Think of a four-letter word that is a type of dance, a lot of fun, bonds people together and originated in the south. Stumped? The answer is the shag.

What started out around the ‘30s and ‘40s became a sensation especially in the east coast region of the U.S. It got its start in the era of the jitterbug and the Lindy Hop Swing and was paired by classic beach music. People got together at Myrtle Beach during summer vacations and witnessed the dance and they brought it back to the in-land cities like Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro.

On July 12-13 the Fayetteville Area Shag Association celebrates the spirit of beach music at the Fluff Daddy Memorial Shag Contest at Mavericks Saloon, 2602 Raeford Road. It is the club’s first contest in about seven years and all proceeds will go to the Jim “Catfi sh” Hunter Chapter of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation. A friend to many in FASA, Mike “Fluff Daddy” Blanton, died of ALS and the club is looking to honor his memory and to earn money for other families dealing with the disease.

The contest has four divisions. There is a newcomer section for people who have never danced or competed before but are interested in doing so. The other three are amateur, novice (intermediate) and pro (advanced). The contestants will be judged on five categories: smoothness, togetherness, repertoire, degree of difficulty and execution; the categories are judged from numbers one through 10 by five judges.

The Fayetteville Area Shag Association has actively been involved with shagging since 1984. The group started out small; people would meet at other’s garages and driveways, throw some music together and dance away. They even met in front of the old Winn Dixie in town. The club is now at Mavericks Saloon on Raeford Road and approximately 200 people are involved. Music, laughter and a relaxed feeling is what encompasses visitors as they walk inside. There are always beginning and intermediate shag classes going on, which are taught by Cathy and A.C. Williams. The phenomenal two are three-time national and three-time grand national dance champions and two-time team champions.

Whether it’s the instructors or the dancers, on the dance floor, everyone helps out everyone else.

“People watch, but they don’t critique. We learn from each other and become better dancers by dancing,” Dennis Johnson, club president, said.

The open atmosphere goes hand-in-hand with the dancing. There have been instances where a person doesn’t have a partner and he or she goes up to a stranger to ask to dance and it turns into something more. Cathy Williams affi rms that seven marriages and two engagements resulted from being partners on the FASA dance fl oor. One of those couples just so happens to be Johnson and his wife Susan. They dated for two years and have been married for five.

FASA also participates in community events like Fayetteville after 5, and has given shag lessons at the Cumberland County Library and local nursing homes. Shag dancing doesn’t stop here in North Carolina. In the Association of Carolina Shag Clubs, there are about 98 clubs that vary from New York to Virginia to Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida to South Carolina and as far west as Tennessee. There are even workshops in Las Vegas and Georgia. One popular event is hosted by the Society of Stranders (SOS) and happens three times a year. Shaggers come from all over to North Myrtle Beach, S.C., for a 10-day period to reunite and hit the usual spots on Main Street such as Pirate’s Cove, Fat Heralds and Duck’s.

“It happens three times a year, so this event is like an SOS reunion. We all like the same thing — to dance,” Dwayne Baggett said. He describes it as “park and party,” where one parks his car and doesn’t move it until it is time to go home. With SOS, people also get to see other dances — swing boppers, the lindy hop and more. All to the same east coast swing music.

Like many things, shag dancing takes practice.

“The key thing is to count 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5, 6,” Baggett explained. Beginner classes involve learning the male and female turn, the female stomp, the start position and towards the end of the class, how to pivot. Intermediate classes take on moves like the sugar foot, belly roll, the booty walk. Cathy and A.C. Williams teach the genders their moves separately and then they come together as one.

“Sure there is anxiety and frustration, but you have to keep practicing and getting that muscle memory,” Johnson said.

Mavericks Saloon is a place that gathers all kinds of different people. Lawyers, plumbers, judges, teachers, veterinarians, bankers, dentists and people with military backgrounds all are united by their passion to shag. It’s the people and the community that make the experience great.

“There is satisfaction knowing we are perpetuating the dance. That and simple focus is the music,” Johnson said.

Baggett added, “I make the means and help guarantee the income to the club in preparation for them to have a good time. It is an enjoyment to dance with other people. There are no problems or jealousy with one another — it’s all about having fun on the dance floor.”

Just like technology, over the years the shag has been changing and evolving from one generation to the next. There is now a Junior Shag Association for dancers under age 21. The age categories are 4 through 12 years and 13 through 21. The junior SOS is being held in Myrtle Beach at the end of July. “There are young and athletic kids who can do unusual splits and drop on their knees and pop up. For me, I can go down, but I won’t get up,” Baggett joked.

No matter how much shag has changed from its original form years ago, FASA just wants it to continue. “The goal is to continue membership and continue the dance and music,” Johnson said. The group hopes to offer new beach bands and possibly country and pop songs that still have the 4/4 count.

Come out to Mavericks Saloon with family or come alone! You don’t even have to dance to have a good time. “Many people come and never dance. They come for the fellowship and the music and just watch,” Baggett said. So if you want to try something new or meet new people, this is where you want to be.

For more information on FASA visit fasadance.com and for information on taking lessons at Mavericks Saloon call 910-980-1767. Lessons run for four Mondays each month and are $40 per person.

Photo: The Fayetteville Area Shag Association par-ticipates in community events and promotes shag dancing. Above, FASA members dance on Hay Street for a local festival to raise money for the Cameo Art House Theatre.

Since 1837, the story of a young mermaid giving up her tail and life in the sea to be a human and find the love of a human prince has entertained millions. This classic fairy tale written by Hans Christian Anderson has seen many adaptations from musical theatre to animated film. The most famous version of this tale however is the 1989 Disney version called The Little Mermaid.

This animated film version of the fairy tale was also adapted for the stage, and was performed on Broadway in 2008. This year the magic of The Little Mermaid, that has captured the imagination of audiences of all ages for years, will be coming to the Fayetteville community through the eyes of children.

The Cape Fear Regional Theatre encourages an appreciation for theatre in all ages. All year long they provide the community with a creative outlet. During their regular season they create captivating performances for all to enjoy, and also offer creative outlets for performers in the community. In the summer the CFRT brings children into the theatre through their summer camps.

This year the talented staff of the CFRT is pulling out the stops offering three summer camps for various ages. Children from ages 6 to 8 will be working with CFRT to create Disney’s The Jungle Book for Kids. There will not be public performances of this show, but it shows that a passion for theatre can begin at any age. Children ages 9 to 14 will bring to life Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr. There are two camps for this production, one is being held in June and one in July. Both of these camps will have public performances. Older kids, ages 13 to 18 will work to create Side Ways Stories From Way Side School. This is a stage adaptation of a very popular book series written by Louis Sachar. The structure of this book is unique as each of the 30 chapters is a separate story that complements the others.

For the June Little Mermaid camp performances are scheduled on June 28 and 29. The July campers will have their performances on July 19 and 20. The performances are at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, which is located at 1209 Hay St.

Tickets can be purchased through the CFRT Box Office, online, by phone or in person. To purchase tickets online, visit the website www.cft.org/tickets.php. The phone number for the box office is 323-4233. The box office is closed on Mondays. Tuesdays through Saturdays hours are from 2 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. On Sundays it is only open from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. For more information, visit the Cape Fear Regional Theatre website cfrt.org.

Already tired of seeing your kids lounge on the couch all day? A great summer solution is heading your way and it takes place on a stage. This July, Gilbert Theater is hosting its fi rst ever summer camp for ages 8 to 16. It’s called Broadway at the Crown. The camp starts on July 8. It is a two-week program of classes, Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Robyne Parrish, camp director, artistic director and co-director of education for Gilbert Theater explained that one half of the day is heavy training in-class training including choreography, acting, improvisation and dance. The latter half of the day is involved with play rehearsal. The kids will be performing the play Fame Jr. for an audience at the Crown Theater. Parrish and Jeremy Fiebig, managing director for the Gilbert Theater and assistant theater professor at Fayetteville State University, are both excited about the opportunity to perform on the Crown’s stage.

“It’s been great having the partnership with the Crown Coliseum and them making the space for us. This is what sets us apart from any other camp. They get to perform on a Broadway-sized stage,” Fiebig said.

Parrish added, “The kids get to be on this huge stage that has professional lighting and sound equipment. This stage has held national concerts and even Elvis Presley performed on that stage, it really is kind of cool.”

The teachers and artists who are working at the camp are another boon for the students. Cameron Wade is the director for Fame Jr. and the choreographer, as well. Her experience includes teaching children from ages 8 to 15 in acting, dance and voice instruction. Wade has also taught at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for more than five years.

Guest star Jonathan Hadley is also involved in directing the play. Hadley was recently on tour with the Jersey Boys and has had a great deal of Broadway experience including White Christmas, Fiddler on the Roof and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. The kids can expect Hadley to come for a day or two and give them feedback on the rehearsals.

“It is intensive training, but we wanted to give the kids exposure to professionals in their fields and an opportunity to work in the business consistently. Especially if these younger kids want to make it a profession. Here we can offer a way of education,” Parrish said.

Fame Jr. is set during the last years of the High School for the Performing Arts in New York City, during the years 1980-1984. Audiences will watch a group of students balance four years of intense academic and artistic work “… with candor, humor and insight, the show explores the issues that confront many young people today” (mtishows.com).

“I am definitely excited about the show. I have never seen this version done before. It’s going to be challenging for them, but we defi nitely have the talent put up for a very good show. It will be very fun,” Parrish stated.

Fiebig mentions that putting on this camp has been their goal all along.

“This is our first big project to start and I think it will be successful. It is also the ground work for future years” he said.

He also describes the unique qualities of theater camps.

