As we enter into 2013, we think it only fitting that we review some of the top stories that made headlines in 2012.

The Economy: As the nation stands poised on the verge of jumping off the fiscal cliff, it only makes sense that the economy would be the top story of 2012. Jobs, lack of jobs, business creation, lack of business creation have topped the conversations in the community over the past years. As the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce took a bruising from county and city leaders in regards to its ability to draw jobs into the community, it reorganized and reinvented itself to try and better meet the many demands placed on it.

Chief among those changes was creating an entity within its fold to specifically focus on the small businesses already in the community. It is these businesses, which have managed to sustain themselves through the tough economic times who are the heartbeat of our community. Even with the resiliency that comes with small business, there have been setbacks. This time last year, the community was celebrating the opening of Wet Willie’s in downtown Fayetteville. We are not mourning it’s demise. The economy will continue to be the buzz word for 2013.

Downtown: Downtown businesses garnered many headlines during 2012, unfortunately, not all of them were good. Those businesses getting the most ink were the ones doing the most bad. Topping our list of bad downtown residents are The Prince Charles Hotel and Doc’s.

The Prince Charles, a venerable, historic building, has been a source of discontent for downtown for quite some time. In 2012, its problems grew greater at the hands of owner, John Chen. Chen, a New York developer, bought the building with promises of renovation and an upscale apartment/business center. Instead, he turned the building into a low-rent, by-the-month facility, all the while ignoring city codes and building codes as he “renovated” the hotel rooms to make them mini-apartments with miniscule rents.

When the city had its fill of Chen’s business practices, the city’s inspection office shut the building down and the city moved to have the hotel put on the auction block for fees owed. To date, Chen has managed to out-maneuver the city and kept the hotel off of the auction block, but the clock is ticking. Who knows what will come of the Prince Charles in 2013.

Doc’s, the restaurant/family fun center, also located in downtown drew many headlines in 2012. Built with private and public funding, Doc’s opened with much promise and closed in shame, as employees were put on the street without pay, loans went unpaid and the building began collapsing on Hay Street. Shuttered, the facility sits in limbo with plans being tossed about to make it into a charter school.

Racial Profiling: We would be remiss if we did not make mention of the most contentious (other than the election) issue to impact our community in 2012: charges of racial profiling.

In March, the issue came to a head, as the city accepted a report from the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives that reported that while the city’s police department had a disproportionate number of blacks who are subject to traffic stop and warrantless searches, it could not say that Fayetteville police officers were guilty of racial profiling.

Consultants who reviewed the Fayetteville Police Department say blacks are disproportionately subjected to traffic stops and warrantless searches, but the analysts cannot say officers are guilty of racial profiling. In the midst of this debate, city officials discussed imposing a moratorium on voluntary searches following traffic stops. The City Council voted 8-2 in January to halt so-called consent searches of vehicles for 120 days while the consultants investigated claims that the practice disproportionately targets black drivers.

This discussion led to the dismissal of City Manager Dale Iman and the ultimate resignation of Fayetteville Police Chief Tom Bergamine. With 2013 in its opening days, the city is in the final decision-making process to hire a new police chief.

Extreme Home Makeover: Fayetteville/Cumberland County officials were doing a happy dance when the wildly popular television show Extreme Home Makeover decided to visit the city to build a home for homeless veterans. Local businesses, community leaders and non-profits geared up to support the show with businesses donating thousands of dollars in goods and services to make the project a reality. As the reality television show rolled into town on one of the hottest days of the summer, countless volunteers stood by for their chance to make history in the community. Even the nation’s First Lady got into the act, arriving in Fayetteville just a couple of hours before her cameo and leaving as soon as it was shot. The show revolved around the efforts of Barbara Marshall, a 15-year Navy veteran, who had opened up her home to homeless veterans. Her goal, with the assistance of Extreme Home Makeover, was to wide the reach of Jubilee House to include more families.

