fayetteville erupts with life. The evening of July 26, the streets will overflow with music, art and opportunities for fun at this month’s 4th Friday. This is a family-friendly event, and there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

For the art lovers, there are several different must-see galleries in Fayetteville. Showcasing the close relationship that the community has with the environment, the Arts Council is hosting the exhibit Transformation: Artful Recycling. This exhibit is invitational and highlights creativity, awareness of the environment and the talent of our local artists. The Arts Council Gallery is located at 301 Hay St. and is open from 7 to 9 p.m.

Cape Fear Studios will also be open late to bring art to the community. Cape Fear Studios is full of art from local artists who create in many different mediums. From paintings to pottery, to glasswork the art is incredible and varied. All artists are juried in, is open from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be art for people to view and artists there for the community to meet. The gallery is located at 148 Maxwell St.

For the kids, Fascinate-U is the place to explore. This museum is completely dedicated to children, and on 4th Friday it will not only be open late, it will offer a free fun craft for kids to create. This month the craft is a candle ornament. Kids will use felt, popsicle sticks and glue to make an ornament for the Christmas tree, the mantle or a gift. Fascinate-U is open from 7 to 9 p.m. and is located at 116 Green St. Admission and the craft are totally free.

Besides being at the center of downtown and a historical building, the Market House also acts as a museum. There is a permanent exhibit in the museum that is titled A View From the Square: A History of Downtown Fayetteville. Additionally, each month there is a different exhibit that pertains to local history presented in the Market House. This month the exhibit is Fayetteville’s Early Fraternal History. The Market House is open from 6 to 10 p.m. The Market House is located in the Center of Downtown on Hay Street.

The Headquarters Library is also taking part in the excitement. Beginning at 7 p.m., the library is inviting all local teen performers to come and perform for the community. All talented teens are welcome. Anything from singing to dancing, to stand-up comedy is welcome, and all are welcome to watch. The only requirement for performers is that they do not use inappropriate language. The open mic night will take place in the Pate Room at the Headquarters Library located at 300 Maiden Lane. The performances will begin at 7 p.m. and last until 8:45 p.m.

Moving Fayetteville Forward Together

We are truly at a critical time for our city. Over the last 10 years, Fayetteville has made some tremendous strides forward but for us to truly transform into the city we all expect and dream about, we must do it as one with a common vision and leadership to keep us focused and working together.

Every person — no matter how old they are, what neighborhood they live in, where they work or the color of their skin — has a fundamental belief of what Fayetteville should be. We all share the basic expectations that our neighborhoods will be safe, that our government will be ftscally responsible, that we will have a vibrant business climate and that the city will provide basic services for its citizens. These are all common threads that bind us together; but over the last few years we have watched the fabric that is made up of these threads be torn, as discussions have turned divisive. We must now weave these threads back together and strengthen the fabric to have one Fayetteville, with one common purpose and goal for every citizen.

I want to be the next Mayor of Fayetteville because I know and believe Fayetteville can be even greater than it is today. I can help strengthen the fabric of this community. Fayetteville must become a cohesive collection of safe, vibrant neighborhoods and prosperous businesses. This is my vision.

The next several years will be challenging as we balance an ever changing economic climate with limited resources, with the need to grow and transform our city. We have several challenges that stand in the way of this transformation, but I am only going to mention two of these in this article.

We must address the rising crime rate. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in 2012nFayetteville had the fifth highest rate of property crimes in the U.S., and among North Carolina’s nine largest cities, our city ranked first for property crime rate and fourth for violent crime, which includes murder, forcible rape and robbery. I believe that public safety is the highest responsibility of government. As mayor, I will do all that I can to prevent crime and the quell the fear of crime because our citizens deserve better. Crime prevention and reduction has to be a priority and will be my number one priority when I become mayor.

Crime affects all aspects of our community whether you live in Bonnie Doone, Kings Grant, Haymount, Seabrook, Southgate or Arran Lakes. People want to feel safe — we want to be able to walk safely in our neighborhoods, we want to be able to live without the fear of our homes being vandalized.

Crime also affects our business owners as well as potential businesses that want to open in our city. Churches, schools, police, community-watch groups, businesses, individuals and parents all have a critical role to fulfill. No one group or person can make it happen. We must all work together to reestablish a level of respect and trust while recognizing that respect and trust need to flow both directions — from citizens to our police and from our police to our citizens. We are in this together. We will never reach our potential as a city unless we aggressively address the causes of this crime epidemic and take decisive action.

Here are my priorities:

1. Recognize and accept the fact that we can’t arrest our way out of crime — this fight has to be a community effort filled with structured youth programs, educational and job opportunities that will remain vitally important to our success.

2. Identify successful crime-prevention efforts in other cities that will work in our city as well as support the new efforts that Chief Harold Medlock has brought to our city.

3. Dedicate ourselves to fighting the problem and creating a safer city and community collectively and not in “silos”. This is “our” fight and we must work together.

4. Put the necessary resources (personnel, financial and technical) where they are needed most and challenge and encourage others in the community to do the same.

5. Hold ourselves responsible and accountable for results. We can no longer blame it on the data. Perception is the reality.

In a time where resources will continue to be strained and our city will be asked to do more for its citizens, we must lean in and work smarter to grow our tax base through business growth, not on the backs of our homeowners. We can no longer give this issue “lip service” and we must take direct steps to enhance the business climate so that the business owners (the risk takers) can invest and do business here. We are fortunate to have many of these entrepreneurs and risk takers in our city and we have to find the balance of policies and good business to allow them to invest in Fayetteville and create jobs while making a profit. This growth is what will allow us the resources to fight our crime issue, create better streets, continue our investment in transit, fix our stormwater issues and build better parks and programs for our youth.

It’s clear that we need bold and innovative approaches to our most pressing concerns: crime, business climate and growth, core city services, civic engagement, city image and more. We must remember that we are not just here to grow the city but to weave it together, to restore the fabric that differentiates a great city from a good city. I intend to focus my time and energy on these priorities and not on things that divide us.

Over the next several months, we will build a campaign that is focused on discussing the opportunities and the challenges that we face together as one city and community and a campaign that begins this weaving process. The conversation about how our community can grow as one needs to happen in every corner and every neighborhood of this city, and in collaboration with each and every one of you.