“There are a lot of different people and you get the experience of actually working on a show that makes it unifying and fun. In theater camps, you tend to form a family,” he said.

Performances are Friday, July 19, at 7 p.m. and Saturday July 20, at 2 p.m. at the Crown. It is open to the public and tickets are priced at $10. General camp applications are to be turned in by June 17 but an extension date is available. Kids can now also apply for limited scholarships.

For more information visit www.gilberttheater.com or check out their Facebook page. You can also call the theatre for more information at 910-678-7186.

4th Fridayis a tradition in Downtown Fayetteville. A celebration of the arts, 4th Fridayis a collaborative effort of the downtown area to showcase local bookstores, galleries, shops and more. Notable events are sponsored by the Arts Council, Cape Fear Studios, Fascinate-U Children’s Museum, Headquarters Library, Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum and City Center Gallery & Books. This month’s 4th Friday theme, which is sponsored by the Downtown Alliance, features a scavenger hunt.

The Arts Council’s Healing Artsexhibit opens this month and is celebrated with a reception. “Healing Arts is actually a continuation of last year’s Healing Arts exhibit,” said Calvin Mimms, director of development at The Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County. “It is an exploration of art that is collected or created by local physicians. What we are doing is making the connection with art and art therapy by highlighting physicians who use art as a creative outlet for personal reasons and how it affects the mind, body, and spirit.”

The exhibit was well-received last year and Mimms is excited about expanding on the theme this year. “People are going to be surprised to find physicians in this area that collect the works of area artists. There are a lot of physicians here that have purchased art from local studios. I think that the community will be surprised at the quality of work that local artists produce.”

Admirers of art will be captivated by the display of talent from artists throughout the country. Cape Fear Studios is showcasing the fifth annual National 2D Exhibit Competition. Also, there will be paintings by other artists both locally and nationwide. The exhibit opens at 6 p.m. and will run until 9 p.m.

4th Friday will also have age-appropriate activities for kids. Fascinate-U Children’s Museum will host crafts for children to make patriotic wind-streamers, perfect to decorate 4th of July picnics and more. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to let a child’s red, white and blue streamer fly. This event opens at 7 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m.

Bookworms are not excluded from the festivities either. Headquarters Library will have an author’s showcase for readers to meet authors from the Sandhills area and buy autographed copies of their books. The showcase will begin at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m.

Local award-winning exotic belly dancers of Shadows of the Fire will perform in front of the Capitol Building starting at 7 p.m. Also performing are Transfusion Fire Arts and local martial-arts school Musha Dojo with its own gifted students.

Festival Park will come alive as Operation Ceasefi re returns for the community’s summer enjoyment. At 7:30 p.m., the park will transform into an outdoor movie theater, with the showing of a family-favorite movie.

Local downtown businesses will open throughout the evening offering special discounts and samplings of their work. So Chic Bébé will discount all red, white and blue items by 25 percent in honor of our military heroes. Active and retired military personnel will receive a 15 percent discount off all purchases on Friday, too.

Downtown Fayetteville has 37 places to shop, 28 places to dine and 26 places to play. There is something for everyone to participate in on 4th Friday. Not only is it a celebration of the arts, it’s a celebration of our Fayetteville community. Pack an evening picnic, bring snacks and be prepared for a relaxing afternoon of adventure this June 28th at 4th Friday.

What a great opportunity for Fayetteville, Cumberland County and surrounding areas. Thanks to the Golden Leaf Foundation, Fayetteville Technical Community College provides a preparation course for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airframe and Powerplant License examinations.

Through the Department of Continuing Education, this 128-hour, 11-week program is designed to prepare students for three written exams, oral and practical tests through hands-on training and some basic welding technology. Books are included, and the equipment puts your skills to work!

The purpose of this program is to provide training for active-duty and retired military personnel seeking employment/promotion in A & P operations. The general public is also welcome to enroll. There are four requirements to obtain a mechanics license: experience, achievement in written exams and achievement in oral and practical tests.

The Airframe and Powerplant Prep course is for applicants who meet FAR 65.71-65.77. According to these regulations, a student must have experience before being approved by the FAA to sit for the exams. The required experience for the powerplant mechanics rating is a minimum of 18 months working with tools on any type of aircraft engine. The required experience for the airframe mechanic rating is a minimum of 18 months working with tools on any type of airframe. For students who desire both ratings, the combination total of experience is only 30 months.

The course is given at FTCC’s Spring Lake Campus, which provides 34 modern classrooms including 12 laboratories, a conference room, a North Carolina Information Highway classroom and a 102-seat lecture hall. The program has been a success for Fort Bragg and surrounding areas. With continued interest, FTCCwill provide the training for aviation mechanics as long as needed.

Are you ready to further your career? Come talk to us at FTCC today! For more information about the Airframe and Powerplant Preparation classes, please call 910.678.0027.

FTCC offers more than 189 programs of study leading to the award of associate degree, certificate or diploma. Many programs of study are offered 100 percent online. In addition to curriculum studies, FTCC’s Continuing Education Department offers a broad range of programs to enhance skills, gain new skills and help individuals transition into the workplace quickly. Learn more at faytechcc.edu or visit our campuses at 2201 Hull Road in Fayetteville, 171 Lake Tree Blvd. in Spring Lake, or the Fort Bragg Center located in the Bragg Training and Education Center.

Photo: FTCC’s airframe and powerplant preparation program  provides training for active-duty and retired military personnel seeking employment/promo-tion in Airframe and Powerplant operations.

Shopping and Selling Easy as 1 2 3

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.

The Shops at 123 Hay Street boasts a wide variety of goods ranging from décor and furniture to kids’ toys and baby goods. The consignment store helps vendors set up individualized spaces inside to sell unique products without the hassle of owning a business themselves. The Shops at 123 Hay Street is the perfect complement to anyone’s shopping experience in Downtown Fayetteville.

Joy Powell, owner of the store, has maintained the business for two years now. Despite the difficulties that come with owning a retail shop, Powell continues to make great strides in growing her business and focusing on the consumer.

The store’s original location across the street was relocated after Powell saw an opportunity to buy its current location. “There’s a lot more room, it doubled the size,” she said. “I’ve been very pleased.” Powell has taken full advantage of the new space by allowing more vendors to utilize her service. This allows Shops at 123 Hay Street to carry many products shoppers would otherwise be unable to find elsewhere.

What lured Powell to her store’s current location was the constant activity seen in the downtown area. Festivals, parades and celebrations splash the calendar with events for the entire family. “We participate in 4th Friday and we’ve always loved downtown,” Powell said. “Anytime we get a large crowd (from events) it helps business.”

Despite the festivities, Powell is looking forward to watching her business and downtown continue to grow and prosper. With events like Fayetteville After 5 and 4th Friday, there are plenty of opportunities for both shoppers and businesses to make connections.

Powell feels that she has a lot of great support in the downtown area from local alliances and other businesses. She believes it’s a collaborative effort to bring consumers to the area and local businesses thrive off the success of one another.

Consignment stores especially rely on a close relationship with the vendors they support, this is something Powell is proud of with her own business.

The advantage of consignment is the variety of goods made available to consumers. The Shops at 123 Hay Street has one of largest collections of items in the downtown area. From the wild to the tame, there’s something for everyone.

“A celebration of the home, The Shops at 123 Hay Street is a place for the quality and style conscious consumer, providing unique, one of a kind merchandise,” Powell wrote on her Facebook page, “You never know what kind of treasures you will find, our inventory changes often.”

Businesses like The Shops at 123 Hay Street create the ideal medium between vendors and consumers. Entrepreneurs like Powell are the driving force in small businesses in downtown. Whether a consumer or a small shop owner, her business has a space, or a product, just for you.

Photo: Joy Powell, owner of Moonstone Jewelry.

Michael Solovey is not your typical artist. He doesn’t spend all of his days in the studio and he doesn’t have the “bohemian” lifestyle that many expect of a professional artist.

Instead, Solovey dons his uniform every morning, pulls on his boots and stands his post at Fort Bragg. Solovey has had deployments around the world and has seen conflict in Bosnia and Afghanistan. He has not let his job define what he does as an artist, rather, he uses it to refine it.

On Thursday, June 20, Fayetteville residents will have the opportunity to view Solovey’s unique works as Gallery 208 hosts an opening reception for his exhibit.

"Engineer the art like a

BMW, design it like a

Porsche and build it

with the heart and soul of a

Harley-Davidson."

Solovey has spent a lot of time thinking about his art work and pours himself into each project he undertakes whether it is a commission by an Army unit or organization or a personal project that he creates just for himself. He explains the way he approaches his art on his website.

“Success equals fulfi llment. And to me, fulfi llment is the combination of three very specifi c ideals that must be constantly pursued,” writes Solovey. “Probably the most rewarding concept for me is to ‘build something from nothing’ — whether that be a business, to composing a piece of artwork, to designing, engineering and then building an automobile from the ground-up. All the while, pouring every ounce of your energy, talent and heart into that specifi c initiative or ideal.

“Continually improve and seek to be the epitome in whatever niche you pursue. Be like Porsche,” he continues.

“Then there is the process of taking that end product(s) and sharing it. And then hopefully, others will feed from it and find inspiration that carries over into their respective pursuits. Then take it a step further — and mentor those junior to you — especially, in my case, younger artists.”

It would be easy for some to categorize Solovey as an artist who concentrates on military art. But that is too simplistic. Solovey’s work covers a variety of topics from the automobiles that help him envision his works to simple sketches of people and locations. Throw in sculpture, architectural renderings, landscapes and fine-art commissions and you begin to see the diversity of his works.

In creating his works, Solovey holds to some hard and fast rules:

• Never ever sacrifice quality.

