Since 1915 Kiwanis Clubs have worked to bring communities together through service. Kiwanis Clubsare dedicated to improving their cities and working together to make a positive difference in the lives of as many people as possible. One of the biggest ways that Kiwanis is known for making an impact is through its support of children. The Fayetteville Kiwanis Club supports this community’s kids through its annual talent night, which takes place on May 10 at Cape Fear Regional Theatre. Admission is $5, and the tickets are available at the door.

For 62 years, the Fayetteville Kiwanis club has invited the young talent of the area to come out and perform for a chance to compete for cash prizes, trophies and scholarships. The competition and prizes are broken up into divisions by age. The first place winner in each division will receive a trophy and $100. The second place winner in each division will receive a trophy and $50. The third place winner in each division will receive a trophy and $25. Additionally, there will be four music scholarships awarded for the categories of voice, strings, piano and band instrument. These scholarships are $150. The overall winner of the competition will receive a trophy and $200.

Talent night supports the community in many different ways. It brings the community together to celebrate the young competitors and their abilities. It gives the children a chance to step out and try performing. Events such as these often spark a lifelong love of performing and often inspire the youth to further pursue their passions. One of the prizes that Kiwanis offers is a scholarship, so it goes directly to furthering the education of the Talent Night winners. Education is the key to the future, and the Kiwanis Club has always been dedicated to creating a brighter future for the entire community. Perhaps most important, from the contestants’ perspective at least, is that the Talent Night Showcase is fun.

Jason Poole is a Talent Night Committee member and has been a part of this event since 2003. “I like that this gives kids a chance to showcase what they can do — to get on stage and perform,” he said. “This is a great place for young people to get the experience of being on stage in a friendly environment. We all want to see these young performers do well. In fact, there are a few people who have done this and are now performers on Broadway.”

All performers are welcome to try out. Dancers, singers, entertainers and musicians of any kind have a chance at winning funds for school. It’s not too late to take part in this year’s event. Kiwanis Talent Night auditions will be held on May 4 at the Honeycutt Recreation Center, which is located at 4665 Lakewood Dr. The deadline for submitting an application is May 1. The application can be found online at upandcomingweekly. com or fayetvillekiwanis.org. The categories are preschool - 2nd grade; 3rd - 5th grade; 6th - 8th grade and 9th through 12th grade.

To all those potential contestants deciding whether or not to take the stage, Poole says, “Go out and do it — take the chance don’t be shy.”

The competition takes place on May 10, and starts at 7 p.m. Contestants must arrive 30 minutes early in order to prepare. For more information, visit fayettevillekiwanis.org.

Photo: Kids preschool through high school are invited to participate in the Fayetteville Kiwanis 62nd Annual Talent Night Showcase. 

I hope you’ve seen the pinwheels that have been popping up all over Cumberland County during the month of April. Gardens of bright blue pinwheels have been “planted” in numerous locations in honor of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The pinwheel serves as a reminder of a happy, safe and carefree childhood, one that every child deserves. Adopted by Prevent Child Abuse America, more than a million pinwheels have been displayed nationwide since April 2008 when the campaign began. Locally, the Child Advocacy Center has coordinated with area schools, organizations and agencies to sponsor the gardens.

The Child Advocacy Center hosted a Pinwheel Garden planting on April 9 in honor of the 487 children served by the center in fiscal year 2012. The pinwheels will remain on display until the end of April.

As another reminder of Child Abuse Prevention Month, volunteers from the Child Advocacy Center are decorating many of the downtown black flower pots with giant, bright blue bows during the last week of April, just in time for 4th Friday and the Dogwood Festival.

Pinwheels and bright blue bows also serve as a reminder of the “power of play.” Taking time out to play with our children not only develops bonds of affection and joy but also helps children learn. Through play, children gain communication and social skills as well as developing their abilities to tackle problems and deal with conflict. Adults can reinforce children’s feelings of self-esteem and competence by interacting and encouraging them in their play time. We invite families to enjoy the many fun “play time” events and activities held in our community during April and May to recognize the power of play and to celebrate our community as a place that supports programs and policies that encourage children’s healthy development.

Joining hands with 19 community agencies, the Child Advocacy Center offers a safe and child-friendly place to interview, investigate and provide support for abused children. The CAC also provides prevention education for parents, professionals and agencies in our community. We look to a future where all children live in a safe and nurturing environment free from abuse.

If you’ve never been to the Duck Derby, this year’s event is something you won’t want to miss. It is with great excitement that Fayetteville Urban Ministry and Rick Hendrick Toyota Scion present the 3rd Annual Fayetteville Duck Derby.

The event takes place at Campbellton Landing on May 4. Located on the banks of the Cape Fear River, with shade trees and plenty of space to run and play, Campbellton Landing is the perfect place for such a community-centered event.

The Duck Derby promises to be a day filled with fun and excitement. From noon to 5 p.m., Fayetteville Urban Ministry and Rick Hendrick Toyota Scion will host this family-friendly festival that includes free admission and kid-friendly attractions like boat rides, train rides, craft stations, local merchandise, food vendors, live entertainment and a Kids’ Zone with lots of fun. The whole family can enjoy live music, dancing, the Duck Derby Hat Contest and a high school drum-line competition. While entrance to the Duck Derby is free, there will be food available for purchase and activities that cost money, so plan accordingly.

There will also be activity and information booths sponsored by more than 30 local non-profits. The content at the booths promises to engage, entertain and empower citizens of all ages. People will have a chance to learn about many of the organizations in the community that work to help make Cumberland County a better place.

While there is plenty to do all day long, the main event of the day is the actual duck races, and these take place later in the afternoon.

The first duck race features large rubber ducks that have been adopted by local businesses and organizations. A representative from each business will throw their duck into the river. This is a great way for local businesses to support the work of Fayetteville Urban Ministry as well as the community.

The main duck race will require more than people throwing rubber ducks off the bridge. This one involves dump trucks dropping more than 15,000 ducks into the Cape Fear River. It’s thrilling to watch, and even more exciting when you have a duck in the race. The grand-prize winner will receive a Toyota Scion xD. Other prizes include a bedroom suite from Restore Warehouse, a 60’ TV and a Cape Fear River cruise.

Each and every duck that floats down the river will benefit one of the local nonprofits that are participating in the event. Some of the organizations include the Fayetteville Urban Ministry, Special Olympics Cumberland County, Fayetteville Animal Protection Society, Child Advocacy Center, Cumberland County 4-H, Great Oak Youth Development Center, Camp Dixie, Unchained Cumberland County, The Haven Friends for Life, CONTACT of Fayetteville, Visions Resource Center, Cumberland Disaster and Recovery, Myrover-Reese Fellowship Homes, Better Health, American Red Cross, Dance Theatre of Fayetteville, Falcon Children’s Home, Partnership for Children, Cumberland County Communicare, Rockfish Camp and Retreat Center, Kids Peace, Enlighten the World Ministries, Fascinate-U Museum, Mount Carmel Pentecostal Holiness Church, Second Harvest Food Bank, Cape Fear Heroes, CEED, Fayetteville Family Justice Center, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, Gilbert Theater, Give an Hour Community Blueprint, Karen Chandler Trust and TIGAPA Village Foundation.

With so many worthy causes to support, there is something for everyone when it comes time to adopt a duck. In fact, many participating organizations are hoping that people will adopt several ducks and support more than one cause on derby day.

Last year this event raised about $48,000, according to Johnny Wilson, Fayetteville Urban Ministry executive director.

In addition to making sure everyone has a good time, one of the things that Wilson loves best is watching everyone enjoy themselves.

“When I get a chance to stop and look around an see the families and people standing there laughing and dancing and having fun, you can see our community connect and it represents what Fayetteville is,” said Wilson.

There is yet another fun way to participate in the Duck Derby. In the weeks leading up to the Duck Derby, the community is invited to participate in the appetizer and drink competition that is taking place among nine local restaurants. Visit Chris’s Open Hearth Steakhouse, Circa 1800 Restaurant & Bar, Hilltop House, Huske Hardware House Restaurant & Brewery, IT’Z Entertainment City, Luigi’s Italian Restaurant & Bar, Marquis Market, Morgan’s Chop House or The Wing Company and sample an appetizer or cocktail (specially concocted for the Duck Derby) and then visit www.duckrace.com and vote for your favorite. The competition has ended, and the winner will be announced at the Duck Derby and has bragging rights for a year.