My promise to each of you is that no one will work harder to earn and keep the trust of the citizens of Fayetteville. I will work every day to transform this city to the city we all want it to be. One Fayetteville. Forward Together

 Prayers for Trayvon, Prayers for Justice System

“Lord during my darkest hour I lean on you. You are all that I have” — Trayvon Martin’s Mother

The high profile case of George Zimmerman came to and end with a jury of six women handing down a not-guilty verdict, after deliberating and deciding that Zimmerman acted in self defense when he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Sad.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Trayvon’s family and friends, whom I feel were made even bigger victims of this senseless tragedy by professional Civil Rights opportunists Rev. Jesse Jackson, and activist turned TV commentator, Al Sharpton. The two grabbed the spotlight in Sanford, Fla., with their campaign to intimidate the state and nation into a costly legal battle to grab national attention by forcing the conviction of Zimmerman.

The intimidation was well organized with large, vocal demonstrations staged in major cities like New York, Miami and in Martin’s hometown of Sanford. Not surprisingly, President Obama weighed in the issue saying that if he had a son “he’d look like Trayvon.”

In the end, Sharpton and Jackson got their publicity, Zimmerman got due process and American justice and Trayvon’s family got all of the heartbreak from being used as pawns by individuals attempting to redefine justice in America in terms of black and white. This trial should never have been about race, but with Sharpton and Jackson on the scene, there was no way for it not to be. Their involvement assured them (Sharpton and Jackson) revenue of hundreds of thousands of dollars off of the family’s sad, tragic and unfortunate loss of life of their young son. Yes, young son. Not young white boy, young black boy or young hispanic boy.

Equally as tragic is when local and national wannabe journalist and radio jocks also jump on the race bandwagon to exploit the emotions of black communities rather than using their talent and exalted positions to soothe, comfort and educate the community through basic logic and a clear understanding of the law and American justice. To witness and hear supposedly educated and responsible community and civic leaders, both white and black, claiming that the not-guilty verdict handed down to Zimmerman is a verification and confirmation that 21st century justice still eludes African-Americans is an irresponsible, tragic injustice and insult to all Americans.

We have only one criminal justice system in America and it operates the same for everyone. Just because someone is not happy with the outcome does not mean the system is broken, does not work or is racially unfair. Justice is justice.

In America, we often refer to it as blind and use the term justice for all. American justice cannot be defined by emotion, opinion or historic bias. If it was, then Casey Anthony and O. J. Simpson would have never been acquitted.

Again, my thoughts and prayers remain with Trayvon and his family. We can only hope this kind of needless exploitation of innocents will soon stop. If not, then you can expect crime to escalate by adding yet another category called “black exploitation” to the crime list; Not a good thing for any American.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Best of Fayetteville: Make Your Vote Count

Nothing speaks louder and with more authority than an unsolicited recommendation that your business or organization has been celebrated locally as the best-of-the-best.

That’s right, The Best of Fayetteville is back. For the 16th year in a row, Up & Coming Weekly will carry on this Fayetteville tradition — and you and the residents of Fayetteville and Cumberland County will again play an integral role in the process. In this edition, you will find the 2013 Best of Fayetteville ballot with more than 130 categories of businesses, services, organizations and quality-of-life venues that define our community.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to pass judgment on all 130 categories. Comment on as many as you like. It takes only 15 to qualify and validate the ballot. Your submission enters you into a drawing for a chance to win $100. In addition, to accommodate our thousands of online subscribers, the ballot is available electronically at www.upandcomingweekly.com.

Being recognized in the Best of Fayetteville has many tangible, valuable and long-lasting rewards for its winners. That’s what makes this annual reader’s poll so special.

First, the winners are profiled and showcased in a special Best of Fayetteville edition of Up & Coming Weekly. This special edition is then provided free of charge to residents and area newcomers all year long. It is also posted online for the entire year with each winner hyperlinked directly back to its own website. Winners also receive a 2013 Best of Fayetteville window decal and a beautiful plaque presented at our famous (some would say infamous) Best of Fayetteville party. The party, planned for Sept. 17 at Fayetteville’s newest downtown restaurant and sports bar The TapHouse at Huske, gives us a chance to publicly recognize the businesses and people who make our community so great!

The Best of Fayetteville party will be hosted by Josh and Tonya Collins, Beasley Broadcasting, The Trophy House, Brainbox Inc., Utley & Knowles CPAs and the Fayetteville Regional Chamber of Commerce. Oh, and of course, the staff of Up & Coming Weekly.

Sound like fun? It all starts with your vote.

So, mark your calendars for our 16th Annual Best of Fayetteville celebration Sept. 17, at The TapHouse at Huske where music, fun, food, prizes and surprises come together to celebrate the best-of-the-best. Thank you, for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Legacy is a word that is often associated with world leaders and business tycoons — teenagers and young adults, not so much. Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh died 10 years ago at the age of 19, leaving a legacy that is still changing lives and helping people. A lot if it has to do with his passion for life and his desire to help people. The rest comes from the love his friends and family share for the young man and their determination to honor his memory and celebrate his life. On July 13, the Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Memorial Golf Tournament tees-off to celebrate the life of this amazing young man whose journey is a stellar example of a life well lived.

An exceptional athlete and scholar, Ryan graduated second in his class in high school and had been accepted to Princeton when he was diagnosed with cancer. He fought hard and even wrote a book about his experience. His family continues to celebrate his life and has supported several nonprofits in his honor. This year the RPK Memorial Golf Tournament benefits the Carpe Diem Foundation and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

“We play in July each year because it is a celebration of Ryan’s life … his birthday is July 26, 1984. The first year it was just family gathering on his birthday and we went out to play golf so we would not drive each other crazy. Chris and Sean (Ryan’s brothers) invited a few of their friends to come along and later commented that it would be a good thing to actually have a tournament and thus the seed was planted,” said Ryan’s dad, and event organizer, David Kishbaugh. “It is still the most fun part of the whole tournament when I see the boys (now 30-ish) picking on each other and everyone else … Each year, I have chosen two charities to receive money from the tournament. Until three years ago, it was always the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and one other (Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation, Autism Society of Cumberland County, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Father’s Foundation), but a few years ago I helped a friend form a non-profit foundation in order to provide college scholarships for student-athletes with chronic medical problems and support other organizations that promote education and research for diseases that affect student athletes. I became the director and the foundation changed its name to the Carpe Diem Foundation in 2012. Monies from the tournament, and other events we hope to establish, will help us create that scholarship and we plan to offer our first scholarships in 2014.”