Months after the home was remade, it came to light the Marshall had no veterans staying in her home, and had, in fact, put them out shortly after the show aired. Veterans complained Marshall, who was represented as caring for them from the goodness of her heart instead charged them high rent and when they couldn’t meet her demands were put on the street. It later came to light that money, donated to ensure the house could stay in business, was instead spent by Marshall to purchase another home.

The unofficial board of the non-profit stepped in to take a look at the home’s finances and its programs. Today, the house touts a number of programs, although little is said about it in the media.

Politicians Acting Badly: Most politicians go out of their way to stay out of the headlines, but that isn’t he case with Cumberland County Commissioner Charles Evans. Evans, a former Fayetteville City Councilman, made more headlines out of the commission chamber than he did while in it.

Earlier this year, Evans was stopped for having an expired tag, an event which moved to above-the-fold headlines claiming the officer, who was also African-American had racially profiled him. While video footage of the stop, quickly gained hits on You Tube, it did little to boost Evans’ image in the community.

This is not the first time Evans antics have raised eyebrows and made headlines. Does anyone remember the cockroach debate that resulted in an exchange of words between Evans and then-Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Bill Harrison? What about the supposed shoving match between Evans and then-Commission Chairman Kenneth Edge?

In October of 2012, Evans again made headlines for failure to repay travel advances to the ABC Commission and for faulty reporting of travel expenses. It can only be hoped that 2013 will be much kinder to the gentleman from Cumberland County.

The British culture has always been deeply intertwined with America. In recent years especially, the British culture has become increasingly popular, and the Headquarters Library has embraced this with a Downton Abbey-inspired tea party. The event takes place on Jan. 6. It promises to be fun — and educational, too.

When most people think of British High Society they picture top hats, monocles and extended pinkies while drinking tea. However, there is a lot more to the complex and regal culture of England’s wealthiest and most influential citizens. England has a rich history that stretches over centuries and all this history has shaped the country’s culture in enormous and complex ways.

Downton Abbey, which is the television show that has inspired this huge tea party, has been airing in America since 2011. It started originally in the United Kingdom in 2010. Downton Abbey is set in post-Edwardian era England in the aristocratic and fictional Yorkshire estate that gives the show its name. The focus of the series is the rich and influential Crawley family, and the people who serve them.

The series tackles many of the major historical events and accurately shows their effect on the British social hierarchy as well as their effect on the fictional Crawleys. Some of the historical events that are tackled throughout the different seasons are the sinking of the Titanic, the Spanish Influenza and, of course, World War I.

For anyone interested in learning about the British culture in the early 1900s, this downtown Downton Abbey tea party is the perfect place to be. One of the most defining and well-known aspects of British culture is their affinity for tea. To stick with the Downton Abbey theme, and to educate citizens on the traditions of the British high tea, the Headquarters Library will host a huge tea party that will provide citizens with an authentic English high tea experience.

There will be more to this gathering than Earl Grey and crumpets, however. The tea party will also offer an enlightening history lesson from Fayetteville State University History Department’s professor Brad Kadel.

Apart from the history, participants will be able to enjoy the traditional fare of this British tradition. Since the 1800s Britain has been the largest consumer of tea per capita. The tea traditionally enjoyed is a strong black tea with milk and sugar. Usually, scones are served with clotted cream and strawberry jam. The beverage is enjoyed in every class, but only the upper class experiences the delicate tea drinking ritual most often pictured. Most of the middle and lower classes enjoy tea in a mug; much like an American would enjoy their coffee.

Participants should come dressed in their “Downton best.” Reservations are required for the tea party. The tea party is from 3 to 6 p.m. at Headquarters Library in the Pate Room. The library is located at 300 Maiden Lane. For more information, call 483-7727.

Photo: British High Tea is making a come back and the Downtown Library is getting in on it by sponsoring a British High Tea Downtown Abbey style.

The gifts have been opened, the parties hosted and the New Year toasted. Now it’s time to take down the trees, pack up the decorations and get about the business of making 2013 a prosperous and happy year.