There is still time for grown-ups to adopt a duck. It costs $5. Just go to www.duckrace.com and click on the adopt a duck tab.

Photo: Volunteers retrieve the ducks from the Cape Fear River after last year’s race.Cover photo credit: Rick Hendrick Toyota Scion and Fayetteville Urban Ministry presents Fayetteville Duck Derby 2013.

Set at the turn of the 19th century, Pride and Prejudice remains near the top of the “most loved books” in the world. The story, which explores the social issues of manners, upbringing, education and marriage in England, remains relevant and intriguing today. That’s one of the many reasons, the play was added to the season at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre. And, over the next two weeks, the theatre invites you to step back in time and enjoy this classic story as Pride and Prejudice comes to the CFRT stage.

“I love this story,” said Tom Quaintance, artistic director of the CFRT. “In a season where ‘Great stories told here’ was the guiding principle, Pride and Prejudice was an obvious choice for the season. This is one of the great romantic stories of all time.”

Quaintance said the story becomes real and remains relevant because of the strength of the characters that people it.

“There are such great characters in this story,” he said. “And one of the things we do well, is to produce shows that give us the opportunity to highlight the talent within our community and this show allows us to do that. We started the seasons with the modern, political story of Jesus Christ Superstar, so ending it with the faithful telling of this beloved story gives the season great balance.”

Quaintance explained that there are a number of adaptations of the book for theatre, but he is particularly fond of the version that will be staged at the CFRT.

“I love this adaptation. This is a very theatrical play, much like Around the World in 80 Days, this play demands the use of your imagination,” he explained.

Quaintance said that Elizabeth Bennet, the main character in the play, only leaves the stage once, and scenes flow quickly from one to another.

“This gives us the opportunity to tell the story in a different way,” said Quaintance. “It is also a very fast-paced story, where a character may talk about something and then you jump right into the middle of it.”

The period setting lends itself to a faster pace. Within 20 minutes of the play’s start, six or seven period dances happen. Quaintance said that it has been a lot of fun researching and integrating these pieces into the story. He noted that the story is very faithful to the period etiquette.

“This story has been told so many times that there is a lot to live up to,” said Quaintance. “It’s a great challenge.”

The play opens on Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19 with two preview performances. These performances give the cast, many of whom are New York based, to work out the kinks in the show. The preview shows have special ticket pricing of $10. The opening on Saturday, June 20, includes a reception with the cast. For tickets and information, visit www.cfrt.org.

Sunday, April 21, 2013 will be a day to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes … 4.75 miles to be exact. The 2013 Walk MS: Sandhills will be held at Honeycutt Park on 352 Devers St. in Fayetteville.

On this day, people will come together and join one another in a walk with the common goal of putting an end to multiple sclerosis. Affecting more than 13,500 people in the Carolinas alone, multiple sclerosis is a disease in which significant damage is done to the myelin sheath around the body’s nerves, thus negatively affecting the brain and spinal cord. With an opening ceremony at 1:30 p.m. and a route of nearly five miles, the walk will be held with the intentions to unite those who bravely stand against the disease and to raise $65,000 for research funding. Whether suffering from the disease or showing support for the fight against it, all are welcome to take part in this common goal.

This walk is one of 13 that the National MS Society hosts in the spring. During the fall, they host two biking events with the same goal. This generous organization, believe it or not, operates as a nonprofit. They understand that funding is a very important part of pursuing their goals and sincerely appreciate all who support the cause.

The money that is raised through their efforts goes to support critical funding for a variety of programs and services. Including those in the Tar Heel state, the National MS Society serves more than 14,000 people across the United States. Being good stewards of money, a generous portion of funding that the National MS Society receives is used to the benefit of those suffering. Going a step even further with their money, the organization funds research efforts along with several programs to help progress the unending and noble quest to find a cure for this horrible disease.

Monica Tierney of the National MS Society said that she appreciates all of the support that is shown in the Fayetteville area with regards to finding an end to multiple sclerosis. With a personal connection to multiple sclerosis in her own life, she joined the organization and hasn’t looked back. Seeing hundreds of people coming out and showing their dedication to the cause, Tierney is humbled to see just how far the organization has come. As well, she encourages everyone to come out and show support.

For those who would like to be a part of the walk, you can go to the National M.S. Society’s website and find the page for Fayetteville’s walk. From there, you will find several ways to get involved including donating to the cause, volunteering, joining or even starting a team to walk. The National MS Society encourages people to get involved in several of their programs and walks. If a great journey begins with a single step, then the greatest will begin when everyone steps together in unity.

Be the difference in someone’s life because the life that you save could be your own. Go to www.nationalmssociety.org for more information.

There are a few sure fire ways that natives to the area can gauge the coming of spring. First, the dogwood trees bloom. Second, the Fort Bragg Fair comes to town. This Fayetteville tradition has been a staple of spring for more than 30 years, and it has only grown as time has passed. This year the Fort Bragg fair will be as fun and family friendly as ever.

As in years past, this exciting and lively fair will offer carnival rides and entertainment galore — there will be something for everyone. Rhett Stroupe, special events coordinator said, “People should expect family fun in a safe and secure environment.”

The admission fee to enter the fair is $12 for general admission on Mondays through Fridays after 7 p.m. and $17 for the weekends. On weeknights after 7 p.m. the cost for military members with I.D. and children up to age 9 is $10. Senior citizens and the handicapped will be charged $7 for admission. On weekends military with I.D. and children up to the age of 9 will be charged $15, but the price remains the same for the handicapped and senior citizens regardless of the day. Additionally any children under the height of 36 inches will get into the fair free regardless of the day. The fair will be having a special on Mother’s Day, May 12. Mothers will be admitted for free when they are accompanied by a paying child who is over 36 inches in height, up to the age of 17 — all in celebration of the sacrifi ces and hard work that mothers go through. The price of admission includes unlimited rides on all carnival rides and tickets to any show that is happening at the fair. Parking is free.

This year the fair has an incredible line up of live entertainment. Shows are subject to change, but all of the entertainment opportunities at the fair are astounding.

“This year the fair will have added value entertainment acts including the Marvelous Mutts. These are rescue dogs who do tricks and acrobatics and the BMX who ride bikes and do aerial stunts and tricks,” Stroupe said.

The Marvelous Mutts, which is a performance that showcases the amazing intelligence and athleticism of man’s best friend, the dog, will perform at several different times. This family-friendly event will be sure to impress all who watch it, as both the trainers and dogs in this show have been nationally recognized for their skills. This can’t-miss opportunity includes in the price of admission, and the dogs and their trainers are planning to have shows every day the fair is open for patrons to enjoy.

The fair will also have the American BMX Stunt Team performing. Watching the professional trick riders from American BMX Stunt Team perform is guaranteed to entertain and astound. The team is North Carolina-based, but their skills are nationally renowned. The riders professionally ride and perform daring tricks on bicycles, scooters and inline skates.

The gates to the fairground open at 5 p.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. on weekends. The fair is located at the Fort Bragg Fairground, F-4208 Howell St. and Bragg Boulevard. For more information or directions, visit the MWR website at www.ftbraggmwr.com or call at the number 396-9126.

Photo: The Fort Bragg Fair is an event that the community looks forward to each year.

Decision 2013: Who Will Be Fayetteville’s Next Mayor

Who will be Fayetteville’s next mayor? Hmmmm, that’s a good question. But with filing dates soon approaching, the anticipation is mounting.

There’s a lot of speculation on the street. The Fayetteville Observer has recently thrown some names around outside of the usual suspects of Kirk deViere, Nat Robertson, D.J. Haire and Val Applewhite. Good candidates all. However, on the street, people are also bringing up names like current mayor pro tempore Jim Arp, former council member Ted Mohn, County Commissioner Ed Melvin and former county commissioner and Fayetteville City Councilman Breeden Blackwell.