Carpe Diem is a Latin term meaning sieze the day. It’s a statement about making the most of every moment and living life well. It’s how Ryan chose to live and how his friends and family remember him.

According to www.lls.org, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society website, in fiscal year 2011 LLS invested more than $76 million in blood cancer research. “When LLS was founded in 1949, a blood cancer diagnosis was almost always fatal. Thanks in part to innovative research funded by LLS, survival rates have doubled, tripled and even quadrupled for blood cancer patients,” the website notes.

For the past several years, more than 100 people have come out to celebrate Ryan’s life. In fact, last year was the biggest turn out in the tournament’s history with 120 players.

“This year I anticipate we will be close to that,” said Kishbaugh. “That being said, there is still room for teams to register.”

The tournament is a captain’s-choice format with prizes for a hole-in-one, longest drive and closest-to-the-pin as well as a putting contest. Each player will receive a coin minted especially for the 10th anniversary of the tournament in addition to golf balls, a water bottle coozie, a T-shirt, tees and other items. Breakfast, snacks and lunch will be catered by the Invisible Chef. Brewmaster Tito Simmons will share some of his craft beverages during lunch.

While the warm summer weather can get pretty brutal, spirits remain high during the event.

“Ryan touched a lot of people during his short life. Those that come to play typically knew him personally or knew of him through someone close to him,” said Kishbaugh. “They don’t mind sweating a few pounds and suffering through the heat because as one person said it ‘Ryan (and other kids with cancer) suffered every day and if we can’t give him six hours of our life and be a little uncomfortable, then we don’t deserve to be here.’ A little harsh but a sentiment that many of us share. We are here to make a difference.”

In making a difference, Kishbaugh is adding a new feature to this year’s tournament. “We are using the event as the launch for the winter season of Team in Training, which is the LLS endurance sport fundraising arm,” said Kishbaugh. “Last year I participated in the inaugural LLS Half-Marathon in San Antonio, Texas (called HeroThon). Although I am embarrassed to say that an injury kept me from running as fast as I wanted or hoped, I have decided to run again.”

At the registration area and during lunch, there will be alumni of previous Team in Training events available to share their stories and encourage others to sign up and join in the Kiawah Island Half (or Full) Marathon in December 2013. Abby Miller, campaign director for Team in Training, N.C. Chapter will be a special guest at this year’s event. She will share the mission of Team in Training and LLS. Kishbaugh hopes that others will join him in signing up for the race and pledging to make a difference.

Already looking forward to next year’s RPK Memorial Golf Tournament, Kishbaugh is planning to add a Friday-night birthday party before the golfi ng begins. “Ryan would have been 30 next year,” said Kishbaugh. “I loved Ryan very much. He is my hero.”

Tee-off is at 8:30 a.m at Cypress Lakes Golf Course. Find out more about the event and register at www.2013rpkmemorial.com or visit www.facebook.com/pages/RPK-Memorial/441475325867617.

Photo: David Kishbaugh, event organizer and Ryan Kishbaugh’s dad, speaking at last year’s event.

Every summer, as the daylight lasts longer, the nights start to come alive. One summer tradition that has flourished and grown in Fayetteville is the Fayetteville After 5concert series. Once a month in Festival Park, the Dogwood Festival organizes and hosts bands to perform for the community for free. This month on July 19, three ‘80s tribute bands will perform. In the Name of Love, a U2 tribute band, High Voltage is dedicated to AC/DC and Mostley Crue, a tribute to Motley Crue, are performing.

For nearly 14 years, Fayetteville After 5 has entertained the Fayetteville community; and in that time it has grown and evolved. Carrie King, the executive director of the Dogwood Festival, says, “We have moved the concerts to Friday and we have had a much larger crowd. We are working on our service so that we can better accommodate everyone. This year we have been overwhelmingly surprised by the attendance and we are planning on blowing out this July concert. Our first tribute band to the Eagles had a great response and we are confident we will get the same kind of attendance for July.”

Fayetteville After 5 is a unique opportunity for the community. It combines several organizations and offers citizens a night of music and fun. The Dogwood Festival hosts and organizes the concert as a fundraiser and as a summer tradition. King says that these concerts are great for fundraising for the Dogwood Festival and they are great for the community. As compared to the Dogwood Festival, the logistics are easier because the event is only one day. The other organization involved in the concert series is the sponsor R.A. Jeffreys. R.A. Jeffreys is a distributor for Anheuser-Busch and believes in being highly active in the community. The company’s motto is “Making Friends is Our Business.”

This concert offers more than just rocking ‘80s music. “There will be food vendors, sometimes activities like the corn-hole boards for kids, and a 50/50 raffl e. The earlier you come to the park, the better for the raffl e because Budweiser gives away the best stuff — like T-shirts — at 6 p.m.,” King says.

This is the perfect event to enjoy classic ‘80s music with the family in a beautiful and inviting environment.

Festival Park is located along Ray Avenue. The gates open at 5 p.m. The opening acts of the night typically start between 5:30 and 6 p.m. and the headline bands will begin playing between 7 and 7:30 p.m. No outside food or drink is allowed within the park, but there will be opportunities to purchase refreshments within the park. The concert will come to a close at 10:30 p.m. Bring a blanket or chairs to the event. For more information, visit the website www.faydogwoodfestival.com/fayetteville-after-5 or email questions to info@faydogwoodfestival.com.

The Fayetteville area is unique in its history and is overfl owing with creativity. For years the Poe House, built in 1897, has been the center of history and heritage in the community, but this summer it will be a center of creativity as well. The Museum of the Cape Fear will use the Poe House as the location for its 2nd Saturdays Arts Fest.

This festival brings together artists of many mediums and the community. This event is family friendly and there is a multitude of activities for adults and children alike to enjoy. Leisa Greathouse, the curator of education for the Museum of the Cape Fear says, “The variety of artists include basket makers, mesh wreaths, custom jewelry, children’s hair bows, hand-painted novelty items, pottery and paintings. In addition to all the artists whom families will encounter, the museum offers two very child-friendly activities: candle dipping and water coloring. Both activities are free and the children get to keep what they make. In other words, they will take home a beeswax candle and a watercolor painting of their own work.”