• Take each new piece to the next level.

• The patron is always part of the creative process.

• No “Hollywood Art.”

• Always give the customer more than he expects.

• Be prolific.

• Keep originality a priority.

• Make their jaws drop.

• Give back to the community.

That work ethic has won him many supporters within the community. His signature works of art bear witness to the triumphs and losses of military units over the years.

“You see a lot of military art floating around, which is great and wonderful,” he noted. “But 95 percent of the military art out there isn’t done by guys who were actually there or that were actually in the service. Ten to 20 years from now, I hope all of my work will be a chronological journal in pictures of the war from someone who was actually there. It will resonate well with others who served.”

Solovey has books that belonged to his grandfather that are compilations of sketches by a World War II soldier, Bill Mauldin.

“He was a sergeant who drew sketches of soldiers during the war. He was there in Europe on the front lines. Knowing that he was drawing what he saw gives credibility to it,” he said. “Maybe 10 years from now I will do a coffee table book with all of my prints that will tell this story.”

Solovey is very careful to keep his two lives separate. His art is personal. He works on it for an hour or two each evening or on the weekends. Much of that time is spent fulfi lling commissions, which leaves little time for him to work on his own projects.

“I am very blessed that folks like and appreciate my work, but it leaves very little time to work on projects that I really want to do,” he said.

“I work in a lot of different mediums and at the opening, I’m going to have a lot of different works on exhibit: oil, water color, pencil, marble. Alot of people know about my military work, but they might not know that I do a lot of fine art work, as well.”

Solovey learned to paint while a senior at Virginia Military Institute.

“During my last year as a cadet, I went on an exchange with our sister school in France, where I attended art school,” he explained. “That’s where I learned to paint. We didn’t do any real sketching like I do now, instead we studied the works of the great artists in southern France in the 1800s. That’s really my roots.”

Understanding that, people will understand that Solovey has a passion for creating city scenes and working in water color and oil.

With his exhibit, Solovey hopes to show people a holistic view of his art. “Just because a guy is in the military, doesn’t mean that he is myopic. There are a lot of guys out there who have a lot of unique talents. I went to the Infantry Advanced Course with a guy who is an opera singer.”

Another passion for Solovey is drawing old cars.

“Cars today are very bland. Back in ‘50s and ‘60s there was some brilliant design work with the rounded fenders and curves. It really lends itself to a piece of art,” he said.

His art also gives him the opportunity to give back. Over the years he has created a number of works for nonprofits, including those dealing with wounded warriors.

“That’s one of the most rewarding parts. I have the ability to give back to the community; to help families in need,” he said.

To learn more about Solovey’s work, join the staff of Up & Coming at the opening from 5:30-7 p.m. on June 20.

Cover photo: Brotherhood

Whether you are a supporter of community theater, a blossoming thesbian or just a lover of silent auctions, food and fun, the Gilbert theater’s First Annual Pryer Awards will provide a wonderful evening of entertainment. The fundraiser will take place June 24 from 6 until 9 p.m. at the Gilbert Theater on Bow Street in Fayetteville. The event will begin with appetizers and drinks with a cabaret show starting at 7 p.m. The show will feature well-known local performers and will be followed by the announcement of awards for Best Actor and Best Actress, Best Supporting Performers, Best Play or Musical, Best Costume, Scenic and Lighting Design and a special volunteer award.

The awards were voted on throughout the season by theater patrons and will be presented by local directors and friends of the Gilbert, Jeremy Feibig, Marcella Casals, and Gail Morfesis to name a few. Silent auction prizes will be announced at 8:30 p.m. by Robyne Parrish, acting artistic director of the Gilbert. Some highlights of the silent auction include art and book packages, jewelry, electronics and date night packages including dinners at Pierro’s and Circa, as well as theater tickets to Cape Fear Regional Theatre and Temple theater in Sanford.

The awards were created to honor the founding artistic director Lynn Pryer, who hosted the Gilbert Theater in the basement of his home on Brandt Lanes starting in 1994. At its inception, the Gilbert shows were open and free to the public and took place in his small black-box theater. During shows of William Shakespeare’s works the productions spilled out into his lovely and theatrically lit back garden. It provided an acting outlet for many talented local artists and students.

Later the theater was moved to the Arts Council building on Hay Street in Downtown Fayetteville before settling into its current home on the corner of Green and Bow Streets located near the Market House. The Gilbert Theater is named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette. It is now located on the second floor of the Fascinate-U Children’s Museum at 116 Green street in historic downtown Fayetteville.

Many well-known local actors are included in the nominations. James Dean, who has fascinated local theater audiences through his portrayal of characters at the Gilbert as well as Cape Fear Regional Theater, was nominated for not only best actor but also best supporting actor for his work as Henry The Fantastics character. Other best acting nominations include: Best Actress: Joyce Lipe, Amanda Lerner, Tracey Hinton, Carrie Carroll, Best Supporting Actress: Lindsay Myers, Carrie Carroll, Jordan Ballentine, Ruth Crews, Best Actor: James Dean, Patrick Riviere, Best Supporting Actor: James Dean, Philip Gilfus.

While speaking to Lynn Pryer, he stated that he is deeply honored by the inception of these annual awards and hopes the community will continue to focus on excellence in the theater arts. Don’t miss this opportunity to support the local theater arts scene. Find out more at www.gilberttheater.com.

Photo: Gilbert Theater’s First Annual Pryer Awards scheduled for June 24 are named for Lynn Pryer, the founder of Gilbert Theater.  

Let down your hair, put on your cowboy hats and boots for this month’s Fayetteville after 5. Country sensation artist James Otto will hit the stage at Festival Park on Friday, June 21 for a night of dancing and great country music — a perfect event for the south.

Otto’s big success happened in 2007 when he signed with Warner Brother Records in Nashville, Tenn. With the making of their first album, Sunset Man, Otto was on the way. His fi rst single off of the album, “Just Got Started Lovin’ You” reached number one on the Hot Country Songs list and the number one country single in 2008.

He was involved in co-writing Jamey Johnson’s hit single “In Color” with Lee Thomas Miller. “In Color” was nominated for a Grammy for “Best Country Song” at the 2008 Grammy Awards. Johnson also was awarded for the 2008 Academy of Country Music award for “Song of the Year”. “

I approached writing a lot of these songs with what I really wanted for my live show,” said Otto.

Otto’s most recent work came out in 2010; favorite singles from this album, Shake What God Gave Ya, were “Groovy Little Summer Song” and “Soldiers and Jesus.” He also went on tour that year with Toby Keith and Trace Adkins, two other phenomenal country artists.

That arena-ready thinking bred barn burners like the opening track, “Are Ya With Me,” which emphasizes his Southern rock side, and the divine mandate of the title song, “Shake What God Gave Ya,” which Otto says “has turned out to be the best live song we have — better than any of the hits — because it gets people off their asses and out of their seats.”

“Soldiers & Jesus” is no rote patriotic anthem. As the grandson of a Korean War veteran, the son of a drill sergeant who was in the military for 23 years, and as a Navy vet himself, Otto feels an intensely personal connection with the song’s message … which, he stresses, is not a political one.

“Being a guy who considers himself a Christian, I think this song addresses a subject that needs to be addressed. One of the lines is, ‘There’s a left side, a right side, and then there’s the truth.’ Regardless of the politics that can often divide our nation … This song basically just wants to lay it out as Christians see it — that there’s only two people that ever gave their lives for you, and it’s soldiers and Jesus.”

His songs are great summer tunes to jam to and he pours his personal experiences and memories into his lyrics, making them all the more unique.

“As much as there’s all these different fractures of country music these days — you have pop country, rock country, traditional country, alt-country and all these things in between — I don’t know why country-soul couldn’t exist right alongside it all,” said Otto.

Come experience a great festivity during this month’s Fayetteville After 5. Fayetteville After 5, sponsored by the Dogwood Festival, is a fun, family-friendly event that allows the community to get together and celebrate the end of the week through music and dance.

The gates open around 5 p.m. and please remember: no outside food and beverages are allowed.

For more information on James Otto, visit www.jamesotto.net. And to find out what else is going on in Fayetteville this summer, visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com/index.php.

Photo:  Country music artist James Otto is set to perform at Fayetteville After 5.

Methodist University’s School of Graduate Studies offers four degrees for students taking their MU Journey to the next level or working professionals who are looking to advance their careers. All of the programs combine a professional emphasis with scholarship and critical analysis, and instill in graduates the importance of lifelong learning to support professional development.

On June 17, classes will begin for the second co-hort of the Master of Education Program, while the inaugural class will start its second and final year. Designed for current K-12 teachers who want to be leaders in the classroom and beyond, the program is a mix of face-to-face instruction and online classes. Upon graduation, the students will be eligible to apply for a North Carolina professional licensure in Reading or Special Education, depending on their degree concentrations. The deadline to apply for the next cohort is May 15, 2014.

This fall, the Professional Master of Business Administration Program will begin classes with a focus on organizational management and leadership. The MBA’s second emphasis, health care administration, starts in the spring. The MBA Program will hold sev-eral open houses this year, on Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 7 and Nov. 4, all at 6 p.m. in Yarborough Auditorium in Clark Hall. The MBA Program is targeted at working professionals and blends online coursework with two weekend class sessions per term, and students can complete the program in 18 months. Applications for the MBA Program are due May 19 or Oct. 19, depending on the chosen focus.