Well, we know there are plenty more qualified candidates out there who have a clear vision of the kind of leadership that it will take to move this community forward. So, during the next couple of weeks we thought Up & Coming Weekly and our radio partners Goldy and Jim at WFNC’s (AM 640) Good Morning Fayetteville Show, which airs from 6-10 a.m. weekday mornings, would ask Fayetteville residents “who would make a good mayor for our city?”

We want to know.

To that end, we will gather up the names and run a mock election. We will place a ballot in Up & Coming Weekly and invite people to vote online. We will announce the “unofficial” results on the GMF radio show and interview some of the top vote getters. Remember, anyone can be nominated just by emailing us their name. Have fun with it... we will!

Thank you, for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

No matter how many attractions or opportunities a city may offer, a dirty city is an unhappy city. Fayetteville is a rapidly growing city and is budding with opportunities in business and the arts alike. Every citizen of Fayetteville has a right to be proud for all the city has to offer, but it can be hard to see the greatness of the place if the aesthetics do not match. As Bobby Hurst, the chairman of Fayetteville Beautiful says, “A clean city attracts new business, increases property values and even creates a safer city.”

The beauty of Fayetteville is something that every citizen can be involved in. The 100 percent volunteer-based organization, Fayetteville Beautiful, has been improving the city for years. “Fayetteville Beautiful began on September 6, 2006 — the birthday of General Marquis de Lafayette, the man for which this city was named. We started with a logo, tag line and a small core group of volunteers and now have expanded to a volunteer base of over one thousand citizens. Fayetteville Beautiful has played an active role in creating new ordinances and strengthened current ones related to litter abatement and waste reduction for the City of Fayetteville. We have assisted in the development of the recycling program, initiated Fayetteville’s fi rst electronic waste drive, worked with the Cumberland County Schools in educating our children in the value of recycling and preserving our environment. We revitalized the downtown black pots with plants and flowers and that is an ongoing project. We have taken the lead in beautification projects that included tree plantings at Ben E. Martin Elementary School devastated by the 2011 tornado to beautification projects on public properties scattered throughout the city. Each year we participate in cleaning along the banks of several of our lakes as well as cleaning out Cross Creek,” Hurst said.

Fayetteville Beautiful has been recognized for its tremendous contributions to the city as well. The organization became a Keep America Beautiful Affiliate in 2010. There are only 32 similar organizations in North Carolina, and Fayetteville Beautiful is the only 100 percent volunteer based affiliate.

Unfortunately, despite all of the work accomplished by volunteers, there is still a long way to go. On the official KAB Litter Assessment Tool Fayetteville rated a 2.94 in August 2006 — this is one of the worst ratings in the state. The current score is better at a 1.94, but there is still progress to be made. This progress can only be made by the participation and support of the community.

This opportunity to join in the effort to create a better Fayetteville is readily available to any and all who wish to help.“The Citywide Cleanup is held the third Saturday during the month of April and offers people the opportunity to participate in a community effort to remove litter along our roadsides and in parks and streams. There are no requirements and registration is very simple. Sign up online at www.FayettevilleBeautiful.com and complete the Volunteer Form, then automatically your location will be pin pointed on a city map. This will make it easy for police to view where patrol coverage should be alongside youth groups and for the Parks and Recreation staff to know where the orange bags will be placed for pickup early that afternoon. If you do not have computer access then contact Lynn Hughes at 433-1587 and she will assist you,” Hurst says.

Participating in a Fayetteville Beautiful rally is a great way to support, protect and connect with the community. Hurst said, however, that the best part is “... joining others who genuinely love their hometown, take pride in their community and desire to make a beautiful difference. I know that the more people get involved in our effort, the more ownership they will have in protecting the natural beauty of our community.

Photo: Fayetteville Beautiful volunteers rally to clean up local roadways.

On Saturday, April 20, PWC and Sustainable Sandhills are teaming up to offer a free viewing of the award-winning documentary Chasing Ice. The film has received more than 43 awards at various film festivals around the world, including the honor of Best Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song “Before My Time,” by J. Ralph featuring Scarlett Johansson and Joshua Bell.

When National Geographic sent environmental photographer James Balog to the Arctic in 2005, he was looking to take pictures that would document climate change. Balog was a long-time skeptic of the climate change philosophy, but what he found on that trip was an eye opener for the photographer. Shortly after his fi rst trip to Iceland, Balog came up with an idea he knew he had to act on — The Extreme Ice Survey. Balog and his crew risked life and limb installing timelapse cameras throughout the arctic to record how glaciers change over time. The result is a breathtaking visual on the rapid change taking place in the Arctic.

PWC Communications and Community Relations Offi cer Carolyn Justice-Hinson is excited to be a part of bringing such a high-quality fi lm to Fayetteville.

“We were looking for outreach projects and we chose Sustainable Saturday through a forestry grant. This is a win win all around — we are excited that we can also help promote the Cameo and what it has to offer in downtown through this venture. Sustainable Sandhills was great in helping us find the documentary. They suggested Chasing Ice because we had asked them to be on the look out. Once we saw the trailer we knew it was a good fit because it has to do with global warming and trees play a big part in that. So this way we can share our message and it will give Sustainable Sandhills an opportunity to share their message and continue their outreach.”

PWC is also giving away a Crepe Myrtle seedling to the first 200 people who come to the event.

“This is an important part of our tree program and Crepe Myrtles are great for our area. They are suitable for our climate and they are low growing so they tend not to interfere with utilities,” said Justice-Hinson. “This is also a chance for us to educate people about trees and how they improve appearances in the community and help the environment.”

The event is free to the public and after the showing there will be time for interaction and discussion. Representatives from PWC and Sustainable Sandhills will be on site after the showing.

“There will be time to talk and people can come out to the obby and chat with different reps,” said Kelly Bah, Sustainable Sandhills executive director. “When talking about big concepts, sometimes the best way to get the message out is to present it in a good film and then we are there to help connect people to organizations in the community that deal with this issue, if people are interested in learning more.”

The show starts at 11 a.m. at the Cameo Art House Theater in downtown Fayetteville. To get a sneak peek of the remarkable imagery that is featured in Chasing Ice, visit www.chasingice.com. Learn more about PWC and its conservation and education programs at www. faypwc.com. Visit www.sustainablesandhills.org to learn more about how this organization is making a difference in the community. For questions about the showing of Chasing Ice visit the Cameo website at www.cameoarthouse.com.

One of the great things about spring in North Carolina is the great riding weather. As soon as things start to warm up, drivers roll back their rag tops and bikers take to the streets to enjoy some sunshine and fun in the outdoors. Every spring for the past seven years, hundreds of people have turned out to enjoy a ride to Myrtle Beach and more importantly, to support local nonprofi ts by participating in the Hogs & Rags Rally, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 27.

While participants enjoy the fellowship of the event, the fact that the rally raises funds for several good causes is a bonus. If ever there was a justification for spending a day out in the sunshine, it is knowing that it is to support Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, the American Cancer Society and Kidsville News!

Don’t let the name confuse you, Hogs and Rags is for all makes and models of motorcycles, trikes, muscle cars and street rods.

“One thing we want to be clear about is even though the name of the event is Hogs and Rags and hogs usually represent Harley-Davidsons and rags usually mean convertible cars — and that is how the event started — we want all kinds of motorcycles and all kinds of cars to participate,” said event spokesperson Wendy Rogers. “We don’t want the name to mislead people. This is a great event, which supports wonderful causes and we want everyone to know they are welcome.”

The ride is not only fun, the organizers have gone out of their way to make sure it is a safe ride, too. The ride is escorted by the sheriff’s offi ce in each county that the caravan passes through. “We do a safety briefi ng before we leave to give everyone an idea of where we are going and how to ride safely in big groups,” said Rogers. “They will let us know what to do and what not to do.”

The day of the ride, registration starts at 7:30 a.m. and runs through 9 a.m. at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum. Kickstands up at 9 a.m. as the caravan departs for Rocking A Ranch in White Oak, N.C. Once they get to the ranch, riders will be treated to a full country breakfast. At 10:45 a.m., it’s back on the road to Chadbourn for a short break and water stop. At 12:15 the ride continues on to Landry’s Seafood at Myrtle Beach. Lunch will be served at Landry’s at 1:15 p.m., where there will be entertainment and a reverse raffle.