Big Ed’s Creek Sauce and Catering will be on hand offering BBQ sandwiches and Mike’s Tropical Gourmet Icees for a cool delicious desert. Entertainment will also be provided by local musicians such as Evan Young.

Another important role the festival plays in the community is supporting local artists. Greathouse explains that goal by saying “2nd Saturdays Arts Fest is about highlighting the artists and showing the viable role they play in the economy. This is important since many times artists are often discounted for their choice of livelihood. One visitor said to us, ‘How nice it was to fi nd affordable art.’ We think that says it all.”

Over the years the festival has seen incredible growth in participation. “We have seen an increase in the number and variety of artists who take advantage of the opportunity to show and sell their wares, take commissions, and it makes people aware of the caliber of artists that live and work in our community. 2nd Saturdays started as a way to help stimulate the economy and show that the creative industry plays a role in doing so. Visual artists in a historic/cultural setting make a great partnership that people can identify with and, I believe, fi nd unique.” Greathouse said.

This year, special programs will take place at 2 p.m. each festival day. For July, Michael Hardy — a Civil War author and historian — will lecture, with funding coming from the N.C. Humanities Council Speakers Bureau. In August, participants will have the opportunity to attend a workshop on geocaching. This workshop will promote geocaching on the local “Trail Trek,” which was created by the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The 2nd Saturdays Arts Fest is slated for July 13 and August 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but the majority of vendors only take cash. The Poe House, where the Arts Fest is located, is at 801 Arsenal Ave. For more information, contact the Museum of the Cape Fear at 486-1330 or visit www.museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov.

Photo: 2nd Saturdays features kid-friendly activites including watercolor painting.

Sweet Tea Shakespeare offers theatrical fun for audiences this summer with the classic tragic romance, Romeo and Juliet. Although the theater group is only in its second year of operation, it has garnered a healthy following that continues to grow. Sweet Tea Shakespeare is a collaborative effort between the Fayetteville State University Foundation, the FSU Fine Arts Series, the Gilbert Theater and the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

Sweet-tea refreshments coupled with the firefly-laden nights at the botanical garden bring an entertaining, whimsical performance like no other. Free watermelon, sweet tea and lemonade will be plentiful at play performances.

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has shaped the world of literature since it was first written in the 16th century. The story revolves around two star-crossed lovers who find themselves trapped between their feuding families. What solution do the two lovers come to in order to conquer life’s difficulties? Difficult decisions, naïve love and endangerment for the name of love run rampant throughout the story. Shakespeare’s style of writing also injects humor into the play in order to raise suspense.

“He wrote most of his plays for outdoor environments,” Jeremy Fiebig said, director of Romeo and Juliet and the brainstorm behind Sweet Tea Shakespeare. “It allows us to perform the play in its original setting.”

The botanical garden offers the perfect environment for these kinds of plays, allowing guests to “sit underneath the stars” and enjoy the performance for how it’s meant to be viewed.

Sweet Tea Shakespeare practices cross-gender casting, meaning gender characters will oftentimes be played by the opposite sex. Sweet Tea Shakespeare is also different by its means of theatrical expression.

“We started rehearsals in March and we rehearsed it for a couple of weeks without directors,” Fiebig said. “The cast put it together themselves then a couple of weeks later they presented it to the directors.”

Allowing the cast to formulate its own interpretation of the play allows more artistic freedom to the cast and gives them the opportunity to create scenes in their own way.

“The thing that draws me to Romeo and Juliet is the great language of the play,” Fiebig said. “There’s a lot of other beautiful language that resonates even today. After you get past the ‘Shakespeare’ barrier it really washes over you.”

Experiencing the English language as it was centuries ago creates an authentic experience that guarantees to entertain anyone who is a fan of English history.

The performances will run July 17-21 by the Cypress Pond at the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens. The July 20 performance is an indoor matinee. Tickets include admission to the garden and cost $10 for garden members, $12 for non-members, $7.50 for students, $5 for children between the ages of 6 and 12, free for children 5 and younger and $5 for FSU students. Tickets can be purchased on site or reserved by calling 672-1724.

Photo: Romeo and Juliet brings magic to the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

Reaching New Heights – The Climbing Place

The Climbing Place is 18,000 feet of pure, unadulterated climbing fun for all ages and parties. Adding flair of adventure to the downtown area since January 1, 1995, The Climbing Place is a no-brainer choice when considering a way to spice up anyone’s visit to downtown. Owner Michael Pinkston, commonly known as Mr. P, prides his business as being the oldest continuous climbing facility in the state of North Carolina as well as one of the most extensive in its services.

Maneuvering over obstacles and traversing difficult terrain has been a part of human history since the days of our nomadic ancestors. The sport of rock climbing is believed to have originated in the late 19th century in different parts of Europe made popular by the linear rock formations that litter the Eurasian landscape. Unlike the dangerous landscapes of tales long forgotten, The Climbing Place offers a rock-climbing experience in the comfort and safety of an indoor utopia. Putting the customers first and ensuring a fun time for all visitors has remained the philosophy of The Climbing Place since its beginning. “Customer satisfaction and safety are our top priorities,” said Pinkston. “We teach beginners how to tie knots, put on equipment and obey different climbing commands.”

Rock climbing indoors works by creating several artificial rock walls tagged with different climbing paths made by small rock-like grips. Each path is color-coded and marked with the difficulty, name of the creator and the date it was made. There are three different climbing techniques — bouldering, leap climbing and top rope climbing. The Climbing Place brings business from in- and out-of-state with its variety of rock climbing and in particular its 600 feet of traverse-climbing space.Retired from the military, Pinkston’s job was to scale cliffs and mountains to write manuals about rock climbing and its procedures. Originally planning to become a guidance counselor, Pinkston saw an opportunity to share his love of climbing when he bought a warehouse formally owned by Chevrolet M and O. “The ceilings were 8-feet tall,” Pinkston said. “We lifted the ceiling tiles and thought that it just might work.”

Pinkston believes rock climbing can become a valuable recreation that people of all ages can take part in. “Climbing not only produces physical rewards but also challenges the climber’s skills in the areas of confidence, problem solving and perseverance,” Pinkston said. Scaling one wall are several rock-climbing paths for younger children as well, evidence of perseverance and determination were found in the form of hundreds of scuffmarks left by the small pathfinders.