Students in the Master of Justice Administration Program can enroll in either the fall or the spring with the same curriculum, with application deadlines of June 15 and Oct. 15. The MJA Program is targeted toward professionals working in the criminal justice system at the local, county or state level in North Carolina in middle management positions who want to develop their skills and careers further. A hybrid-course design mixes online learning with classes held at the North Carolina Justice Academy in Salemburg, N.C., for one Friday-Sunday weekend each month for four months each term. Students take 12 courses to com-plete the program, with the ability to take one or two classes each term.

Methodist University’s first graduate-level program was the Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies. The PA Program is one of the more popular graduate programs on campus. This competitive, full-time program starts once a year, in the fall, with an application deadline of 16 months in advance, on March 1.

For more information on Methodist University’s School of Graduate Studies, visit methodist.edu/gradstudies, email Dr. George Hendricks at ghendricks@methodist.edu, or call 1.800.488.7110.

Summer Camps

This summer, there are also many summer camps going on at Methodist University. Information on summer camps is available at methodist.edu, under the Events section on the website.

Photo: Methodist University offers four graduate studies programs. Scan the QR code to find out more. 

The Hidden Gem of Downtown Fayetteville

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.

Downtown Fayetteville is buzzing with activity. No matter the need, downtown offers a wide array of services filled with small business owners eager to make an impression. Nestled among the many shops of Hay Street is a unique family-owned business, Moonstone Jewelry. Moonstone Jewelry is an out-of-this-world jewelry store experience. Inside, the walls are lined with an assortment of eye-catching earrings, necklaces and rings — many of which created by designer/owner Samantha Angarita. Upon entering, customers are greeted by the bubbly Angarita in her haute couture, high fashion showroom. Moonstone Jewelry strives to be different by creating a personalized shopping experience where customers can request their own unique, exclusive piece to be designed at an affordable price.

“I love it. I love what I do,” Angarita said. “This is my dream-come-true job.” Just last year, she was designated one of the Fayetteville Observer’s 40 Under Forty as a future up and coming leader in the Fayetteville community. In addition to owning and operating a business, Angarita is busy raising a family with her husband Joel who’s in the military. “My biggest supporter is my husband,” she said. “My son also helps on the weekends, he loves helping his mom, he’s become a familiar face for customers.”

Originally from Venezuela, Angarita moved to the Fayetteville area eight years ago. She learned English and began taking courses at FTCC. In Venezuela she owned a consulting business before moving to the States. No stranger to entrepreneurship, she was eager to jump at the opportunity to run another business, this time in jewelry. “Everyone on my dad’s side is an artist,” Angarita explained. “I wanted to find a way to express myself artistically, which I found in Moonstone.” Aside from her work with Moonstone, she also hosts the local television show Conexion Latina where she informs local Latinos about up and coming events in and around Fayetteville.

The beauty of Moonstone is the customer service. “I like to spend time with my customers and form a relationship with my clients,” Angarita said. “I know their names and stay in touch with them.” Forming a bond with customers allows Angarita to have insight that allows her to craft the right piece of jewelry.

By working with Angarita to craft pieces, customers no longer have to worry about plain, generic trinkets. The personal involvement with the crafting and design process practically guarantees satisfaction. “We are different and I love when people come to see something unique and they can afford it.” She said. “We can work with their budget.” Much of the jewelry lining the walls was not designed by Angarita but was selected by the owner herself. “I go hunting for jewelry. I can tell where each piece is coming from,” she said. “People like to know the story behind it.” Point to anything in her store and there’s a tale to tell.

Angarita stressed that downtown is the to-be place in Fayetteville. “We have everything in downtown,” she said. It’s her hope that by working cooperatively with other shops, they can begin to bring more business to everyone downtown.

Moonstone Jewelry is located at 306 Hay St and is open from 10:30am to 5:30 pm. If you’re looking for exclusive, unique and custom designed jewelry with great customer service, don’t exclude Moonstone from your shopping adventure. Also, while visiting Historic Downtown Fayetteville, experience the other fine quality shops, art venues and restaurants that define the “downtown” experience. There are dozens of equally wonderful experiences waiting to be found in historic Downtown Fayetteville.

Photo: Joy Powell, owner of Shops at 123 Hay Street.

The Perils of Buying Promo Items Online

I was told for the first time around 1995 that my days as a local promotional products vendor were numbered and that the Internet was going replace me. I’ve heard this many times since, yet it hasn’t ever happened. Why? Most buyers want to know whom they’redoing business with. They want someone to be personally accountable for their order and their budget. This is true for many products that can be bought either locally or online. Still, many businesses buy promo items online. They do this to save money, but if they took into account the potential problems and missed opportunities, the savings would not seem nearly as attractive. Many who have bought online and been burned know what I’m talking about. You’ve had orders arrive late and missed events. You’ve had items arrive looking different than expected. And when you have a misprint, you’ve jumped through hoops to get a re-print — if one can be had at all. You’ve called and gotten a different person every time and different answers, too. Suffice it to say that there are pitfalls to ordering promo items online that can only be avoided by experienced professional buyers.

A professional local promo products vendor can be your guide to the right product from the right manufacturer at the right price.

The Right Product. Most local vendors have access to a search engine with more than 700,000 products and search tools to narrow the selection by specific need — like material, production-time or price-range. A local vendor with some experience can advise as to which products work well for which purposes. I often have customers tell me that they want a specific item for an event, but once we discuss the options, I often find that a different item will be far more effective. An online vendor will just take your order. They give no advice and have no interest in whether the item is right for you or not. The local vendor’s reputation and hope for continued business with you ride upon the quality of his advice. Your interests are their interests.

The Right Manufacturer.Local vendors know from experience or from our network’s rating system, which suppliers are stars and which are duds. If you need it fast, we know which company can ship in 24 hours — sometimes at no extra charge! If you need a complex multi-color print, we know which company has the right equipment to do the job. And most importantly, the risk is all ours. If your product doesn’t show up as ordered, your local vendor has to get it fixed or not get paid!

The Right Price. As mentioned above, the current search engines available to vendors in this industry can tell us in minutes (sometimes seconds) what the lowest price for an item is and they can also tell us the best value. Sometimes the lowest price is offered by a manufacturer with known quality or service problems but just a few cents more enables you to buy from a 5-star supplier. Which is the better value? I think most people would rather pay a little more for peace of mind.

The Right Graphics. Some local vendors have in-house art capabilities so that they can tweak your design to fit each item you order. Often, this includes a 3D mock-up of how the finished product will look. This is an invaluable service that takes product effectiveness and peace-of-mind to new levels!

No matter which product you are considering buying online, it is worth the time to check out a reputable local vendor and see what they have to offer. You might find that the best value is right here in town.

Photo: It’s worth the time to check out local vendors for promotional items before making a purchase.

Big-time comedian Michael Blackson, also known as the African King of Comedy, will perform June 15, at the Crown Center to raise funds for the Ngorli Organization, a charity that aims to further the education of children in underdeveloped communities in Africa.

Taken from its official website, Ngorli “takes the stance that some of the key components needed to reach children and initiate a passion for learning are: education, motivation, exposure and interest-based learning. It is important to enable children to see themselves beyond their current conditions and circumstances. Placing literature in their hands makes a connection to their daily lives, while at the same time expanding their thoughts and ideas regarding their own potential.”

In Ghana, more than half of the schools are privately owned and only 40 percent are owned by the government. In this system, children whose parents cannot afford private school are left with poor scores and fewer opportunities. That’s where the Ngorli Organization provides assistance by helping the less fortunate communities through the funding of libraries and other educational infrastructure. The organization “believes that together we can advance the course of humanity by promoting and creating a constructive environment and well-resourced educational facilities for children in underprivileged societies.”

Ngorli, meaning future or hope in the Ewe language, serves as the philosophy of the organization. Like its name implies, the organization has created an array of programs to help children overcome obstacles like poverty and illiteracy through scholarships, counseling, competitions and medical screenings both locally and abroad.Originally from Ghana, Blackson is known for his humorous portrayal of American culture, which shines a spotlight on the often times ironic nature of everyday American life as seen by an outsider. Blackson launched his career as a stand-up comedian in different locations around Philadelphia, Penn. His big break was his role in the comedy film Next Friday (2000) where he gained a large following, which led to the release of his top-selling sketch comedy CD, Modasucka. Blackson has appeared in several other film and television programs since, leaving audiences in tears of laughter.

When it comes to entertainment, there are few better ways to conclude your day than to see top-notch comedians perform while simultaneously contributing to a child’s education and future. One thing’s for sure; if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind performance, comedy genius Blackson will not disappoint.

Also performing that night are Shaun Jones, R&B artist Eliz Camacho and more. Buy your tickets at TicketMaster.com to ensure the best seats for optimum giggles! The show begins on June 15, at 9 p.m.

Photo: Comedian Michael Blackson will perform at the Crown on June 15 to raise funds for the Ngorli Organization.

A chance to run or walk while supporting a great cause is coming to Fayetteville. The Run for Infantile Scoliosis is a 5K race happening June 8.

Progressive Infantile Scoliosis happens mainly in young children, but there have been cases where it has affected older children. When the spine curves abnormally it is called scoliosis, but in little children and babies, it is called progressive because, if not treated properly, it will continue to grow abnormally and surgery is necessary.

Rachel Jacobs, event director, has personal experience with infantile scoliosis. Her daughter was diagnosed with it when she was only 4 months old. Jacobs did not opt for surgery.

“It doesn’t really work, or correct the spine,” she said.