The event officially ends after lunch, but there is still plenty of time left to enjoy Broadway at the Beach and the many other fun activities that Myrtle Beach has to offer.

It costs $50 per entry and $30 per each additional rider. The registration fee covers a T-shirt, hot breakfast at the Rocking’ A Ranch, a police escort to Myrtle Beach and lunch at Landry’s.

While the ride itself is a great reason to come out, the charities that are funded by the Hogs & Rags proceeds benefi t greatly from this event. Since its inception, the organization has donated more than $90,000 to these charities: Kidsville News!, The American Cancer Society and the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.

The Kidsville News!Literacy and Education Foundation’s mission is to improve literacy, education and character development among America’s youth by providing support for various early literacy and learning-based initiatives nationwide. The foundation approves grants to qualifi ed projects and institutions that endeavor to instill strong reading and education skills and solid character-development traits in America’s Youth. Money raised at the rally benefit children in Cumberland County. Find out more about Kidsville News! at www.kidsvillenews.com.

According to its website, the American Cancer Society mission statement names the American Cancer Society as a nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service. Since 1946, the organization has spent more than $3.8 billion on cancer research. Find out more about the American Cancer Society and how to make a difference in the fight against cancer at www.cancer.org.

Shriner’s Hospitals for Children has proclaimed its mission to:

• Provide the highest quality care to children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries and other special healthcare needs within a compassionate, family-centered and collaborative care environment.

• Provide for the education of physicians and other healthcare professionals.

• Conduct research to discover new knowledge that improves the quality of care and quality of life of children and families.

This mission is carried out without regard to race, color, creed, sex or sect, disability, national origin or ability of a patient or family to pay.

Find out more about the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children at www.Shriner’shospitalsforchildren.org.Find out more about Hogs and Rags at www.hogsandrags.com.

Photo: Hogs & Rags is open to all makes and models of cars and bikes.

The Fayetteville Swamp Dogs, will host the 3rd Annual Big Bite on Saturday, April 20 from 1 to 7 p.m. Thiscommunity event will take place at J.P Riddle Stadium, a.k.a. “The Swamp.” The event is designed for local restaurants and caterers from all over the Sandhills region to showcase their fare and share their offerings with the community. The participants will have one day to put their specialties on display for the public.

“We have a good group of participants this year,” said Phillip Sims, SwampDogs outside events and community relations coordinator. “The restaurants this time are Off the Hook: a Taco Emporium, which was recently opened by the Invisible Chef; The Parkton Grill, Trade Street Café and Elite Catering, Royal Grill, Fazoli’s, Roly Poly Sandwiches, Honey Baked Ham Company, Crystal’s Sweet Treats, Heavenly Ice, which serves sno cones and shaved ice treats and there will also be an organic coffee set up.”

While entry to the event is free, some of the activities are not. “Food sampling tickets cost $1 each,” said Sims. “Pricing at each vendor is up to them. They will have sample-sized servings. For example, a sample taco may cost 2-3 tickets or people may be able to get half a sandwich or wrap for two tickets, but that is determined by each vendor.”

At the end of the day, the tickets are counted, and the vendors get to keep 80 percent of the money they raise. “The other 20 percent goes into the SwampDogs community fund,” said Sims. “We use that fund to help out the many nonprofits that we support in the community. In the past we have given to charities like the Karen Chandler Trust Fund and the Wounded Warriors. It doesn’t benefit just one cause, we partner with many organizations.”

Being a family-oriented team, the SwampDogs plan to have kid-friendly activities on site, including bounce houses and face painting. “Hot Rod Tattoos is partnering with us to do face painting. They are really good,” said Sims.

Like most events at The Swamp, there will be plenty to see and do. Attendees can look forward to some of the community’s best food, fun activities and live music. The Cumberland County Cornhole Championship is scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. The entry fee for the Cornhole Championship is $25 per person and includes three food-sample tickets. The first place team will receive a cash prize, two season tickets to the SwampDogs and the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a home game.

“We have four bands that are scheduled to play,” said Sims. “They are going to play music on the beer deck on the left field side.” At 1 p.m. Autumn Nicholas will kick-off the music. Each band will play about an hour or so. At 2:30 p.m., Essential Elements will perform, followed by Chris Hurst at 4 p.m. and Python at 5:30 p.m.

Ring Wars Carolina professional wrestling will be on hand providing live wrestling exhibitions. Sims said that the wrestling ring will be set up on the field and that the matches will take place between the music sets.

“The Big Bite started as a way to give local restaurants a venue to showcase what delicacies they have,” said Sims. “We are all about supporting local businesses. Last year we hosted between 700 and 800 people. The goal is to grow each year and put on a bigger and better event every year. So that is what we are hoping to do.”

Email Phillip Sims at Phillip@GoSwampDogs.com or call 910-426-5900 for more information.

Photo: Visitors to The Big Bite can sample food and enjoy good music and other activities.

Local food, as an economic driver, is on track for the revitalization of urban communities across the country. This new “Home Front” locomotive has arrived at the station in Fayetteville.

All aboard! Calling entrepreneurs to get your tickets to Edible Entrepreneurship, a special opportunity for veterans, of any status, to learn about emergingfood business opportunities on Tuesday, April 16, at the Cumberland County Extension Auditorium, 301 E. Mountain Dr., from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Learn about emerging business opportunities like food trucks, becoming a personal chef, black gold composting, niche food ventures, ag biz insider tips, urban/small farmers and more.

Fayetteville residents are getting on board the local food train as the “ticket” to better health and reduction in the costs of healthcare. But that’s not all.

People are learning to invest a percentage of their food dollars in the local and sustainable track that keeps more money circulating in our local community while supporting local farmers and food businesses of all kinds. This entrepreneurial “home front” action is also helping to build a secure local food infrastructure.

Our country is now aware of the realities of a national economy that is in deep trouble. But there is also the reality of opportunity in this situation and vitalizing a local economy starts with entrepreneurs.

Have you ever entertained the thought of having a food business or of becoming a farmer? Agri-Entrepreneurship is springing up across the country as people are responding to the consumer demand for local produce and food products. There is significant headway being made at the grassroots and regional level to develop local food systems with infrastructure to keep up with the growing demand.

There is a “new dollar” to be made in creative entrepreneurship. People are so used to measuring value, assets, financial security and economic viability in dollars only. If that’s all we do, we are short changing ourselves. Let’s put our heads together and invest our talents, skills, relationships and knowledge into the local network that can sustain us.

Let’s build businesses that are well connected with one another where the success of one promotes the success of all. We are told to diversify our portfolios and not put all our eggs in one basket, so let’s invest more in the local food network and look to match skills and relationships to multiply the benefi ts of our collaboration and build a secure local economy.

There is a lot of opportunity here.

The event includes a BBQ lunch. Registration is $20 and the deadline to register is Friday, April 12. To register call Sharon Valentine or Marsha Howe 910-630-6232 Or e-mail: mhowe@ncfarmcenter.org.

Anyone interested in collaborating with N.C. Farm Center and its partners in local food action, please contact Marsha Howe 619-807-6839 cell ; 910-630-6232 offi ce or email: mhowe@ncfarmcenter.org.

In all likelihood, racial tension will continue to be a part of our lives until the end of time. Dr. Martin Luther King dreamed of the day that a man would be judged by the content of his character, not the color of his skin. Sadly, this is not that day.

The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex has a new exhibit, Fayetteville and the Wilmington Race Riot of 1898, an overlooked piece of North Carolina’s history. The riots, which occured in mid-November 1898 were considered a turning point in North Carolina politics following Reconstruction. Originally labeled a race riot, the events were caused by Democratic insurrectionists who overthrew the legitimately elected local government in an effort to reestablish white supremacy in government and society.

“This is a very disturbing piece of our state’s history,” said David Reid, administrator of the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex. “It is not a well-known piece of our history and it was not an isolated event.”