The Climbing Place welcomes all visitors, no matter what skill-level or handicap. Pinkston reflected on his experience with blind climbers as something amazing and awe-inspiring, the only thing holding a person back from being a climber is a lack of determination — if there’s a will then there’s a way. The Climbing Place also works with home-schooled children as well as kids with autism.

No matter the occasion, The Climbing Place caters to all audiences and climbing purposes. Whether earning a scout merit badge, throwing a birthday party or planning a school field trip, The Climbing Place will guarantee boundless fun for all. The Climbing Place is located at 436 West Russell Street and accepts walk-ins, memberships and passes.

Photo: The Climbing Place has been providing adventures for locals since 1995.

Well, I think the final chapter is now in the process of being written on the misadventures of Hope Mills’ lost boy, Tonzie Collins. Wow! It seems Collins has more lives than the world’s luckiest cat, and a teflon shield that makes sure any and all charges, accusations and complaints made against him just don’t stick.

So far, so good, Tonzie; however, I think the good people of Hope Mills have had just about enough.

Hope Mills is a small but prosperous and growing community with a great deal of potential. It’s growing and gaining new residents and businesses and now with the proper direction and leadership of Mayor Jackie Warner and the Hope Mills Town Council and the enthusiastic leadership of Chamber of Commerce President Jan Spell, the future of Hope Mills looks bright. But only if it can get out from under the dark and humiliating shadow being cast on it by Collins.

If you don’t know what I’m referring to, local and long time resident and town council member Tonzie Collins has been the center of legal and social controversy for years in Hope Mills, costing the town residents greatly in terms of tax dollars and dignity. The latest flap was over alleged comments made to a 19-year-old female town employee. As a result of this incident — and more than a dozen other complaints against Collins — he has been directed not to talk to town employees or be in any non-public areas in Hope Mills’ town facilities without the permission of Town Manager John Ellis. This action was initiated by the town council. Collins cast the only dissenting vote.

Now, personally, I like Tonzie. He has always been nice and civil to me. I even met him and his posse once at the McDonald’s restaurant he frequently mentions in his conversations. The posse being the many friends and supporters he has developed over the years. Collins has a group of supporters in Hope Mills that he has cultivated over his 30 years of town service. But, now, many of the town’s people feel it is time to stop this silliness. And, so do we.

The town of Hope Mills has a right to move forward without this albatross around its neck.

Even though Collins claims that the more than a dozen accusations made against him are unsubstantiated, I’ve got to say where there is smoke, there is usually fire. The cost of dealing with Collins’ good-ole’ boy antics is getting way too pricey for this small, but growing community. Everyone wants to move on and put the madness behind them. It is our hope that Collins will take the high road and see the logic here.

Will it happen? I have no idea. Your guess would be as good as mine. But, I do know this, something positive must happen soon if Hope Mills expects to continue its growth and positive economic development. Collins is a smart man and could be a huge asset in moving the community forward, but only if he recognizes that he is not above the law and that the “Aw, shucks, I was just telling a pretty little gal she was pretty,” doesn’t fly in 2013 — especially from elected leaders. Hope Mills is ready to move forward and there is no place for that kind of back slapping, guffawing buffoonery in positions of leadership.

Remember that today (July 3) marks the beginning of the balloting for 16th Annual Best of Fayetteville readership survey. So, don’t forget to VOTE for your favorite person, business, organization or venue. We are all about local. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Monday through Wednesday, Troy Gentry is just an average guy. He fulfi lls the role of classroom dad at his daughter’s school; attends her softball games and mows his own yard. But Thursday through Sunday, it’s a different story.

Gentry, one part of the country power-house Montgomery Gentry, and his partner, Eddie Montgomery, have spent a lot of time on the road, but these days, they have altered their touring to mini-tours so that they can spend more time at home, taking part in the lives they’ve made instead of watching them from the road.

“We are basically doing what we call weekend warrior shows,” said Gentry, during a recent telephone interview. “The hardest part about being on long tours is being away from family. In our younger years, it wasn’t a big thing. The tour was one big party. We were meeting people and having a lot of fun. Now that our kids are getting older, we realize that we missed a lot. I have a child in college and my little one is 10. I’m trying to be at home more and do more things with her like sports, school and church.”

On Friday, July 12, one of those weekend warrior shows will make a stop in Fayetteville, as the duo performs at the Crown Theater.

Montgomery Gentry is undoubtedly one of the greatest country music duos to ever hit the music scene. Known for their homegrown, Southern rock n’ roll style, they have earned their spot among the ranks of other country artists over the past two decades. Responsible for smash hits “She Couldn’t Change Me,” “Gone” and “Where I Come From,” their songs are instantly recognizable by anyone with an appreciation for country music.

Vocalist Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry were both born and raised in the Bluegrass state of Kentucky, which is steeped in a rich history of country music. They’re familiar with what makes country music tick. Entering the mainstream with their debut single, “Hillbilly Shoes,” it took the band little time to gather a strong following.

Their concerts can be described as a honky-tonkin’, toe-tapping good time with a tinge of southern rock. Famous for their music, which echoes a working-class mentality, strongly rooted in God and everyday family struggles, the group has created a musical legacy that always rings true. to its roots.

Gentry, who says his Dad was into country and his mom rock and roll, said their music is a blend of the two.

“When we first started recording, we had more of a grittier, party-anthem type of stuff,” said Gentry. “Today we go into writing sessions with a different outlook.It really reflects more of the environment that we are in now. We have always spoken to and sang about the working class — ups and downs of life — but we really try to find songs that affect us personally at a given moment or that people out there can identify with.”

Originally known as Early Tymz, the band consisted of Montgomery, his younger brother John Michael Montgomery and Gentry. In the early 1990s, John Michael left the group and started a solo career. Eddie and Troy, the remaining members of the group, then went through several name changes before they decided to call themselves Montgomery Gentry. In 1994, Gentry won the Jim Beam National Talent Contestand he began to open for acts such as Patty Loveless and Tracy Byrd. Gentry was unable to find a solo record deal, so he teamed up with Montgomery once again to form the duo Montgomery Gentry, signing with Columbia Records Nashville in 1999.

Montgomery Gentry’s first album, Tattoos & Scars, released in 1999, boasts 11 tracks that can be described as a homage to the blue-collar lifestyle. The album was received positively with Thom Jurek of Allmusic calling it “one of the best pop records of the year. Period.” The album won Vocal Duo of the Year award at the Country Music Association Awards in 2000, but it didn’t stop there. The vocal brotherhood won the Top New Vocal Duo or Group award from the Academy of Country Music and the 2000 Favorite New Artist in the Country category at the American Music Awards. Their first album went certifi ed platinum in 2001.