Instead she went with the treatment offered by Dr. Min Mehta, a retired orthopedic surgeon from London. The procedure is a cast. The child is sedated and put on a 3-D casting frame. This allows for elongation and traction when placing the cast around the child; it is placed above the hips and below the shoulders. The doctor can correct the rotation by gently maneuvering the spine with his hand. Children are not confi ned in the cast; they can still run, play, wear normal diapers and do regular activities. The success from this casting method is unbelievable. Jacob’s daughter was put in the cast, making her child one of the youngest children ever. She was then casted every six weeks and she went from a spinal curvature of 41 degrees to just 10. “This literally is a cure if caught early enough. My daughter has it, is still being treated and has had greater success than we could’ve imagined.”

“This is me paying it forward-and I enjoy running.” Jacobs said. All the proceeds will go to the Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program, a non-profit organization in Denver, Colo., that strives to supply resources and information for families with children of progressive infantile scoliosis.

Heather Montoya, another mother who has been impacted by progressive infantile scoliosis, founded the organization. Her daughter, Olivia, was diagnosed at 5 months in 1998. The only answer that was given to her was the standard surgery to fuse the spine to stop progression. This, however, is life threatening because it causes no room for other vital organs to grow in the body.

“My maternal instinct was saying no. I knew that couldn’t be the way to go. I needed to find something to help my baby,” Montoya said.

By the time she was 2 years old, Olivia’s spine was already curved at 100 degrees, which could possibly crush her lungs or heart and end up killing her. Heather jumped through hoops and sent x-rays all over the world, but all the doctors she contacted suggested the fusion surgery. Through a few doctors in Colorado she learned of the procedure called halo gravity traction, a procedure done in France by Dr. Jean Dubousset. The child is put in a turnbuckle case under anesthesia and a horseshoe shaped metal bar is placed around the skull, like a halo. It is put into place by pins and weights are attached and slowly increased to safely straighten the spine. Olivia was able to receive this treatment. The best part? It worked. The curvature of her spine was cut in half, from 100 degrees to 42 degrees. This was only to buy valuable growth time. Olivia has had to go through more casting and a damaging surgery. This led Montoya to start the website called infantilescholiosis.com, knowing there must be more families in the same situation.

The organization and the race are all about spreading awareness in the community and education. Live music has been planned and there are picnic benches for relaxing. “A lot of people have said they were coming. You won’t regret it if you come out. Your knowledge and exposure from this can help someone else,” Jacobs said.

The race is to take place in Honeycutt Park on Saturday, June 8 at 8:30 a.m. There is a $20 online registration fee before June 5 and $25 the day of the race. Race T-shirts are limited to the fi rst 250 online registrants.

To register online visit this website: www.active.com/running/fayetteville-nc/run-for-infantile-scoliosis-2013. To find out more about Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program, visit www.infantilescoliosis.org

As the weather gets warmer, the Cape Fear Botanical Garden is blooming with life. With more than 2,000 varieties of plants and flowers, including a camellia garden, a heritage garden and a children’s garden, there are plenty of sights and scents to enjoy.

For the second consecutive year, the CFBG will provide sweet music to complement the serene environment. As part of the CFBG’s Spring Concert Series, The Coconut Groove Band will play a wide variety of classics under the twilight skies, June 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., rain or shine.

The Coconut Groove Band, or CGB, as the band prefers to be called, features an eclectic mix of music, including songs by the Beatles, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and several other artists. The band also plays music by Led Zeppelin, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and the Allman Brothers for those who prefer the classics.

“We realize that everyone has their own musical tastes and try not to alienate anyone,” said Rick McClanahan, who is on guitar and vocals. “We figure everybody in the audience is going to hear something during the show that they really enjoy.”

The Coconut Groove Band has been playing together since 1996, at which time the band covered a number of Jimmy Buffet songs. Over the years the band broadened its repertoire. McClanahan said the name Coconut Groove Band doesn’t represent the wide variety of music they play, but the name stuck. The four members, McClanahan, Eric Willhelm (drums), Leslie Pierce (bass) and David Harper (keyboard) offer the audience much more than tropical rock.

“We all four sing — which is one of our greatest strengths. We’re very proud of our harmony arrangements,” McClanahan added. “We are able to perform songs that most other bands would never attempt.”

The Coconut Groove Band is the fourth band in the spring concert series. The CFBG added a fifth band to the series this year. The last concert will be held June 28 featuring Fantasy, a rhythm and blues band.

Kensley Edge, director of development and marketing for the CFBG, said, “The gardens are a wonderful attraction in the Cape Fear region. The concerts are an addition to the beautiful scenery and other activities the gardens offer,”Edge said.

“It’s an activity that everybody can enjoy,” Edge added.

Elliotts Catering of Pinehurst will have food available for purchase at the concert. Beer and wine will also be sold at the event. All proceeds benefit the garden.

Come out and join the CFBG and get your groove on with the Coconut Groove Band June 14. The garden is located at 536 N. Eastern Blvd. in Fayetteville.

The price of the concert is included in the cost of general admission. Garden members get in free. It is $8 for general admission, $7 with military identifi cation. The price of admission for children ages 6-12 is $2.50. Admission is free for children fi ve and under.

The CFBG is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12-5 p.m. A garden café is also open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.

For more information, visit the website at www.capefearbg.org.

If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It

Recently I came across a photograph of myself with several of my friends when we were young mothers.

We are standing together in someone’s backyard with our various children, knee babies and pre-schoolers all. Each of us has at least one child, and some of us have two. Each of us is also in some stage of another pregnancy, some of us bigger than others.

And each of us is wearing, to put it charitably, a muumuu of some description. In case you missed the ‘60s and ‘70s, a muumuu is a brightly colored garment of Hawaiian origin, often with a floral motif, that is big and baggy and reveals few details about the wearer’s figure.

To put it bluntly, they are shapeless.

The photograph brought back warm memories of raising children in a neighborhood filled with friends and lots of their children.

It also triggered a more recent memory of attending a formal dinner dance during the holidays where a fellow guest, a generation younger than I, was attired in what appeared to be a sequin-encrusted black spandex evening gown which clearly defined her growing belly, what we now call her “baby bump.”

That dress was about as far from a muumuu as one could get.

More recently still was an article in The New York Times, entitled “Pregnancy Takes a Turn on the Red Carpet.” The article highlighted an outfit worn by famous-for-being-famous Kim Kardashian who wore a muumuu patterned floral garment to a New York gala, only hers was cut close to the body and showed off a signifi cant baby bump. Critics panned the outfit and a doctored photo of Kardashian plopped on a chintz sofa from which she was virtually indistinguishable circulated on social media. The matching heels and gloves probably did not help.

In addition to the floral disaster, the article features photographs of other celebrities in late stages of pregnancy, several of whom are dressed up for possible acceptance speeches. These include Beyonce in brilliant red, Cate Blanchett and Catherine Zeta-Jones both swathed in yards of fine material, and Eva Marie Saint wearing a “skirt suit” to accept an Academy Award in 1955, two days before her baby arrived. Currently encinta Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is also featured in a demure spring ensemble including a coat with her baby bump apparent but hardly spotlighted.

Also included and still sensational is Demi Moore’s cover shot for a 1991 issue of Vanity Fair, very pregnant and very naked, wearing nothing but a pixie haircut and large diamond jewelry.

That photograph blew the door off the pregnancy closet.

At the other end of the spectrum is something my father, a courtly Southerner of the old school, told me many years ago. Not that he had any first hand experience, of course, but he spoke with authority when he said that proper Victorian ladies had quite the opposite reaction to being in a family way or, as he put it, “being in a delicate condition.” When their baby bumps appeared, instead of wrapping themselves in spandex or wearing a bulging birthday suit on a magazine cover, they simply retired to their homes for the duration. They emerged several months later with a babe in arms and a fi rmly corseted belly.

I have been trying to make sense of all this without too much success.

Clearly, the Victorian model seeks to tamp down any thoughts about how that baby bump might have gotten there in the fi rst place, but there may be other reasons to cover up if not actually staying at home for months on end. Some women might worry about obvious weight gain, and others might be concerned that pregnancy could affect their jobs or professional aspirations, both illegal but still operative in some cases. In years past, women might have worried about an unwed pregnancy, but that is hardly a concern these days.

And what to make of pregnancies advertised by clingy clothing?

In an essay entitled “The Baby Bump is the New Birkin” last year, Drake University Associate Professor Renee Ann Cramer compared baby bumps to very fancy, very pricey, high-status pocketbooks as a must-have accessory for celebrities. Maybe so, but I see equally advertised baby bumps on mere mortals wearing humble T-shirts with downward pointing arrows and the word “BABY” emblazoned on the bulge.

I am not saying that the muumuus of my era were the perfect maternity get-up. Some of them were hideous, their only saving grace being comfort. I am suggesting, though, that there may be a happy middle ground between staying home in a circus tent and wearing clothes so tight one’s belly button pokes out.

A final word to mothers-to-be.

My experience tells me that no matter how much you like your baby bump, you are going to really, really love your baby!

Photo: What is considered fashionable for pregnancy has changed over the years.

Fayetteville is full of venues for outside events, and Campbellton Landing is just one of many great choices for an outdoor concert. On Saturday,June 22, head to The First Annual Safe Havens River Fest. The day will be filled with music, fun, food and more.

Beginning at 2 p.m., four local bands are set to entertain the crowds, all for a great cause, and best of all — it is free. A staple at local festivals, Fahrenheit opens the festivities. The band has performed at many popular venues around town including the Dogwood Festival and business openings as well as local watering holes. If Tom Petty and the Eagles are on your playlist, don’t miss Fahrenheit.

Next up, ‘80s Unplugged pays homage to Rubik’s Cube, Swatch Watches and Members Only jackets with hits straight from the decade of big hair and skinny ties. While the band hails from Southern Pines, it is not unusual to find it performing in Fayetteville at places like Carolina Ale House and Luigi’s Italian Restaurant. Seal the Deal follows and Radio Boxx ends the show with funk, jazz and R&B.