The Civil War ended slavery but it did not end the racial divide between the races. The election of 1898 was dominated in North Carolina by a white supremacy campaign of the Democratic Party, which saw the establishment of white government union clubs and formations of armed gangs to intimidate blacks, Republicans and Populists, and the use of newspapers to fan the flames against the abuses of Republicans and black rule. The impact of this resulted in a “White Declaration of Independence” which led to the burning of a black newspaper office, deadly riots, the eradication of many black and Republican leaders and the overthrow of elected Republican leaders.

“We have some interesting local connections,” said Reid. “Charles Chesnutt, author, was a prominent figure who was raised in the Fayetteville area.”

Chesnutt’s response to the race riot was to write a novel, The Marrow of Tradition. He traveled back through Fayetteville during 1901 to do research for his novel and found a brief mention in The Fayetteville Observer. Reid added that the novel really echoes what was being said in the newspapers at that time.

During the 1898 elections, groups of men wearing red shirts attended political rallies and rode through African-American neighborhoods carrying firearms. Their goal was to intimidate blacks to keep them from voting. Many acts of violence against African-Americans and white members of the Populists and Republican parties were blamed on the Red Shirts.

“We wanted exhibits and programs that would promote healthy community discussions about intolerance and diversity,” said Reid. “It was important to find events that would pertain to our area.”

Reid added that Wilmington is 90 miles down the road and he was interested in Fayetteville’s involvement with the Wilmington Riot.

Author LeRae Umfleet will speak about the Wilmington Race Riot on Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m. at the museum. Umfleet is the author of A Day of Blood: The Wilmington Race Riot of 1898. The exhibit will run through June 16. For more information, call 486-1330.

I have a terrible confession to make. I hate grading. But, lucky for me, teaching history at Fayetteville Technical Community College comes with many perks to offset my loathing of trying to assign just the right number of points to an essay or exam.

FTCC’s campus ranks among the loveliest in the state, the students unfailingly keep me on my toes, and, more important, I get to do one of my favorite things — live in the past. On a daily basis, I transform from a normal 21st century woman (my kids and husband might dispute the normal part) into an ancient tour guide, leading students through the Egyptian desert to the land of pyramids and mummies, exploring the wonders of the Indus River Valley Civilization’s fl ush toilets (as opposed to the horrors of Mesopotamian hygiene), forging a path through the complex Roman political system that allowed for both the rise and murder of Julius Caesar and marveling at the Hagia Sophia spiraling up from the cobbled streets of Constantinople.

Sometimes I am even able to tell a story that nobody has ever told before. That is what I did last November in my book, In the Shadow of the Greatest Generation: The Americans Who Fought the Korean War(New York: New York University Press, 2012). Many years ago, in my former life as a graduate student, I began searching for a dissertation topic.

The granddaughter of a Cherokee Indian World War II Navy veteran and a member of the generation that came of age to movies like Full Metal Jacketand Apocalypse Now, I felt certain that destiny had chosen me to write the next brilliant work on the veterans of either World War II or Vietnam. But, a chance encounter with a group of Korean War veterans made me realize that, M*A*S*H reruns aside, I knew nothing about the men and women who served in Korea. And, after digging a little deeper into the scholarly and popular record, I realized that nobody else did, either.

As a result, I began interviewing and surveying Korean War veterans and ultimately I shaped my research into a sort of collective biography. In the Shadow of the Greatest Generation follows the men and women who served in Korea from their shared childhood in the Great Depression and World War II through enlistment (voluntary or otherwise), military training, the war, homecoming experiences and more recent efforts to reclaim their rightfully earned status as war veterans.

The book attempts to give a voice to these forgotten soldiers of the “Forgotten War” and to demonstrate the impact of that war not only on those who served but also on America. Korea, after all, was the fi rst hot war of the Cold War and it was on the peninsula’s rugged hills that commanders in the field began dismantling military segregation.

My fascination with the Korean War and its veterans began long ago, but my view of that war and my work on Korean War veterans inevitably have been enriched by my experiences teaching at FTCC. Many of my students, themselves veterans of a war many Americans would like to put in the rear view mirror, have provided me with invaluable insights into military life and veteran struggles and have probably taught me more than I ever taught them.

So far, living in the past — and bringing my students with me, sometimes as unwilling passengers — has proven fulfi lling. I invite you to take a journey with me in my FTCC history class, and we’ll tour some interesting places from the past.

Now if I could just figure out a way to leave all the grading in the future.

The answer to the question, “Is there a doctor in the house?” will be a resounding, “Yes!” during the second annual Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium at Methodist University.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, practicing neurosurgeon and chief medical correspondent for CNN, will present Medicine and Media on Wednesday, April 17 in Reeves Auditorium on the university campus. While the event is free and limited seating will be open to the public, advanced tickets are required.

Gupta’s presentation as keynote speaker of the symposium, which has expanded from a one-day event in 2012 to a weeklong event this year, marks the inaugural lecture of the Presidential Lecture Series. In a recent press release on the event, Methodist University president Dr. Ben Hancock acknowledged that the series, made possible through the generosity of community partners and individuals, “strives to bring renowned national experts to the campus and community, emphasizing signature programs at Methodist University.”

Pam McEvoy, director of Public Affairs for Methodist University, explained that the series is part of the “MU Journey.”

“Last year, when Dr. Hancock was inaugurated, it was his vision to bring speakers to campus for the students to engage with the students and the community,” said McEvoy. “This is part of Dr. Hancock’s vision of the MU journey that allows students the opportunity to say, ‘Whoa, Dr. Gupta came my sophomore year!’ And this event falls in nicely with the symposium because we are launching our health sciences program. Dr. Hancock thought Dr. Gupta would be a good fit.”

The new School of Health Sciences includes the Applied Exercise Science, Athletic Training, Health Care Administration, Nursing and Physician Assistant programs.

In addition to his lecture, the multiple Emmy-award-winning chief medical correspondent for CNN will be meeting in informal chats with health-science students and potential preceptors and healthcare administrators who are further along in the program, noted McEvoy.

“Throughout his time with us,” McEvoy said, “we will have students with him. We have what we call Leadership Fellows who will be integrated into what he’s doing.”

For more information on the lecture and tickets, please contact McEvoy at (910) 630-7043, Director of Marketing and Communications Maria Brunson at (910) 630-7114 or Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications Roxana Ross at (910) 630-7292.

Photo: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, will speak at Methodist University on April, 17.

The competition is heating it up and performers are bringing it to semifinals of Huske Unplugged. In its fourth season, round two of the semifinals is tonight and you are not going to want to miss it.The semifinalists in the singer/songwriter competition are competing for a grand cash prize of $3,000, a day-long recording session at Manifold Recording and a scholarship for $15,000 to PCG Nashville. The fi nals are slated for April 17.

Huske Unplugged challenges bards to share their best pieces with the community, and maybe win a little cash, too. While it’s a great opportunity for the songwriters, the real winners are the people who come to hear them perform. In its short existence, the competition has seen 96 individuals come out to share their work and entertain the crowds with their original pieces.

When Greg Biltz walked into Huske Hardware two years ago, he had no idea what an adventure this undertaking would be. “Honestly, I was looking for a gig for myself,” said Biltz. “But when I started talking to Josh Collins (owner of Huske Hardware), I told him about programs like this that I had been a part of in Dayton, Ohio, and Columbus, Ga., — and he lit up and said ‘Yeah, let’s do it!’”

From its inception in 2011 Collins and Biltz took great care to cultivate the right atmosphere for Huske Unplugged.

“We don’t want this to be American IdolFayetteville,” said Biltz. “From the beginning we knew that if we keep it about the material, we will get the songwriters, not just performers.”

They were right. The word got out, and the songwriters came. Rockers and country songwriters; R&B songwriters and folk songwriters; metalheads and gospel-music writers came. Some were locals, others happened to be passing through and still others travelled from a state or two away to be a part of it. Some were looking for a chance to be discovered, others just wanted to be heard and share their work with a friendly crowd. The comeptitors come from many backgrounds and life experiences, with different skill sets and signature sounds — a perfect combination for a platform like Huske Unplugged.