Like their second album name suggests, the band continued their success with Carrying On. The album’s first single “She Couldn’t Change Me” broke new ground for the group, reaching Number 2 in the country charts.

Their fourth album, You Do Your Thing, released in 2004, produced two number 1 country hits “If You Ever Stop Loving Me” and “Something to Be Proud Of.” The album became their third platinum-selling album after Tattoos & Scars and My Town. The album’s major success was followed up by their 2004-2005 tour with Trace Adkins.

Their latest album, Rebels on The Run, was released in 2011. Thanks to a new record label, they were allowed more freedom than previous albums that led to the album’s first single “Where I Come From.”

The group’s dedication to country music earned them a Grammy nomination in 2008 for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for their single “Lucky Man.” Montgomery Gentry has been nominated and won many awards for their continuing excellence in country music and their admiration of their millions of fans.

Fayetteville, being home to Fort Bragg and the 82nd Airborne Division, is no stranger to patriotism and military pride — neither is Montgomery Gentry. Supporting our troops has been a large part of their effort ever since their debut in 1999. But for the fi rst time in 2006, they were able to travel to Kuwait, Iraq and Germany as part of a USO Tour. Military personnel, active duty and retired alike, can appreciate the hard work this group has put forth to relieve the stress of men and women serving in our military with their tales of work, love, loss, spirit, life and patriotism balanced by the hard-partying nature of their songs.

They were awarded by the Academy of Country Music as the 2010 winners of its Humanitarian Award. In addition to supporting our troops, they are active in charitable organizations such as the T.J. Martell Foundation, Camp Horsin’ Around and Make-A-Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Following the tragedies that have recently unfolded in Boston, Texas and Oklahoma, Montgomery Gentry has launched a campaign to recognize the everyday heroes that have helped to save a life or make a difference in the life of somebody affected by these disasters. The superstar duo being supporters of our military, teachers and other unspoken heroes, wants to give their fans a chance to submit their heroes for a chance to receive concert tickets and meet & greet passes to hangout with the group backstage at their concert stops this summer. To nominate a hero, type a letter explaining why you have chosen this person and submit your entry to MontgomeryGentry.com/heroes.

Perhaps one of their proudest achievements is being inducted into Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry in 2009. Inducted by Opry members Little Jimmy Dickens and Marty Stuart, the two performers were left without words to express their gratitude and excitement for the historic opportunity.

Tickets for the show can be purchased online at TicketMaster through the Crown Center’s website (crowncoliseum.com). The concert will begin at 8 p.m. on July 12

I recently got up close and personal with a dead deer. I was walking and the deer was just lying there on the side of the road. We were in the Blue Ridge Mountains and I was on a walk about down the dirt road. For once, I was not one of those people you see walking around transfi xed by their smartphone oblivious to everything around them. I was transfixed by a flock of turkey buzzards posing on a row of fence posts in front of me. Turkey buzzards are not particularly attractive members of the avian race, but they are quite necessary. Think of them as fl ying undertakers. They are big birds, about 3 feet long wearing formal black suits like an undertaker. They have ruddy featherless heads that seem to be covered with rosacea like a villain in a super hero movie. If Edgar Allen Poe designed a bird, he would have created the turkey vulture. Like undertakers, they vacuum up dead things.

I could imagine the head turkey vulture saying to the dead deer, “I am so sorry for your loss, Mr. Deer. Please accept my most sincere condolences. But may I say, you look delicious today. Dinner time.” I have walked that dirt road many times and never seen a flock of turkey vultures chilling there. That should have been a clue that something had drawn their attention to those fence posts. They were not particularly concerned that I was walking towards them. As long as I was moving, I was of no real interest to them. They could wait until I stopped moving.

Due to my focus on the vultures, I almost stumbled over the dead deer lying in the road. That could have led to embarrassing moments in the emergency room. “How did you break your arm, Mr. Dickey?” “I tripped over a dead deer lying in the road.” That would have been good for laughs amongst the medical personnel in the ER. “Did you hear how the jerk in Cubicle 3 broke his arm? The moron tripped over a dead deer.” Oh, the shame.

I got back to the cabin without further incident and began listening to music on the front porch. I was pondering the pond while futilely attempting to think profound thoughts. Willie Nelson had just finished singing his last old time hymn. Without Willie, suddenly I heard the mountain sounds. The mountain is a loud place once you start listening. Whistling wind, talkative birds, bragging bull frogs, humming bees and mooing cows across the pond. You can hear a lot just by listening. Without electronic interference, you can hear how the mountains sounded during the Middle Ages. Mountain sounds go way back. Once we are gone, the mountains will keep making noises without us.

After listening to the mountain for a while, I heard an interesting new sound. There was a loud huffing noise up on the mountain behind the house. I thought a cow might have gotten out of the pasture and wandered up on the mountain. Cows huff when they feel huffy. The huffi ng sound went on about five minutes. The hill behind the house is very steep. It would have taken a cow with skilled Sherpa abilities to climb up there. It occurred to me that one of the neighbors mentioned a brown bear and her cub had been seen in the area. At that point the huffing did not seem so benign. I saw movement up on the hill but a wall of leaves kept me from seeing what it was.

I began to wonder about the appropriate strategy for dealing with a momma bear. Run in the house, lock the door, hope for the best, kiss your fanny goodbye and apply A1 Sauce was the best plan I could come up with. I wondered how long a wooden door could keep out an angry bear. I remembered Allen Shermans classic song, “Hello Muddah , Hello Faddah” about the boy who was not happy to be at Camp Granada. It featured the immortal lines, “Take me home, oh Muddah, Faddah/Take me home, I hate Granada/Don’t leave me out in the forest where/I might get eaten by a bear.”

Fortunately, the huffing eventually stopped. I could hear the bird, and the wind. In the words of Robert Frost, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep.” Like the rest of the world, there is a lot of life and death out there. Enjoy it while you can.

Are you ready to rumble? If so, float like a butterfly to the Crown Center Friday, July 5 for the Independence Explosion Friday Night Fights presented by R&R Promotions.

Watch as some of the most elite fighters in the boxing industry take on one another in the arena right here in Fayetteville. The show, billed as a celebration of the freedoms and privileges that we share and enjoy as a nation, will feature 10 bouts.