Being a good steward of resources is not a bad way to start. It’s easy, practical and useful — and in these parts, it’s just as much a part of the holiday season as Christmas lights and eggnog. Every year the City of Fayetteville, PWC, Progress Energy and Cape Fear Botanical Garden partner in recycling live Christmas trees. It’s called the Grinding of the Greens, and this year it takes place on Jan. 12 at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. The best part is that you don’t have to be present to make this program a success or to participate — although volunteers are always welcome.

Instead of sending trees to the landfill, donate them to the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Each year, thousands of trees are ground into mulch and spread throughout the garden. It not only saves space in the landfi ll, it benefits the plants at CFBG and all the people who visit it each year. Trees are accepted at the garden up until the day of the event.

Once the trees are ground up, the mulch is spread throughout the garden along the paths and in the flowerbeds. It takes dozens of volunteers to make the Grinding of the Greens happen, but thousands benefit all year long. For weeks afterwards, the grounds at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden smell of evergreens. It is a treat for employees, volunteers and garden visitors alike.

Starting Monday Jan. 7, Fayetteville residents can put trees by the curb for collection. From Jan. 7-11, the City of Fayetteville will make special pick-ups to get the trees. These pick-ups are for trees only, not yard waste, trash or recycle items. Please make sure all decorations and lights have been removed. You don’t have to live within the city limits to make a difference. If you miss a pick-up or live outside the city limits, the garden accepts drop-offs — just make sure to get it there before Jan. 12. To drop-off trees, bring them to the garden entrance. The garden is accessible even though the Cape Fear River Bridge project is underway.

Mayor Tony Chavonne will be on hand to start the event, which begins at 8:30 a.m. To volunteer at the Grinding of the Greens, call Cape Fear Botanical Garden at 486.0221.

Photo: The grounds of the Cape Fear Botanical Garden get their lush look in part from the rejuvenation from the Grinding of the Greens.

For thousands of years people fished. It began simply as a way to hunt the food found in the water, but over the years it has developed into a sport — and for many an art form. Fly fishing is one such form of fishing, and it is arguably one of the most challenging. This winter, the John E. Pechmann Fishing Center offers several classes. The first class of the year is on Jan. 5.

Fly fishing is a unique form of fi shing that requires specific movements for casting the line. The fisher uses a lure made to look like a fly. Through casting techniques the fisher simulates the landing and movements of a fly on the water. Often, fishermen tie their own lures out of strings and hair so that they resemble flying insects. Traditionally, fly fishing is practiced in cold mountain streams, but it can be practiced anywhere. Most all species of fish respond to the movements simulating flies.

“That is one of the things we point out,” said Tom Carpenter, a program coordinator at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center. “Traditionally, when people think of fly fishing they think trout or salmon. What we show them is that you can fish farm ponds for blue-gill bass, you can fly fish warm water streams, you can fly fish at the beach for speckle trout … you are not limited to any particular species of fish. It is wide open to what you want to do with a fly rod.”

It is never too late to learn a new form of casting, and with that in mind the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center offers several fly fishing classes for beginners. In this class, participants will learn the basics of casting and knot tying according to regulations and ethics.

The Pechmann Center has revamped its fly-fishing courses for 2013, and Carpenter sees it as a good thing for students.

“Our primary focus is the basic casting instruction,” he said. “We provide some instruction for knots and we also have some handouts that help students with fly selection.”

After class, students put their new-found skills to use and head over to the two stocked fishing ponds on the property to practice their new skills.

“We usually have quite a few people catch some trout when we take them to the ponds,” said Carpenter. One of the things that students appreciate about the course is that handling a fly rod is more of a challenge than reel fishing.

“One of the things to remember about fly fishing, as with any sort of fishing, is that it is a life-long learning experience,” said Carpenter. “We have to understand what the fish feed on, what time of day they eat and how the weather might affect the fish. We learn all these things so we can become better fisherman. It gives you a better understanding of nature as well.”

The class is taught with the help of several experienced volunteer instructors. Each class can accommodate 40 students and classes fi ll up quickly, Carpenter noted.