The listeners came, too. And for the fi rst three seasons Collins happily fronted the cash prizes and enjoyed knowing that he was giving songwriters a place to call their own by offering up Huske Hardware as a venue. Dad to performer Summer Collins, Josh knows firsthand the many challenges songwriters and musicians face. This was a fun and easy way to make a difference not only for the songwriters, but it also provided the community with top-notch original entertainment.

It could have stopped there, but it didn’t. By the start of the fourth season, Summer was making a name for herself in the music world and had been travelling to Nashville to further her career. That’s where Josh met Bernard Porter of PCG Nashville. It is the mission of PCG to apply a customized scientifi c approach to development, producing balance in all areas of the artist’s mind, body and spirit. The organization provides everything from branding, the voice and music lessons to health and nutrition classes — anything to help prepare their clients and give them the best chance at being successful in whatever musical genre they choose.

Porter admired Josh’s dedication to the community and the songwriters who participated in Huske Unplugged. If the talent was anything like what he’d heard from Summer, Porter could make it work. He offered up a $15,000 scholarship to the winner.

“We are in the science of artist development. We are set up like a doctor’s office,” said Porter. “It is my job to look into you, do diagnostics and assign what you will work on first to bring your craft to the highest level. Our involvement increases the likelihood of success. We are the musical equivalent of spring training for pro ball.”

A successful musician in his own right, Porter is dedicated to making sure his clients understand what they are getting into. “It takes more than being a good singer or performer (to succeed) in this business,” said Porter. “That is a very small part of it. You have to be able to sell yourself — you have to have confi dence. If God blessed you with the opportunity to be a role model, you have to act on it. It is about that awareness, being authentic, being disciplined and focused. We are very selective in who we choose to get involved in our programs.”

On the eve of the final round, PCG Nashville will host a seminar for the finalists. It will be a chance for the songwriters to learn a little more about the music industry. “I want to be able to answer questions and help them as much as we can,” said Porter. Then during the fi nal round, PCG Nashville will judge the event.

While PCG Nashville coming to Fayetteville is a big deal, Biltz is confident they won’t be disappointed. “I believe they will see talent they have not expected. There are people in this competition that are going to knock them back in their seats. I think they’ll be impressed with what we are doing,” said Biltz.

With Nashville on board, Huske Unplugged is set to be a bigger success than ever before. But when Biltz heard about Manifold Recording in Pittsboro, he knew there was another call to make. Owner Michael Tieman took Biltz up on his offer to come to an open sign up night at Huske Unplugged. That was all it took for Tieman to sign on as a sponsor and offer a recording session as one of the prizes.

“I listened to the artists and the ones who ended up winning that night were some of my favorites,” said Tieman. “They (Josh and Greg) were correct in telling me that Fayetteville has some diamonds in the rough.”

Tieman performed as a boy soprano in Manhattan before moving on to work in the world of computer software. The technical side of the recording business interested him. “As I lamented the continual degradation of the quality of recorded music, I realized that as an entrepreneur this is not something I should complain about. This is something I should do something about. So I built a studio.”

Like Porter, Tieman sees something bigger than just a songwriter competition in Huske Unplugged. “A lot of people talk about North Carolina in terms of what we have lost … jobs etc. I am also seeing a North Carolina that is building new things as well. I am excited to see how we might build a kind of North Carolina music that 10 or 20 years from now people will recognize. There is a lot of musical richness in North Carolina that needs to be heard and preserved.”

Biltz is convinced that what the songwriters at Huske Unplugged offer up is worth hearing and preserving. So does local businessman Mike Lallier, who has generously offered to provide the award for the cash prize winners.

Indeed, Huske Unplugged has come a long way, baby and in a short time, too. But for Biltz the magic is in the music. “The beautiful thing about it is that we didn’t know what was going to happen and now here we are... I tell everybody that ‘if you walk out with money or a slot in the semis, that is great,’ but I am doing this to provide a venue to showcase their material.”

The show starts at 8 p.m. at Huske Hardware, tonight. The fi nals are on April 17. Find out more at www.facebook.com/ HuskeHardware.

Photo: Huske Unplugged offers songwriters a chance to be heard. It offers the community first-class
original entertainment. 

Four million babies were born last year and the March of Dimes was there for each and every one of them. One in nine babies are born too soon. The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. It is in support of this mission that the March of Dimes will host its “March for Babies” walk on Saturday, April 13 at 10 a.m. at Methodist University. This is the 75th anniversary of the March of Dimes. Founded in 1938 by FDR, the organization’s original goal was to eradicate polio. When March of Dimes fulfilled the mission, the new challenge became helping to prevent birth defects and premature births.

“This exciting event is a celebration of the fundraising that takes place year round by our teams and sponsors in the area,” said Catherine Heindselman, director of the Cape Fear Division of March of Dimes. “There will be 1,000 participants who will come out for the event and they consist of family teams, company teams and individual walkers.”

The money is raised through online fundraising or the various events the groups have during the year. The agency has set a goal of $140,000 for the event.

The event will consist of food, fun and entertainment. Dance teams, step teams and singing groups from Methodist University and the community will perform. Food vendors will be on hand to sell subs, pizza and breakfast items. There will be a Kid Zone with many activities for the youngsters to enjoy.

The March of Dimes’ Ambassador Family, the Poulks, will speak along with Dr. Ben Hancock, president of Methodist University. Their twin children, aged 2, were born prematurely. They were born at 25 weeks and 5 days and weighed 2 pounds, 14 ounces and 2 pounds, 14.5 ounces. One child spent six weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit and the other one spent seven weeks in the NICU at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. They are doing incredibly well today. Each year an Ambassador Family is selected to tell the story of how the March of Dimes impacted their children’s lives and the successes of their birth.

“We encourage everyone to come out and support us as we take on this challenge,” said Heindselman. “We are recruiting teams so please come out and register.”

Registration for the event begins at 9 a.m. The opening ceremony will start at 9:40 a.m. and the walk will begin at 10 a.m. Visit www.marchforbabies.org or call (910) 483-3691 for more information.

Photo: The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

As any great musician knows, it takes time to master an instrument, and the oldest musical instrument in the entire world is the human voice. For centuries people have used their unique vocal cords to sing for many different reasons. This natural instrument could be used for religious praise, passing on history or for entertainment purposes. On April 13, at Methodist University the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the Cumberland Oratorio Singers will come together with college and community choirs for a spring performance that is sure to energize the soul. In recent years the FSO and the Cumberland Oratorio Singers have combined forces to bring first-class performances to the community.

The Cumberland Oratorio Singers consists of 75 adults, all of whom are unique in their backgrounds and experiences; and each has mastered their God-given instrument, their voice. There is more to oratorio than just singing. By definition oratorio is “a musical composition for voices and orchestra, telling a sacred story without costumes, scenery or dramatic action.”

This style of performing is of Italian origin, and can be traced back directly to an Italian concert hall from the 16th century. The Cumberland Oratorio Singers embrace their centuries-old musical roots, but are not limited in performance style. The group has an extensive repertoire that includes classical secular styling’s, contemporary classical works, masses and traditional oratorios and show or pop music.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956 and is the oldest continuously-funded orchestra in North Carolina. Under the direction of Dr. Fouad Fakhouri, the orchestra performs throughout the community several times a year, including several free performances.

On April 13, the members of the orchestra will perform The Symphony of Psalms, which was created by the composer Stravinsky. This piece was composed in the 1930s and is named after the verses of the book of Psalms that are used in the choral pieces of the performance.

The program will culminate with Gustav Mahler’s powerful Symphony No. 1 in D Major.The joint performance the Cumberland Oratorio and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will be held at Reeves Auditorium on the campus of Methodist University, which is located at 5400 Ramsey St., on April 13 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door.

For more information about the event or about ticket availability, contact Margarette Kelly at 482-0006. She can also be reached by email at mkelly5733@nc.rr.com. Further event information can also be found at the website www.singwithcos.org. Find out more about the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra at www.fayettevillesymphony.org.

Photo: Gustav Mahler

Sunset on March 26 began the weeklong celebration of Passover, one of the holiest times in the Jewish tradition. Fayetteville is rich with the contributions and sacrifi ces of the Jewish community, and in celebration of that, the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum is hosting an exhibition of Jewish history running from March 15 through early 2014.