Fighters featured include Rau’Shee “Nuke” Warren, the only American Olympian in history to compete in three Olympic Games. From Cincinnati, Ohio, he began boxing at the age of 6 and would go on to become not only the youngest member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic boxing team, but the youngest male on any American team that year.

Errol Spence is a 23-year-old who became a professional welterweight boxer after competing in the 2012 Olympics. From Dallas, Texas, he is quickly gaining recognition in the sport and was rumored to have knocked out fellow competitor Adrien Broner in a sparring match.

Jamel Herring is a 28-year-old former Camp Lejeune Marine. Before contending in the 2012 U.S. Olympics, he won a silver medal in the 2010 World Military Games and gold medal in the Armed Forces Championships in both 2011 and 2012. However, before reaching those milestones in his life, he overcame much adversity and personal anguish including two deployments to Iraq and the loss of his daughter.

All of these men have earned the right to be called Olympians by representing our nation in the world’s greatest competition. Every calculated move and punch is a testament to the caliber of warrior that America produces to compete on a global stage. Now is your chance to see them live as they demonstrate their precision and dominant physique in the ring.

Along with the performance of these peak athletes, the venue has added even more star players. Also fighting are special guests World Boxing Organization super featherweight champion and current World Boxing Council lightweight champion, Adrien “the Problem” Broner and former junior welterweight champion and hall of fame inductee, Aaron Pryor. This night promises to be one to be remembered. Don’t miss your chance to see these fighters go head-to-head live at the Crown Coliseum.

For more information and to book tickets for the Independence Explosion Friday Night Fights, call the Crown Box Office at 910.438.4100.

Photos: top left; Rau’Shee Warren. Bottom right: Adrien Broner.

Kayaking is one of the many great summer hobbies enjoyed by all ages. Dating back to hundreds of years ago, it didn’t always serve as a pastime. The act of kayaking started in the arctic in North America with the Inuit and Aleut tribe; kayaks were made of driftwood or made by stretching animal skins over frames of whalebone. The larger kayaks they used were called umiaqs— some were as long as 60 feet. The smaller kayaks were used for hunting. Interestingly enough, the word ‘kayak’ means hunter’s boat. With kayaks, the Inuits could easily sneak up on animals near the shoreline or in the water.

Of course now in the 21st century, people use kayaking as an outing with family and friends or a type of exercise. There are many different areas to go kayaking depending on your interests. People can kayak on intense mountain rivers with white water splashing in your face, or on a peaceful river or lake. Just as there are different sceneries to kayak, there are also different types of kayaks. If you want a fast pace, choose a kayak that is long and narrow. For easy turns, have a kayak that is short and wide. The inside of the kayak varies as well. Some have you sit inside a cockpit with legs extended in front of you; others have a seat in the cockpit, like a canoe. The oars also come in different sizes depending on your height; if you are short, a shorter and lighter oar will suffice. Wider and taller kayaks probably will require a longer paddle.

Keep in mind that wider blades touch the water more, which grants you a faster speed, but they also have more resistance so you would have to work harder. A narrower blade requires more strokes but the work is less.

If kayaking sounds like something you would enjoy, you are in luck. Cumberland county citizens have the opportunity to kayak on Lake Rim during the Lake Rim Kayak Tour. This is something Lake Rim strives to do once a month during the warmer months.

The tour is an activity everyone can enjoy-beginner or experienced. There is an introductory lesson available before the tour that teaches the basics. Amber Williams, park ranger coordinator, talks about the soothing effect the tour has.

“It is very relaxing; you can even forget you are in Fayetteville. It’s so nice and peaceful to be surrounded by nature,” she said.

The recommended age is 10 years and up with a participating adult. Remember, no professional skills are necessary!

“This is a great way to try something new,” Williams said.

The tour usually lasts about an hour and a half long and wraps around Lake Rim. Space is limited, so grab your spot as soon as possible. Register at Lake Rim Park the day before the tour.

The tour is Friday, July 12 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The fee is $15. Go ahead and mark your calendars for next month’s tour, Friday, August 2 at 5:30-7 p.m.

Photo: The Kyak Tour at Lake Rim is fun for the whole family.

Professional Management: The Crowning Touch

Last week the community heard, with no great surprise, the results of the benchmark study on the Crown Coliseum. The study compared the Crown to the operations of eight other entertainment facilities somewhat similar to the Crown. The conclusions were no surprise. Actually, almost every aspect of the operation detailed in the report was common knowledge and documented in one form or another over the past several years. Now, it is offi cial.

A $35, 000 study paid for by Cumberland County taxpayers is what our county officials wanted and needed in order to move the Crown Coliseum forward to greater prosperity and distance themselves further away from the $3 million per year defi cit it has become. So, what was in the report? No new news for sure. Revenues down, expenses up, management weak, not enough events/shows, staff too big and a sales and marketing team that completely misses the mark when it comes to doing their job and understanding the community they live in. This being the case, is there any reason why the Crown Board of Directors and the Cumberland County Commissioners would not consider bringing in an outside professional management company to stop the bleeding? Of course not. Besides, outsourcing is a common business strategy for increasing effi ciency and lowering operating costs.

Good thinking. So far, so good.

Now comes the difficult and challenging part for getting the Crown back on track. Three companies have responded to a request for proposal for the opportunity to manage the Crown. Not profitably, but, professionally. After all, with 10 years of failed operations and millions of dollars in losses what does Cumberland County have to lose? Absolutely nothing.

During the next several days these three proposals will be reviewed, scrutinized and evaluated. If this process can be executed fairly and flawlessly and in the best interest of the Crown, Cumberland County and its residents, the project will be deemed a huge success. However, many sources familiar with the way the county has historically done business are skeptical. Many profess that “Cumberland County never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” Meaning, historically, in too many cases, we just don’t do the right things for the right reasons. Good point. Think about it. How did the Crown get in this situation in the first place? How did it stay that way for 10 years?

The mere fact that the Crown and the county have gotten this far indicates the forces of good are overpowering the forces of negligence. Choosing the right company will be a major step in the right direction. A correct choice here is imperative, and will hold the formula for the future success of the Crown.

My assessment is that so far, things are looking pretty good for the Crown. Making the decision on who will be the management team will ultimately be that of the Crown’s Board of Directors lead by Chairman George Turner. County Commissioner Ed Melvin is advising as the board’s county liaison. The decision will ultimately have to be approved by the county commissioners.