In addition to a day of great entertainment, River Fest includes a motorcycle show.

“The Wingmen of Fayetteville Motorcycle Club are doing a bike show for us,” said Bobbi Hair, the event coordinator who serves as a case manager for family court.

There is a $25 entry fee to enter the bike show. Trophies will be awarded for first and second place for American stock, sportster stock, big twin, custom sportster, custom big twin, bagger and Metric sport bike ,bagger, chopper, rat and best of show. Registration starts at 2 p.m., on the day of the event. Call 910-484-2936 or email www.9339mc.com for more information about the bike show.

Stick around for the 50/50 raffle at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 per entry or $20 for five tickets. Participants must be present to win.

There will be vendors on hand as well. So far, there are more than 20 vendors that will be there selling everything from jewelry and make-up to food and other homemade items.

What is a day of festivities without great food? “We will have food vendors serving fare that is similar to what is served at other big festivals in town throughout the year,” said Hair. “Huske Hardware will be there selling BBQ sandwiches and other things and we will have a big selection of festival food including funnel cakes and things like that.”

Proceeds for the event benefit Safe Havens. Safe Havens has grown from an organization that served eight families when it opened in 2004, to a service that serves about 130 families in Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Cumberland and Hoke counties on a regular basis. The court-run program has survived on grants until recently when an operating grant was not renewed. This put the organization at risk, along with the families that benefit from the organization’s services. Safe Havens acts as an intermediary for families that are torn apart. The agency facilitates visitation and works to resolve custody issues.

“The reason for Safe Havens is when a judge hears a custody case, if they see that domestic violence is a problem or is alleged, or if there is substance abuse or the mom or dad has not been in the child’s life for several years, rather than let the absent parent visit unsupervised, they let the parent visit at Safe Havens,” explained Hair.

The parents do not have to interact. The facility provides visitation rooms with various themes, including a Hawaiian theme and solar system theme. The rooms are soothing, and Safe Havens provides toys and games. Social workers come into the center, and depending on the situation, they monitor the visits. When the child is brought in to the visiting parent, the social workers are trained to watch the body language of the child during the conversations and make notes.

The notes are then submitted to the judge to review so the court can gauge how the visits are going and act in the best interest of the family.

In addition to social workers, Safe Havens visits are supported by security services so that parents, social workers and kids are all safe during the visits and drop-offs/pick-ups.

“It is just a wonderful agency,” said Hair. “It breaks my heart that it is possibly going to end.”

Hair noted that there are several other grants that the organization has applied for, but so far the staff has not heard back from any of the benefactors. As things stand now, Safe Havens will close its doors on June 30, leaving about 130 families without service in Cumberland and surrounding counties.

River Fest is a great way to raise funds and have a fun time, while making a difference in the community.

While admittance is free, organizers anticipate the crowd will want to buy food and make purchases from the local vendors.

“We are looking forward to everyone coming out and having a good time,” said Hair. “I am especially looking forward to getting exposure for Safe Havens. A lot of people don’t know what Safe Havens is and how well it serves the community. While this event may not raise the funding we need to stay open indefi nitely, we do hope to raise enough to keep the doors open while we pursue other funding avenues.”

To volunteer at River Fest, or to learn more about Safe Havens, call 910.475.3225. The gates open at 2 p.m.

Photo: Campbellton Landing, a popular venue for music events, is set to host the first annual Safe Havens River Fest on Saturday June 22. 

History is an ever-important part of our society. Always appreciated in hindsight, it teaches us where we come from as a people and serves as a moral compass on the winding road to where we are going as a nation. Join the Museum of Cape Fear Historical Complex as it displays the informative exhibit of the 1898 Wilmington Race Riots. The display debuted on March 19 and closes June 16.

An intriguing look into the past, the exhibit challenges one to think about how far society has come and consider the individual choices to be made in order to secure a better tomorrow for future generations.

The inspiration for the show began after the Arts Council voted to bring the Anne Frank exhibit to Fayetteville. Inspired by her legacy and defi ance against Nazi oppression, agencies were contacted to bring more events to the city in order to lead discussions about diversity. It was that need for people to connect and explore history together that led to the Wilmington Race Riot exhibit. Though many people may not know about the exhibit, The Museum of Cape Fear wanted to feature an event that is relevant to the hearts of North Carolinians as well as the rest of the country.

In 1877, during the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War, Jim Crow laws were enacted throughout the South and were not abolished until the middle of the 20th century. These laws gave privileges to white, elite planters and farmers who favored the Democratic Party and discriminated against minorities. In 1898, the Democrats needed to win the most populated city, which at the time was Wilmington. The problem, however, was that the city’s lawmakers were partly comprised of African-Americans who were educated businessmen and middle-class residents.

In order to overcome this obstacle, the Democrats planned a strategy to infl ame white men who published newspaper articles calling for the lynching of black men by stating that they were slandering white women. They gained much support from men who felt it necessary to defend these “victims.”

To respond to these allegations Alex Manly, editor of the Wilmington Daily Record, refuted these claims in another article and stated that some white women actually preferred black men. Using this as fuel for their agenda, the Democratic Party staged a coup d’état, which resulted in a political riot where white supremacists illegally overthrew legitimate elected offi cials of Wilmington. There was destruction of the Wilmington Daily Record and the ousting of several of the city’s leaders. Remembered as the only successful coup d’état in American history, this riot serves as a cold reminder of our state’s past.

David Reid, administrator of the Museum of Cape Fear Historical Complex is knowledgeable of the event. He said, “It’s important, but not a well known part of North Carolina’s history that does have relevance for today.”

He believes that the exhibit serves as an invaluable example of how far we’ve come as a state and nation. Experience the Wilmington Race Riot exhibit and see how learning from the mistakes of the past can lead to a brighter future for tomorrow. For more information, call 910.486.1330.

Photo: 1898 Wilmington Race Riots exhibit at the Museum of Cape Fear Historical Complex closes on June 16.

Location, location, location! Fayetteville Technical Community College’s newest Cliffdale Park campus opened its doors in January, bringing “My Community College” to your neighborhood.

Nestled amidst residential and business areas on the corner of Reilly and Cliffdale Roads, CDPK is convenient to Fort Bragg, Western Cumberland County and established city bus routes. Hundreds of students have already flocked to the new building for in-demand programs including Certified Nursing Assistant, Registered Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic and EKG Monitor Technician courses. These continuing education courses are designed for new high school graduates as well as working or returning adult students and have flexible schedules and reasonable tuition. In fact, students from neighboring states come to North Carolina to take advantage of these courses.

With 12 classes currently running, local businesses are enjoying the foot traffic from the morning, afternoon, evening, weekend and all-day students. Some courses even have a preregistration website where students can avoid long lines and save a seat in the class in which they wish to enroll. CNA and phlebotomy students can begin their journey by going to www.ftccpass.com where they can view upcoming course schedules, locations and registration information, as well as helpful details about MyCAA, a program that aids with tuition for eligible military spouses. Most of these programs have a clinical component, where students get valuable hands-on training in their field, and many are offered jobs while still finishing up their classes. With two new hospitals opening soon, there is a high demand for trained employees.

Have you been thinking about a career change? Now, with this new location and training in employment fields that are in high demand, this may be the season for you to take that first step at FTCC. Learn more by visiting our website at faytechcc.edu or stop by our 2201 Hull Road campus to learn more about the many programs offered by FTCC’s Continuing Education division. FTCC offers affordable, high-quality education at locations convenient to you. Make plans to visit FTCC soon to learn how we can help fulfill your educational needs!

Photo: FTCC recently opened a campus in west Fayetteville at Cliffdale Park. 

If you’re looking to have a good time on Saturday, June 1, you don’t have to look far. Simply take a drive down to Festival Park, where you can enjoy two sultry pleasures — beer and the blues, as the Cape Fear Regional Theatre brings back the Blues and Brews Festival.

The Blues and Brews Festival, an annual fundraiser for the theatre, has been a favorite community event for a number of years. First held at Campbellton Landing, the festival has grown dramatically over the years, which lead to the move to Festival Park. Last year, more than 2,500 people sipped their way through the festival, which has event organizers setting their sights a little higher this year.

“We are shooting for 3,000 people this year,” said Jenny Deviere, the chair of this year’s event. This is Deviere’s 褀rst year as chair, and she hopes that some minor tweaks to the already successful festival will help bring in more people.

“This is the first year we have had a presenting sponsor,” explained Deviere. “Mellow Mushroom is partnering with us as the presenting sponsor. They will cater the entire VIP tent, as well as have a raf踀e for a lucky couple to win pizza for a year.”

The VIP ticket was introduced several years ago and has been a tremendous success. VIP ticket holders gain entrance to the festival an hour earlier than normal ticket holders and their ticket includes dinner in the VIP tent.

There will be a tasting featuring all the breweries during the VIP hour. Those holding VIP tickets will have the opportunity to sample the brews and vote for the Best in Show. The winning brewery will have a banner in front of their tent proclaiming its beer the Best in Show.

For those who do not purchase a VIP ticket, there will be more food vendors on hand than in years past. That is one of the tweaks Deviere and the Blues and Brews Committee made. “We don’t allow outside food or drinks, so it is important to have a big assortment of food for folks who are spending the evening,” said Deviere.

One of the biggest tweaks to the festival revolves around the music.

“One of the biggest areas that we have had people comment on over the past couple of years is the music,” she noted. “We have heard that folks think the music has been lacking; that we haven’t paid as much love to the music and bands as we should have. So we are correcting that this year.”