The class requires preregistration and costs $5 per person. Registration begins Dec. 3 at Lake Rim Park. The fishing education center will provide all equipment, but it is advised that participants bring eye protection and a brimmed hat.

The beginner classes will be held on Saturday, Jan, 5, Jan. 19 and Feb. 2. All classes will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The class is intended for participants aged 12 and up. The younger fishers must have a participating adult accompany them. For more information, call 433-1018. The fishing center is located next to Lake Rim Park at 7489 Raeford Rd.

Photo: Local sportsmen can learn the art of fly fishing at upcoming classes.

Breathing should be the easiest natural process a person can do, but for millions of people, it can be a struggle. The Respiratory Therapy program at Fayetteville Technical Community College equips gradu-ates with the skill to service patients of all ages who face respiratory breathing problems. Through lec-ture, laboratory and hospital clinical rotations, students learn the basic physiology of respiratory therapy needed for patient assessments, oxygen therapy, diagnostic proce-dures and ventilator management. Graduates will have an in-depth un-derstanding of the anatomy and pathology of the respiratory system for identification, treatment, manage-ment and rehabilitation of diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema and interstitial lung disease, just to name a few. Students will have the opportunity to enhance their critical thinking skills for troubleshooting and equipment manipulation.

After earning an associate of applied science degree with a concentration in Respiratory Therapy at FTCC, students are qualified to take the required na-tional boards, the Certified Respiratory Therapist and Registered Respiratory Therapist exams. Graduates who successfully earn CRT certification may then apply to the state agency for licensure and begin work in most states. The advanced credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist involves a two-step examination process that may be attempted after the CRT certification is obtained. The RRT credential is not only a professional achievement but also a monetary benchmark. According to salary.com, a CRT’s median salary is $46,000, while RRT’s make about $8,000 more.

If you are an ambitious problem-solver who is looking for a challenging, exciting and dynamic career in healthcare and are team oriented and enjoys helping others, then respiratory therapy may be the profession for you.

Application deadline is Jan. 30, 2013, for fall semester 2013. Visit our website at www.faytechcc.edu to learn more about the Respiratory Therapy program as well as other opportunities available to you at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Email hollomaj@faytechcc.edu with questions about the training at FTCC that can lead to your future career in Respiratory Therapy!

Photo: Make a difference, in your life and in the lives of others.

Managing the Challenges of Alzheimer’s: Part Two

The following, from the Home Instead Senior Care® network and Vickie Dellaquila, certified professional organizer and author of Don’t Toss My Memories in the Trash, are 10 reasons seniors can’t or won’t give up their stuff and what to do about it.

• The Sentimental Attachment

The beloved prom dress represents the history and memories of the event; it’s not the dress itself. Save only a piece of the dress to make a quilt or display in a shadow box. Scrapbooking and converting photos to DVDs are other ways to save trea-sured keepsakes without all the extra mess.

• The Sense Of Loyalty

Older adults who’ve received gifts from family and friends may be reluctant to part with them. Encourage your loved one to give unused gifts back to the giver or grandchildren.

• The Need To Conserve

Seniors are the original green people. Appeal to a senior’s desire to help others. “You went through the Great Depression, now it’s time for you to let go and help someone else.” Counter a senior’s inclination to conserve by appealing to their desire to give back.

• The Fatigue

A home with a lifetime of memories can easily become too much for an older adult to handle. Help seniors manage clutter by establishing online bill paying. Also, get your senior off junk-mail lists, which can put them at risk for identity theft. Buy them a shredder.

• The Change In Health

Seniors who have suffered a brain trauma or stroke, who are wheelchair bound or who are experiencing dementia may no longer be able to man-age household duties, which could contribute to clutter. If you see a health change, encourage your senior to visit his or her doctor and consider a pro-fessional organizer and caregiver to help your loved one.

• The Fear

Seniors often fear what will happen if they give up their stuff, like the older adult who saved three generations of bank statements. Use logic and information to help seniors understand it’s okay to let go.