Everyone needs to keep their fingers crossed. The right decision here could provide the leadership needed to spur the economic development needed to get the most out of our $60 million facility.

I applaud everyone’s hard work and dedication to this tedious project. I promise to be fi rst in line to purchase a ticket to this command performance. Hope to see you there.

Thank you, for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo; right: Hopefully, the Crown Coliseum may see new private management by the end of the year.

Ignite the Referral Cycle

The best way to grow your business is through referrals. We’ve all heard this but few of us take the time to analyze what motivates one customer to refer another and how we can cause that to happen more often.

Regardless of what you sell or to whom you sell it, your happiest customers sometimes refer other customers. The referred customers cost nothing (or next to nothing) to get, have high initial feelings of loyalty toward the business and are in turn more likely to refer others. This is called the Referral Cycle. The cycle is difficult to get started but once initiated, no advertising campaign can come close to it in efficiency or longevity.

Starting a referral cycle begins with happy customers. Does your business give good service and/or a quality product for a fair price? I did not say low price because your price could be higher than a competitor’s yet be a better value if the quality is higher or the service is better. Is every customer greeted with a smile and made to feel welcome and appreciated? Are problems solved quickly and with the same smile? Do you follow up after the sale to ensure that the customer is fully satisfied? Do you reward customers with gifts that show appreciation for their business and support the referral process? In short, are you satisfying your customers or are you impressing them? It is the impressed customer who is most likely to become a referral machine.

When I need a reminder of how an impressed customer looks, I remember my days as a Domino’s Pizza Manager. The franchise I worked for had an aggressive policy for handling customers who were unhappy with their pizza. We would immediately send a driver with a replacement pizza and a full refund of the original order in cash — plus a gift certificate for another identical pizza to be ordered later. So the customer now has three pizzas (the bad one, a good one and a certificate for the next one) and all of their money still in their pocket. I happened to personally deliver one of these replacement pizzas and I’ll never forget the look on the woman’s face when I explained the deal — total shock, which quickly turned to outright giddiness. We wanted to guarantee that this formerly unhappy customer was turned into not just a happy customer but a referral machine. Our thinking (and our sales growth supported it) was that there is no more highly-motivated spokesperson for your product than one who has been taken from sorely disappointed to deeply impressed in less than thirty minutes. Thankfully, these occasions were relatively rare so the cost was negligible, but the impact was powerful.

Once you have impressed a customer, they need as many opportunities as possible to bring up your company’s name and talk about the great service they received. An effective catalyst for conversation is a small handy gift on the customer’s refrigerator or desk. Not only does the gift say, “Thank you” to the customer but whenever your industry’s product or service is mentioned anywhere in sight of the gift, then the recipient can easily point to it and say, “Call these guys, they’re great!”

A study by Georgia Southern University shows that recipients of promotional products had a significantly more positive image of a company than those who did not.

Ignite your own referral cyle. Give great service. Offer a quality product at a fair price. Treat mistakes as an opportunity! Give your happy customers every excuse and opportunity to refer their friends and associates. And watch your sales grow.

Photo: Providing excellent customer service can lead to referrals, which leads to more business.

 Bumbledoo: Downtown’s One-Stop Baby Supply Shop

Downtown Fayetteville is filled with dynamic establishments run by passionate risk-takers who are devoted to the community. Our View from the Market House showcases the businesses and entrepreneurs that make downtown shine.

Raising a baby is a joy. Between all the crying and the diaper changing, seeing your own flesh and blood grow exponentially larger as times goes by really pays off. Bumbledoo, the downtown area’s organic baby store, offers a wide variety of baby products to ease the troubles of child raising by offering a wide range of services to mothers all across Fayetteville.

Malia Kalua Allen, owner of Bumbledoo, began pursuing her passion while raising her own children in Durham. Her hobby of making products for her children turned into a business when she realized the interest she was receiving from other young moms. Allen wanted to offer products that were organic, earth-friendly and affordable. After great success at her booth at the Dogwood Festival, Allen saw an opportunity to own a store when she noticed the vacant spot while driving through Downtown Fayetteville; thus, Bumbledoo was born.

Starting her own shop was no easy feat. “I barely had enough money to fill the shelves with cloth diapers,” Allen said. After a difficult start, Bumbledoo soon became a respectable name within the downtown community. The store is known for its excellent customer service and dedicated employees who want nothing more than to relieve the stress on new mothers. Her hard work and dedication earned her a spot in the Fayetteville Observer’s 40 Under 40for her outstanding work in making Bumbledoo possible

.In addition to selling premium products, Bumbledoo also offers special classes for mothers. “We do free classes for cloth diapers and weaning,” Allen said. “We also host a breastfeeding cafe every third Thursday each month at Marquis Market.” Allen also stressed the importance of keeping up-to-date with mothering practices as they evolve generation after generation. “Other baby stores are old-world,” she said. “They’re not in touch with new-age moms.” Green products are becoming more popular with parents as advances in science show the harmful effects some traditional products may have on a child’s health.

One of the many specialties of Bumbledoo is its cloth diaper service. Much different than their expensive, one-time-use counterparts, cloth diapers are reusable and contain no harmful chemicals. Additionally, disposable diapers make-up a staggering amount of landfill waste, approximately 4 percent. Using disposable diapers not only litters landfills, but also litters our bills with hidden trash disposal costs too. Allen also stressed how inexpensive cloth diapers are compared to disposable ones. “Providing diapers for one child alone costs thousands of dollars,” she said. “Cloth diapers cover multiple children for only $500.”Allen is proud of her shop and believes it offers something special that big stores cannot. “My store is specialized in selling green products while being knowledgeable of them — unlike big stores,” Allen said.

Bumbledoo will soon relocate to its new store location at 417 Hay Street to accommodate its expanding business. The new store will have much more room and allow Allen to better service her customers with a more thorough selection of products.

“I don’t want to leave downtown, I believe in downtown,” Allen said. Bumbledoo is one of many great shopping locations in Downtown Fayetteville that boasts a unique and tailored store with a ton of personality and charm. While browsing what Bumbledoo has to offer, don’t forget to check out many of the other wonderful small businesses that call Downtown Fayetteville home.

Photo: Malia Kalua Allen, owner of Bumbledoo.