Blues lovers will be happy to know that there will be not one, but three great blues acts performing this year.

Kia Walker, a local performer will be on hand in the VIP tent beginning at 5 p.m.

On the mainstage, Old Habits, a Raleigh-based band, will belt out its mix of Blue Grass and Rock-A-Billy Blues. Old Habits will be followed by a band that Deviere classi褀es as a dirty, old blues band, the Fat Bastard Blues Band out of Mebane, N.C.

With the music covered, that brings us to the heart of the festival — the beer.

“We will showcase more than 100 beers from all over the southeast,” explained Deviere. “With each (full-priced) ticket purchased, attendees will receive a commemorative glass for tasting.”

Nannette Walsh, a theatre volunteer, was in charge of organizing the brewers for the events. Walsh brought together an eclectic mix of independent brewers and brewers who are represented by distributors. Two distributors, R.A. Jeffreys and Healy Wholesale, will focus on some of their more non-traditional beers.

Confirmed brewers and beers that will be available for tasting are:•

Aviator Brewing Company, a Fuquay-Varina-based brewery, that will feature HogWild IPA, HotRod Red and the Devil’s Tramping Ground Belgian Tripel.

• Barrel Trolley Brewing Company out of Rochester, N.Y., represented by Mutual Distributors, will showcase its Barrel Trolley Shandy. Also represented by Mutual, is Saranac Brewery, which will feature Saranac Summer Shandy, Blueberry Blonde and a White IPA.

• R.A. Jeffreys will feature a number of breweries, including:

* Blue Point Brewing Company, Long Island, N.Y., with a Toasted Lager Hoptical Illusion, a White Ipa and a Summer Ale.

* Carolina Brewery, out of Pittsboro, N.C., with a Sky Blue Golden Ale, Copperline Amber Ale, Flagship IPA and Bullpen Pale Ale.

* Natty Greene’s, a Greensboro-based brewery, will have a Southern Pale Ale, Buckshot Amber Ale, Elm Street India Pale Ale, Shock Top, Shock Top Apple, Landshark and Black Crown available for tasting.

* Blue Point Brewing Company, of Long Island, N.Y., will have Toasted Lager, Hoptical Illusion, White Ipa and Summer Ale.

* Carib Brewery will showcase its Carib Lager and Mackeson Stout.

* Goose Island will showcase 312, Honkers and a Summer IPA.

* Fayetteville’s own Huske Hardware will pour its Watermelon Wheat Beer and its Ala Yeah Pale Ale, Farmhouse and Spring of Perles Light Lager.

* Wild Blue from Anheuser-Busch.

* Lonerider Brewery our of Raleigh, N.C., will have The Preacher-Saison, a Shotgun Betty Hefe Weizen and Sweet Josie, a Brown Ale.

* The Lion Brewery, of Wilkes-Barre, Penn., will feature a Lionshead Pilsner and a Stegmaier High Drive.

* Triangle Brewery will bring a Belgian Golden, a Triangle White and a Best Bitter.

• Carolina Brewing, of Holly Springs, N.C., will bring a Carolina Pale Ale, Carolina Nut Brown Ale, Carolina India Pale Ale and Carolina Summer Ale.

• Fayetteville’s Mash House will feature a Blonde, Irish Red, IPA and Maibock.

• Railhouse Brewery, out of Aberdeen, N.C., will pour a FCA IPA and a Mastiff Oatmeal Stout.

• Raleigh Brewing Company will feature a House of Clay Rye IPA and a Czech Pilsner

• Healy Wholsale will represent a number of brewers, including:

* Boulevard Brewery with a Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat

* Foothills Brewery showcasing Hoppyum, Seeing Double and a Carolina Blonde Hefe.

* Leinenkugel Brewery will pour Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy.

* New Belgium Brewery will serve Fat Tire, 1554, Ranger IPA and Dig.

* North American Brewery will pour Magic Hat #9.

* Sierra Nevada Brewery will present Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Sierra Nevada Summerfest.

* 10th and Blake will have Crispin Cider, Blue Moon, Blue Moon Seasonal and Batch 19.

Tickets for the event are $35 for those tasting; $15 for general admission; and $50 for VIP admittance. The VIP Tent is open from 4-5 p.m., with general admission beginning at 5 p.m. This year, credit cards can be used at the gate. For tickets and more information, visit www.cfrt.org.

Photo: Middle right: Blues and Brews — from Campbellton Landing to Festival Park. Bottom left: Fat Bastard is set to perform along with Kia Walker and Old Habits.

As the weather warms, more and more people dust off their running or walking shoes and take to the streets. Further, tough economic times have led to a resurgence in interest in running and fi tness over the last several years according to a report by Running USA. Running relieves stress, improves fi tness and helps participants maintain healthy weight levels. What better way to celebrate the start of summer than with a good test of your abilities? For the 17th year, the Army will celebrate its birthday with a 10 Miler. This year, the race is on June 6.

Not in the Army? No problem. This race is open to the public, but only the fi rst 2,000 participants will be accepted, so sign up early. Race fees are $15 if received on or before May 30, and $20 thereafter. The last day to register is June 5 at 5 p.m. Runners can register online at www.fortbraggmwr.com through May 30. Runners can also register in person at the Leisure Travel Services offi ce in the mini-mall near Reilly and Honeycutt Streets or the Funk Physical Fitness Center on Gruber Road near Longstreet. There is no race day registration.

Race packets must be picked up prior to the date of the race and can be picked up at the Funk Physical Fitness Center. Race participants are timed by ChronoTrack timers affi xed to the back of race numbers, therefore the numbers are not transferrable.The race will begin at the Hedrick Stadium area on Fort Bragg at 6 a.m. with pre-race instructions being given at 6:20 a.m. Digital display clocks are at mile marks throughout the course, as well as seven water points. Five of the water points will offer Gatorade, and restrooms are conveniently located near the water points.

Awards will be given for the men’s overall champion, women’s overall champion and the top three fi nishers in 11 classifi cations by age, including wheelchair. There will be team competitions as well; however, the team competition is limited to active-duty personnel. There is no limit to the number of runners on a team, but only the top eight finishers of men’s or mixed-division teams and the top four finishers for women’s teams will count toward team scoring. Team registration must be completed online.

Not a runner? There is an option—for you, too. For the eighth year, in conjunction with the 10 miler, there will also be a 4-mile walk for fun. As this is a non-competitive event, participants will not receive a timing tag. Registration and packet pick-up for the fun walk is the same as the race participants.

Pets, bicycles, roller blades and headphones are not permitted. Need more information? Visitwww.fortbraggmwr.com for more information, registration and for race maps.

Photos: Celebrate the Army’s birthday like a trooper - with a 10-mile road race.

During North Carolina summers, barbeques and cook-offs are a tradition. They bring the community together over great food and the beautiful outdoors. It is in this bonding of the people that ideas are shared and the community can grow. One particular area that every community can grow in is their public safety, and The Spring Lake Public Safety Foundation is planning to hold an open house and barbeque cook off for just that purpose.

One of the most important functions of this open house event is to let the community see and interact with the Spring Lake Police and Fire departments. It sends out a message of accessibility and availability to the community.

“It is an open house and the Spring Lake Police Department and Fire Department will have their trucks out there and do safety demos on summer safety and stranger danger, etc. We want to say that we are here and we are at your service,” said Kristy Sykes, an event committee member.

At the Open House and Barbeque Cook-Off, there will be live entertainment, food, vendors and even prizes.

“Tickets for the raffle are $50 and the grand prize is $2,000. The reverse raffl e is when the last ticket holder standing is the winner, instead of the first ticket drawn. The last four people standing have the option to split the award or go for all or nothing. The proceeds for the event go to the Public Safety Foundation to help purchase new safety equipment for the police department and the fire department,” Sykes explained. The raffle will be held inside the gym at 5 p.m.

The committee has designed a plethora of events for attendees to enjoy.

“The police chief is going to do demos of sawing-off car doors of crashed vehicles. Kids can try on fi reman gear and walk around. We will have food vendors out there and the barbeque cook-off is going to feature ribs, chicken and pork,” said Sykes. “There will be a contest for the best barbeque, but there will be other food vendors out there as well. There will also be arts and crafts. Noah’s Art, which is a new business in Spring Lake, will be present. This is an art studio for kids that focuses on classes for kids and “mommy and me” outings, and Saturday classes. There will also be bouncy houses, and starting at 11 a.m., the local D.J. Ryan from WCCG 104.5 FM will be performing.”

Not only will this event offer an exciting and fun day for all that attend, it benefi ts the community in many ways. First, it creates a bond between the community and the people who protect it. Second, it funds the police and fire departments by providing them with the equipment they need, and finally, it fosters the growth of the entire Spring Lake Community.

Sykes added, “It is a big deal for Spring Lake in trying to bring together the community. Spring Lake is growing rapidly and the town, Chamber and Foundation are working together to provide more free community events.”

The Open House and Barbeque Cook-Off is June 1 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Spring Lake Community Center Complex. This building is located at 245 Ruth St., Spring Lake. For more information, call 497-8821 or visit the Spring Lake Community website at www.spring-lake.org/calendar.html. More details can also be found on the Spring Lake Public Safety Foundation Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SpringLakePublicSafetyFoundation

Groucho: A Life in Revue will be presented by The Gilbert theater as the closing play of the season from June 5-16.

When asked about her choice for the closing show, Gilbert Artistic Director, Robyne Parrish quipped, “Why not? He is one of America’s greatest comedians and film and television stars. Groucho Marx made an imprint on our society for all time with his off-color humor and brilliant wit.

“When I heard that a Pittsburgh artist regularly performed the play with music, Groucho: A Life in Revue, I knew it had to have a place in my first season as new artistic director of the Gilbert Theater.”