• The Dream of the Future

Those clothes in the closet don’t fit anymore, but your loved one is sure that some day she’ll lose enough weight to get into them. Ask seniors to fill a box with clothing they don’t wear much and make a list of the items in the box. Agree that if they have not gone back to the box in six months to wear the item, they will donate that to charity.

• The Love of Shopping

Today’s seniors have more money than any other previous generation of older adults and they love to shop. Clutter can become so bad seniors can’t find things and they repurchase items they already have, contributing to the clutter cycle. Try to convince seniors to cut back and to say “no” to free stuff.

• The History And Memories

Keepsakes represent history and memories. Encourage se-niors to take old photos to a family reunion and share with several generations. Let seniors know they can contribute to the history of their time and leave a lasting legacy by donating to museums and historical societies, a theater and library or churches and synagogues.

•The Loneliness

Stuff can become a misplaced companion. Loneliness may also lead to depression, which makes it difficult for seniors to get organized. Consider the services of a professional organizer and caregiver. For more information, go to the National Association of Professional Organizers at www.napo.net or visit www.homeinstead.com.

Other experts contributing to these tips include Katherine “Kit” Anderson, CPO-CD, president of the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization; University of Kansas Professor Dr. David Ekerdt, who is coordinating a “household moves” project to determine the role that posses-sions play in older people’s housing decisions; and University of New Mexico Researcher Dr. Catherine Roster.

The New Year offers infinite possibilities, but in Fayetteville so does the night before. All over Fayetteville businesses and organizations will be offering citizens a place to celebrate and gather to bring in the New Year.

The Gilbert Theater hosts a New Year’s Eve Party reception in conjunction with a showing of Life As We Know It. The reception will take place after the 9:30 p.m. show and will include drinks and light hors d’ oeuvres through intermission. After the show the audience is invited to attend a meet and greet with the author, Elaine Alexander. Alexander is a Fayetteville native who currently lives in the Charlotte area. Her work focuses on the quirkiness of people and the comedy that lies within the mundane. Find out more about this event and other upcoming shows at the Gilbert at www.gilberttheater.com.

Don’t miss the FireAntz as they take on the Columbus Cottonmouths at the Crown Coliseum. The puck drops at 6 p.m. It’s the perfect way to get fired up before a night on the town. For more information about the New Year’s Eve game, visit the website at www.fi reantzhockey.com.

If you are looking for a place to bring in the New Year in style, the Rogers Law Firm invites you to spend New Year’s Eve at the Embassy Suites on Lake Valley Drive. Dress is semi-formal. DJs Gilbert Baez and DROCC are scheduled to provide entertainment. Tickets cost between $40 and $60 with special hotel-room rates starting at $129. Call 433-0833 for more information.

Huske Hardware House has an entire weekend of celebrating lined up with a New Years Weekend Celebration dinner special. Friday, Dec. 28 -Monday, Dec. 31 enjoy a dinner for two for $49.99 plus tax and gratuity. The meal includes a Huske salad, your choice of a 10 oz. N.Y. strip or an 8 oz. salmon fi llet, a side of your choice, a dessert of your choice and either a glass of house wine or a glass of champagne. Reservations are accepted. On New Year’s Eve, stick around for the 5th Annual New Year’s Eve Bash. There will be a live DJ and dancing, party favors drink specials, a champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight. There is a $20 cover. Ladies get in free until 11 p.m. Call 437-9905 for more information.

The Vettes Unlimited Corvette Club hosts its 10th annual New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux & Conference Center on Owen Drive. Proceeds from the party benefi t the 555th Parachute Infantry scholarship program. Call 964-6956 for information and ticket prices.

Club Barcelona will usher in the New Year with its annual New Year’s Eve Bash. On Monday, Dec. 31, Club Barcelona’s doors will open to the public at 9 p.m. Highlights of the club’s bash will be a live ball drop and indoor fireworks. Patrons must be 18 years old to party and 21 to drink. Some drink specials of the night are The Midnight Kiss, Lucky 13 and Barcelona Bomb all $5. The club advises people to arrive early because they expect to reach capacity by 11 p.m. Club Barcelona is located at 1501 Skibo Rd.