The presence of a Jewish community in Fayetteville coincides with the founding of the county of Cumberland. In fact, Fayetteville was North Carolina’s second largest town in the 1820s. After a devastating fi re in 1831, the town emerged from the ashes and was rebuilt. Judah P. Benjamin, who gained fame as a Confederate leader serving as Secretary of State and War in the Cabinet of Jefferson Davis, lived in Fayetteville from 1815 through 1822. While there was a Jewish presence in Fayetteville early on, numbers remained modest. Despite that, in the early 1900s, Jews would contribute immeasurably to the city’s economic growth.

The first “skyscraper” in Fayetteville was built by the Stein brothers. Another department store was established by Hyman Fleishman and these businesses became anchors of Fayetteville’s growing economy. In 1910, Jewish families formed Beth Israel. To that point, they had been worshipping in homes for religious services. They met for years at the McKeithan Building on Market Square as well as the Stein Bridge Building. Desiring a more permanent place of worship, Beth Israel’s synagogue was completed in 1922.

Bruce Daws, director of the museum, shared the importance of the exhibit. “The Jewish population has been a cornerstone in the growth of Fayetteville. This exhibit looks at two primary periods in history primarily, events occurring from Fayetteville’s inception and contributions from the mid-20th century.”

With the advent of World War II, Fayetteville grew exponentially and the Jewish population was extremely supportive of the military. The Stein brothers offered the top fl oor of their building as an Officer’s Club. The Jewish community was also active in the USO and adopted soldiers with the aim of providing fellowship, a place to worship and some down home kosher food. There were Jewish military members from Fayetteville who paid the ultimate price and the exhibit is one way of honoring their service.

The museum is located at 325 Franklin Street in downtown Fayetteville. Hours of operation are Tuesday- Saturday from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. For more information please call 910- 433-1457or visit the museum website at www.fcpr.us/transportation_museum.

Photo: Beth Israel, Fayetteville

It was a few years ago, Bill Bowman, the owner of the Up & Coming Weekly and Kidsville News!, called and asked me to help him with an event. If you know Bill, he is such a sweet guy that is hard to say no when he asks a favor. The event is Fayetteville’s annual Hogs and Rags Rally.

This year will be the 8th annual event — and my third year of involvement — and I have to tell you, everyone does a great job of putting on a memorable and fantastic rally. The Hogs and Rags Rally is an event for motorcycles and convertibles to raise money for a variety of charities. This year, the proceeds will go to the Shriners Hospital for Children, the American Cancer Society and Kidsville News!

The rally a sanctioned Dogwood Festival event, and it takes place on Saturday, April 27. Registration opens at 8 a.m. The event will start at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. We will leave promptly at 8:45 a.m.

Although in the past there has been a great turn out of motorcycles, last year there was a really nice turn out of classic and convertible cars, too (hence the “Rags” in the name Hogs and Rags). Everyone is welcome as long you can keep up with the police. That’s right, we have a police escort from Fayetteville to Myrtle Beach.

After we leave the museum, we will head out with a police escort to a farm near Chadbourn, N.C., for a wonderful breakfast. From there, we will head toward South Carolina with a water stop at the border and then on to Myrtle Beach.

Once at Myrtle Beach, the caravan stops at Broadway at the Beach for a lunch at Landry’s Seafood. This will be the third year eating there, and it is a very nice experience. While eating lunch, there will be drawings for raffle prizes and guest speakers.

The lunch concludes the official ride, so everyone can enjoy the Boardwalk and ride back at their leisure. You will have plenty of time to get back to the Dogwood Festival to see the Saturday night show. This year, the Dogwood Festival will feature Fahrenheit at 6 p.m., Blackfoot at 7 p.m. and Molly Hatchet at 9 p.m. at the Festival Park.

The ride is $50 per entry and an additional $30 for each additional passenger. The rally includes breakfast, lunch and a T-shirt.

Remember, this rally is for all types of motorcycles and vehicles. Last year, we had a Jeep and Ferrari fighting it out to be the lead car. I believe the Ferrari came out ahead. If you have a club, please come out and join the fun. Let us know ahead of time, and we will group you all together for the ride.

This is going to be a great time for a great cause, so please tell your friends and mark your calendar. You can pre-register or make a donation online at www. hogsandrags.com.

Come with a full tank of gas, come hungry and come ready to ride!

If there is a topic that you would like to discuss you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!

Don’t Get Sequestered:  Protect What You Have

Part 1 – A Business Survival Guide

What is Sequestration? Is it what the vet does to Fido? Do men say, “Geez, I came home so late last night, I thought my wife was going to sequester me.” For some, Sequestration is going to feel just like that procedure. For others it is an opportunity. Yes, I said that, and not just an opportunity to throttle the nearest politician. Sequestration brings the kind of multi-directional pressure that will crush weak companies but leave the strongest (and smartest) not only still standing but often bigger than ever. It will make you fight to protect your customer base, fight harder to grow it and bedevil staff retention. All that while squeezing cash flow, payroll and advertising budgets. However, if you have an effective strategy to deal with these pressures, you will not only survive but be in a position to absorb market share from those who don’t. In this and following articles, we’ll discuss methods to make a stressed marketing budget more effective and Sequester-proof your business.

Step 1. Protect what you have. We’re not talking about iron underwear here. But keeping customers in an economy under stress is no easy task either. In a normal economy, approximately 10 percent of a company’s customers are considering going elsewhere. In a stressed economy that number tends to go up as customers shop for better value. Note: Value is not necessarily price. Buyers more often do business with companies they trust and that make them feel appreciated than with the one with lowest price. There are many inexpensive tactics to promote customer loyalty and trust. You can institute a program of discounts/rewards for customer longevity or return visits. You can survey your customer base and see what they think of your product or service so that improvements can be made. You can buy radio time and print space (as I do in this newspaper). My personal favorite (for obvious reasons) is to promote loyalty and trust through promotional gifts. A useful item with your company name and message on it is like a permanent ad repeating your logo and message day after day. Research shows that customers who are given promotional gifts have a higher impression of the company who gave it (Trust!), are more inclined to buy from that business and more likely to refer a friend. All of that can be obtained from one small gift which can cost less than a buck.

There are an infinite number of ways to bring gifts into your transactions. One is Gift with Purchase. Purportedly invented by Estee Lauder and is as the name says, rewarding a customer’s purchase with a small gift. I like this one because it can be a sales driver (If the gift is of high enough value, it can be advertised to bring new customers in the door) as well as a loyalty enhancement. The value of the promo gift should somewhat mirror the value of your product. The higher the price-point of your product, the higher the value of the gift. So if you are selling cars, you could give a $20 picnic set. If you are selling fast food, you could give a .25 cent collectable cup. The possibilities are endless but you get the idea. None of those items would significantly reduce margin on the sale but will begin a chain reaction of goodwill, referral, purchase and goodwill again.

If your company serves customers through sales professionals or service technicians, whether in the home or office, an imprinted leave-behind tool or other useful item can work well for you. A plumber or electrician can leave a magnetic flashlight on the refrigerator. A lawn maintenance tech can leave a rain gauge on the lawn. The average charge for any of those services is near a hundred dollars yet the gifts only cost around a buck or two. If the item is seen just once or twice per week over the course of a year, the cost per exposure f your logo is a penny or two. That’s efficiency!

Right now, your competition is brain-storming ways to take away your customers. What are you doing to protect them? There are many more methods to promote customer loyalty on a budget than I have space here to write, however, the important thing is to pick one that fits your budget and get going!

In my next installment, we’ll be discussing ways to attract new customers.

For research data on the effectiveness of promotional products in enhancing customer loyalty, go to www.uslogoworks.com/research.

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New York has its Easter Parade and Lexington, Ken., has its derby, but the biggest spectacle of spring in North Carolina is right in our backyard with the 62nd running of the Stoneybrook Steeplechase on Saturday, April 6 at the Carolina Horse Park.