Groucho: A Life in Revue is a musical stage play written by Groucho Marx’s son, Arthur Marx, and Robert Fisher. It is a peek into the life and career of the famous entertainer. Marx and his brothers had an unmatched fl air for comedy. However, it was Groucho who became the reigning king of comedy in the ‘40s. He became well known for clever one line retorts such as “Marriage is a wonderful institution … but who wants to live in an institution?”

Marx could be viewed as vaudeville’s precursor of the modern day rapiers for his quick wit, slapstick comedy and mastery of language and word play. Julius Henry “Groucho” Marx (1890-1977) was born on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. One of Marx’s maternal uncles (Al Shean) was part of a successful Vaudeville act. Despite Julius’s desire to become a doctor, the family’s poverty infl uenced his mother to encourage her sons to star on stage. The Marx brothers started as a singing group: Julius (Groucho) was a gifted vocalist, Leonard (Chico) a terrific piano player and Arthur (Harpo) played the harp. Eventually their comedy skits became much more popular than their music. They were among the biggest stars of the Palace Theatre and Vaudeville, in general. Groucho visually clarifi ed his character by the use of a stooped walk, grease- painted mustache and eyebrows and large glasses, all props to enhance his shtik.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based actor, dancer and director, Jeremy Czarnaik joins the Gilbert for this production. When asked about his character development in the role of Groucho, Czarnaik replied, ”I discovered Groucho personally doing another show Day In Hollywood/Night In The Ukraine in 1990.

“I was cast to play him with little background knowledge, so I began my research... and became obsessed with the comic genius that was Groucho,” continued Czarnaik. “Since then, I have been an avid collector of all things Groucho, including a prized autographed 8x10 (photo) that I always incorporate into the set when I do this show. I have spent years studying and fine tuning my interpretation — this will be my sixth production of this particular show and every time I fi nd some more details.”

When asked why this was a Gilbert production not to be missed, he explained, “Audiences love this show because of the real and intimate way in which you get to know Groucho. People’s comments afterward always include ‘I feel like I really got to know him, like I actually spent an evening with him.’” he said. “Whether you are a lifelong fan or know very little about the Marx Brothers, the beauty of this show is it is a touching memoir of a truly remarkable life that has plenty of laughs but as Groucho himself said, “...if I didn’t know sadness, I wouldn’t have spent all those years trying to make people laugh.”

For more information or to purchase tickets and make reservations for the show, visit the website at www.gilberttheater.com or call 678-7186.

Photo: Groucho: A Life in Revue opens on June 5 at Gilbert Theater.

It’s more than tradition. It is the Spring Festival of Dance: A Dance Variety Extravaganza. The festival, presented by Charlotte Blume, will be on stage at the Crown Center Theatre on Sunday, June 2. The festival has been performed at the Crown Theatre since the 1980s when it was still named the Cumberland County Civic Auditorium, which was founded in 1967.

Two-hundred dancers of all ages will perform in a variety of dance styles from the cutest to the sublime. It is a bonanza of classical ballet, rhythm and Broadway tap dance, contemporary, jazz dance, Hip Hop and dances for Tiny Tots, the crowd-pleasing pre-school children. All dancers will take the stage with poise and polish, according to Blume.

The audience will see a progression of skills throughout the show as the dances for children evolve into the beauty of classical ballet. The featured classic ballets this year are, excerpts from “Les Sylphides,” with music by Chopin and “Jupiter” from the Planetsby composer Holst.

The soloists in “Les Sylphides” are Jane Violette as the “Waltz Girl”, Mary Maxton Fowler, Megan Still, Ashley Watters and Deprecia Simpson. Brandon Scott dances the “Poet.” Both Simpson and Watters will solo in “Jupiter.”

Excerpts from “Les Sylphides” are performed with traditional choreography by Fokine, and set by Charlotte Blume. Fokine’s choreography for “Les Sylphides” was first danced in Paris in 1909 by the Russian Ballet. Fokine staged it for the American Ballet Theatre in 1940 and the lyrical ballet remains in its repertoire.

“Jupiter,” a section of Holst’s The Planets was choreographed by Wei Ni. Wei Ni is the assistant director of the North Carolina State Ballet Company. The Spring Festival of Dance is an afternoon of fun and entertainment. Tickets are $9 at the Crown Center Box Office or online through ticketmaster.com. The curtain will come up at 2:30 p.m.

Photo: The audience will see a progression of skills throughout the show as the dances for children evolve into the beauty of classical ballet.

A true band of kindred spirits, the Gypsy Women have been together for 18 years. They’ve seen each other get married, have babies and raise families. They’ve weathered divorces, illnesses, deaths and other tough times together. The Gypsy Women take care of each other — and they take care of the ones they love.

Sometimes that means a sick friend or a widow. Sometimes it means giving to a worthy cause like Hospice or Duke Children’s Hospital. It always means giving back to the community. That’s what the Gypsy Women do. And they do it wholeheartedly — with sass and vigor. Stewart and Marsha Bryant can attest to that.

The Bryants were in an accident last July while in New York and found themselves facing a pile of unexpected bills. Even though the couple had insurance, it was still a big hit financially, not to mention the emotional trauma.

“I was in the hospital for a week and we had extra expenses and hotel rooms and rental car bills and medical expenses that our insurance didn’t cover,” said Marsha. “The Gypsy Women did a poker run for us and raised about $6,000. We are defi nitely thankful for them and what they did for us. We were even able to give $1,000 of that money to another lady who has breast cancer and was struggling to pay her bills, too.”

Though there is always something going on at Legend’s Pub on Bragg Boulevard, the Spring Fling is a favorite for Gypsy Woman and Legend’s Pub owner Holly Whitley. This year the event falls on May 24-26.

Spring Fling is a weekend packed with activities, food and fun. And each year, the Spring Fling raises money for a worthy cause. Things kick off on Friday, May 24 with a pre-party that includes a pool tournament. Up to 32 people can play, it costs $20 per player, with a $500 pay out.

Saturday’s events kick-off with a poker run. Registration for the poker run starts at noon. The ride is followed by a pig pickin’, an auction and a raffle. The pig pickin’ and auction are set to happen after the ride, most likely around 5 p.m. Up for raffle this year is a 2004 Dyna Wide Glide. Tickets for the raffl e cost $50 and only 200 will be sold. The raffle winner will be drawn after all the tickets have sold. Winners do not have to be present to win. The raffle is sponsored by Ray Road Auto Parts and Service, Legend’s Pub and Sellers Paint & Body Shop.

Sunday features a bike show. Registration starts at noon and judging will be around 3 p.m. to announce the winners. After the bike show, stick around for the rodeo, which includes fun and games — Gypsy Women style. Don’t miss the cookout afterwards, too.

The proceeds from this year’s Spring Fling benefit Kidsville News! Kidsville News! is a literacy publication that goes into the hands of every elementary student in Cumberland County. Partners like the Gypsy Women help put the papers in the children’s hands.

A check will be presented Sunday evening at the cook out.

As one of the first biker bars in Fayetteville, Legend’s has acquired an eclectic group of patrons, something that Whitley loves.

“We have people from all walks of life that come in here,” she said. “And they all bring something different to the place,” said Whitley.

Julie “Jules” Farrell, one of Whitley’s friends and a Gypsy Woman, says it is Whitley’s big heart that makes Legend’s such a special place.

“Holly is such a generous person and so giving. She comes from the heart and people can sense that in her. It is easy to see that cares about people.”

This is represented well on the back wall of the pub. It’s filled with images of friends, family and patrons who have been a part of Legend’s Pub in some way.

“These are people we loved. They are our family, and now they are gone,” explained Whitley.

Some of them were killed in combat, some in accidents, some were taken by illnesses. All of them were loved and a part of the Legend’s family. Whitley knows each of them by name, how they died and when. She shares touching stories about each one and it is clear that they were more than customers. They are family.

Whether it is poker runs, a Spring Fling or Thanksgiving Dinner at the pub, people who know Whitley know that she looks out for her friends. Last year the Gypsy Women raised more than $40,000 for a variety of causes. Whitley estimates that the group has raised about $500,000 through the years.

“We’ve done poker runs and other things like the Spring Fling for a bunch of different causes. We have helped people with cancer and other sicknesses. We’ve raised money for people who have been hurt in accidents, and we’ve given to organizations like Duke Children’s Hospital. We even helped Goodys (the apparel store that used to be on Skibo Road). We raised more than $10,000 for them for a fundraiser they were doing. This year we are giving the money from the Spring Fling to Kidsville News!,” explained Whitley.

While Whitley is the driving force behind the Gypsy Women, there are others who eagerly step up to support her endeavors.

“Some people are busy and are able to help by donating cash or auction items and other people choose to give their time. I can’t tell you how many hours have been donated to helping us help other people out,” said Whitley. “Our men are always ready to help out and do whatever we ask them to do, too.”

“They do a lot of the heavy lifting for us,” added Farrell.

Legend’s recently underwent a facelift, with upgrades to the building inside and out. After some push back from regulars and a few jokes about putting lipstick on pigs, it has turned out to be a good thing because the things that make Legend’s Pub Special are still there. The atmosphere is still laid back and welcoming. The beer is still cold. The wall of pictures still holds the faces and memories of the departed and Legend’s is still the home of the Gypsy Women.

Find out more about Legend’s Pub, the Gypsy Women and Spring Fling by calling 867-2364.

Photos: top right; Holly Whitley, Gypsy Woman and owner of Leg-ends Pub. Middle left: Legend’s Pub in the early years. Bottom right: Legend’s Pub today.