IT’Z Entertainment City will also be a popular place to be on New Year’s Eve. There will be party favors and plenty of champagne to make partying the night away an exciting inevitability. The lunch special includes beef tips or baked chicken with two sides for $6.50. The evening specials are .50 cent wings and 16 oz. beers $2.50 each. IT’Z Entertainment City is located at 4118 Legend Avenue.

Lido’s is another local establishment that will be celebrating in New Year’s Eve in a big way. From 8 p.m. until 2 a.m., Lido’s will host its New Year’s Eve “Red Carpet Ball” with DJ V. Smoove also known as “Cactus Jones.” There will also be a free champagne toast at midnight and free party favors at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance and cost $10 and tables can be reserved in advance for the VIP section. Lidos is located at 102 Person St.

Hellas, a relative newcomer to the area’s night club scene, has big plans for New Year’s Eve. Don’t miss the chance to get your VIP ticket for the party. The fun starts at 10 p.m. Tickets include admission, appetizers and champagne for two. Find out more at www.clubhellas.com.

Don’t miss the Second Annual New Year’s Eve Bash at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux. Featuring the 69 Boys, two fl oors, Old School & New School, free food and four cash bars. Tickets are $10 if you buy them early. Call 263-6889 for tickets. Room packages available as well. Call 323-0111 for reservations. Sponsored by the A.M.H.O.D Music Group.

If you are looking for a more distinguished way to ring in the new year, you may want to travel to Pinehurst and take in the annual New Year’s Eve bash at the Pinehurst Resort. New Year’s Eve. The resort is offering a special event, which features accommodations, dinner in the elegant Carolina Dining Room, the New Year’s Eve party featuring The Band of Oz, a midnight breakfast buffet, a second breakfast the morning after and late check-out at 4 p.m. to let you sleep in a little longer or enjoy the shopping in historic Pinehurst. The party includes party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. The package is $239 per person. For more information or to make reservations, visit the website at www.pinehurst.com/north-carolina-vacation-packages.php.

If you want to take a break and head out of town, a short drive to Broadway at the Beach will give you a variety of events to ring in the New Year, including special with all of its merchants. But when it’s time to party, you are going to want to be at Broadway at the Beach. The evening will kick off with the complex’s annual fireworks extravaganza over Lake Broadway at 8 p.m. followed by a number of celebrations, including:

New Year’s Eve Celebration in Celebrity Square beginning at 7 p.m.

A DJ will perform live in Celebrity Square beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person in advance and $35 on that day. It includes admission to the following clubs: Revolutions, Malibu’s Surf Bar, Froggy Bottomz, Broadway Louie’s, Crocodile Rocks, Rodeo and Club Boca. Plus there will be balloon drops, confetti cannons, champagne toasts and a simultaneous broadcast with Times Square. For ticket information, call 843-444-8032 or 843-444-3500.

New Year’s Eve Ball at Ripley’s Aquarium from 8 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

The event is $60 per person and includes admission to Ripley’s Aquarium, food, entertainment, party favors, a complimentary glass of champagne and tax and gratuity. There will also be a cash bar. For more information or to make reservations, call 1-800-734-8888, ext. 3226.

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville’s New Year’s Eve Party sets sail at 9 p.m.

The party starts at 9 p.m. and includes live music from the Paul Grimshaw Band, complimentary party favors, a Margarita toast & confetti party at midnight. Kids Welcome. Cover charge is $15 for guests 12 and older.

Hard Rock Café’s New Year’s Eve Party & Concert begins at 9:45 p.m.

Doors will open at 9:45 p.m. and there will be live music by Black Glass. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 that day (if available), plus tax. Ticket price includes huge balloon drop, confetti cannons, party favors and live feed from Times Square. Event is for ages 21 and up only. Call 843-946-0007 for more information or to make your reservations.

For more information about Broadway at the Beach, visit www.BroadwayattheBeach.com, call 1-800-386-4662, “like” on Facebook or follow the complex on Twitter.