The race, which features everything from a 5K run to tailgating to a hat contest to the actual race has been a tradition in the area since its inception in the 1940s. The race itself was the realization of a dream by Michael “Mickey” G. Walsh. Walsh, an Irish immigrant came to Southern Pines in 1939, where he used his passion and skill with horses to become one of the preeminent trainers of steeplechase and timber horses. At this point, you might be asking yourself what excactly a steeplechase is. Steeplechase is a form of horse racing, which derives its name from early races in which orientation of the course was by reference to a church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and generally traversing the many intervening obstacles in the countryside. Today, a steeplechase is a distance horse race with diverse fence and ditch obstacles.

In 1940, Walsh brought his love of horses to and the race to Southern Pines, when he purchase his own riding and training stable which was home to the first Stoneybrook Steeplechase. The race continued until 1993 when the farm was sold following Walsh’s death.

Local horse enthusiasts, who shared his passion for the not only the race, but the social event it had become, formed a nonprofi t charitable foundation, now known as the Carolina Horse Park. Following an eight year lapse, the Stoneybrook Steeplechase was restarted in 2001 in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Since that time, those who grew up with the Steeplechase as the marker of spring have gathered to celebrate not only the beauty of the race, but also the tradition. The race has grownexponentially each year, with attendance reaching more than 10,000 in recent years. Don’t let the numbers put you off. There is ample space and more than enough to do on race day, and, the event itself invites you to meet new people and make new friends during the day-long tailgating event.

Race day offers more than just the races. Each year, the event has grown and organizers have added more entertainment. The 2013 runningfeatures activities for both children and adults. From the 5K/1K Run for the Ribbons to the traditional tailgate and hat contests to stick horse races, expansive Kid Zone, vendor area, pub tent, beer tent and opening ceremonies, there is something for everyone. While the tailgating area opens at 9:30 a.m., the fi rst horse race doesn’t start until 1:30 p.m.

General Admission tickets and parking passes are available for $25 in advance and $30 on race day. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free with a ticket-holding adult. advance sale / $30 on race day; kids 12 & under free with ticket holding adult. Tailgating spaces are available all the way up to race day and range in price from $150 to $450, which includes a limited number of tickets. Tailgate spaces are designed for parties of 12 or less. This year, you can forget about cooking and enjoy the day in the Pub Tent located in the infi eld, which is sponsored by Huske Hardware. Admission to the tent is $50 and includes a Southern Style BBQ with beverage. Discounted tickets may be purchased at Harris Teeter Grocery Stores in Whispering Pines, Aberdeen, Fayetteville and Laurinburg. Military members may also receive a 20 percent discount. For more information, visit www.carolinahorsepark.com/stoneybrook.

Photo: Stoneybrook Steeplechase offers more than exciting horse races.

The difference between entertainment and art is that art strives to teach us something about human nature.This statement holds true across all mediums of self-expression, though art and entertainment are not mutually exclusive.

Art may still be entertaining and entertainment may still be emotionally touching or jarring; but a work is only truly art when it illuminates a truth about humanity. The play The Effect of Gamma Rays on The Man-In-the-Moon Marigolds is art. It is on stage at the Gilbert Theater from April 4-21.

The play was written in 1964 by Paul Zindel. Zindel, a science teacher, received the Pulitzer prize in 1971 for the play. The story, set in the ‘60s, centers around the dysfunctional Hunsdorfer family.

Matilda “Tillie” is the protagonist of the story and the youngest of the family. Throughout the story she struggles against the darkness in her life and serves as a symbol of an individual who can rise above their circumstances.

Ruth is the oldest sister, and unlike Tillie she cannot defy her controlling and abusive mother. Beatrice is the main antagonist of the story, and the mother of the family. She is a single mother who is overwhelmed with the abuse and destruction she rains upon both herself and those around her.

It is obvious that the story is a dark one, but it is often by exploring the darkness in ourselves that the beauty and strength we hold internally is revealed.

Amanda Brooks Learner, who plays Beatrice in the show, says that the play “is a compelling story. It is suspenseful, and the audience should expect to be taken on a trip. It is full of painful, beautiful and painfully beautiful moments. There are horrible moments and the story will force the audience to ask questions such as ‘what is the meaning of life and how can we take this circumstance and find hope?’

“Throughout the play, the audience sees true cruelty and the affects of alcoholism. Most people have been affected by alcoholism in some way, be it a family member or relative, and in this story we see the affects of truly hopeless alcoholism, abuse and cruelty on children. We see that some can rise above it and some can’t,” she said.

The antagonist is often an under-rated character. Without the evils in the world there could be no good, the same principle holds true within this play. Without Beatrice, Tillies amazing story of perseverance would not be as powerful as it is. Learner expresses this sentiment in her excitement to portray the character.

Learner says, “I (Beatrice) can help to tell her story and bring humanity to Beatrice so that the audience can relate to a poor, struggling woman in a time period where divorce is unheard of. I can speak to the audience and help them to identify with the pain of being lonely. I live through them and this is an opportunity to journey into myself and explore the darkness within myself. The darkness scares me, but through it I am able to support the light.”

The Gilbert Theater is located at 116 Green St. For more information or to order tickets, contact the theatre at 678-7186 or at www.gilberttheatre.com

Ah, spring, with its bright, sunny days, buds and blossoms, gardens and festivals — and for area locavores, foodies and residents who enjoy fresh, locally grown foods and original crafts — the ramping up of activity at the Fayetteville Farmers Market and City Market in downtown Fayetteville.

The Fayetteville Farmers Market operates on a year-round basis from 3-6 p.m. on Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays on the grounds of the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum at 325 Franklin St. People may purchase seasonal fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey and other farm products as well as candles, jewelry, plants and fl owers, pottery, soap, tea and more. But every April, the market kicks-off the new growing season, and Bruce Daws, historic properties manager for the City of Fayetteville, hopes this market season sees even greater growth in the size of both the market and its offerings.

“This will be the market’s third year coming up at the transportation museum,” said Daws. “We are working to build. We are recruiting vendors. We want it to become, especially on Saturday, a destination for people not just to come and buy produce or a piece of art and leave, but also to come and stay.

“We’re adding more so people have the opportunity to eat. From time to time, we’ll have a band playing or music or some other activity on the grounds,” continued Daws. “We’re trying to make it more of a destination for people to come and just hang out.”

And Daws notes that the museum has plenty of space to “grow the market.”

“The vision for the market is to wrap it all the way around the museum. We’ve got the Russell Street side, which is not at all occupied currently. We’ve got the front of the museum, we’ve got the front parking lot and we’ve got a covered shelter on the Russell Street side. We’ve got a lot of room to grow this to its fullest extent property-wise.”

Also located on the grounds of the museum is the City Market, now in its second year. Daws explained that while the focus of the farmers market is on farm products, the City Market’s emphasis is on art and original craft-type materials.”

He noted that all vendors are vetted.

“As far as the crafters,” said Daws, “we want original work. It’s not a fl ea market.”

Daws also stressed that along with the space to grow is ample space for visitors to park.

“Half a block from us is the brand-new parking deck,” Daws said.

The deck rate is just .50/hour until 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Additionally, free hourly parking is available around the museum on Maxwell and Franklin Streets, in front of Pennmark Place Townhouses on Ray Avenue and in unnumbered spaces behind the townhouses, as well as at the two-hour parking lot on the Russell Street side of the museum. Neither the hourly or paid parking is enforced after 5 p.m. and on weekends.

Want to sell your agricultural products or crafts at the markets? Daws encourages prospective vendors to stop by the museum and pick up an application.

“We are growing all the time, and we are recruiting vendors,” he said.

Please note that, according to the Fayetteville Farmers Market website, www.thefayettevillefarmersmarket.com, anyone who wishes to sell prepared foods, baked goods, canned goods, meat, poultry, eggs, seafood or dairy must meet North Carolina Department of Agriculture regulations.

If you want to sell arts, crafts or antiques only, contact Amanda Klinck at AKlinck@ci.fay.nc.us for an application. For more information, please call (910) 433-1457, 433-1458 or 433-1944.

Photo: The Fayetteville Farmers Market, located at the Transportation Museum is open every Wednesday and Saturday morning.