Anyone who has been in the south on New Year’s Day knows that just as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west there will be pork, collard greens and black-eyed peas on the table come the first of the year. Serving anything else is just inviting bad luck. Combine this traditional meal with a huge helping of southern hospitality and you’ve got a Fayetteville tradition — the New Year’s Day Black-eyed Pea Dinner — which takes place the first of every year at the Crown from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In the 1970s and ‘80s, then Sheriff Ottis F. Jones and local attorney, Willis Brown, hosted the meal. When Jones died in 1987 the black-eyed pea dinner came to an end as well. Fast forward to the early ‘90s when Register of Deeds Lee Warren took offi ce. Warren, his dad and his buddy Owen Spears were talking about how they could give back to the community. His dad tossed out the idea of bringing back the black-eyed pea dinner. The next dinner was hosted on New Year’s Day of 1993 and the rest is history.

Sure it’s a long day, but with the help of many friends, partners and volunteers it’s something that Warren looks forward to every year. “It is a time to start the year off right. It’s a terrific opportunity to share with others and one of those things we enjoy doing,” said Warren. “It takes probably 60-70 volunteers. There are a lot of the people that come out and assist us.

“It is really a team effort, with many partners and volunteers involved,” he continued. “Many of them have been doing it for years and they look forward to it as much as we all do. It is a good southern tradition that we love to carry on. My family and I and Ed Grannis our long time district attorney and Billie West the new district attorney put the event on.”

It is not unusual for more than 3,000 people to show up depending on what day of the week the New Year falls on.

“With New Year’s being on Tuesday we’ll have a big crowd,” said Warren. “If it was on a Friday or a Monday a lot of people get that day tied in to a weekend and go out of town. When it falls on Sunday people come after church. When it is midweek not many people are out of town. I’m fairly certain there will be at least 3,000 there.”

The meal is signifi cant in more ways than one. Not only is it a great chance for fellowship, greeting the new year and breaking bread with friends old and new, superstition has it that this is the meal that will determine how 2013 unfolds. Everything on the plate represents something for the new year.

The pork promises progress. Pigs push forward when they forage for food, unlike other foraging animals.

Black-eyed peas were once used as food for livestock. During the Civil War when Sherman’s troops plundered the south they destroyed all the crops except the humble black-eyed pea. That’s what got the Confederates through the winter that year. Because they are small and somewhat round, the legumes have also come to represent coins.

Served with collard greens (or cabbage in some areas), which represents paper money and cornbread, which represents gold, it is defi nitely a good idea to clean your plate so your wallet will be full in 2013.

The event is free and open to the public.

Photo: A typical southern New Year’s Day dinner is filled with symbolism.

Rise of the Guardians(Rated PG) 3 Stars

Apparently, Rise of the Guardians (97 minutes) was a series of children’s books. I have an encyclopedic knowledge of both movies and books, and I must say this is the first time I’m hearing of this. I now feel a deep and abiding shame and I must go forth to Barnes and Noble and read all three William Joyce originals. Although, the movie does take place about 200 years after the original stories covered in the books.

The film starts out with some freaking gorgeous visu-als. The palette is a nice combination of blues, greys, and whites with accents of gold, red, and peacock. So give the guy that picked out the color combos an Oscar. The writers need a spanking though. Would it have killed somebody to point out the lack of powerful female characters in the film? Make no mistake, Guardians is boy’s town.

This is especially irritating since there are so many places in the narrative which, with just a little bit of tweaking, a strong female character could easily fit. Have they never heard of Mother Nature? Did the Easter Bunny need to be a boy? What about a clever little gender reversal in which Santa Claus laments the patriarchal twisting of her story? Then there’s the fact that the one major fe-male character is more than a little bit ditzy and dressed in brightly colored feathers. Way to reinforce gender stereotyping, movie!

We open with the birth of Jack Frost (Chris Pine). The Man in the Moon brought him to life to serve as the spirit of winter, but didn’t give him any other information. Fast forward to just before Easter Sunday, roughly present day, where Jack has been invisible for 300 years or so since people don’t believe in him. What people do believe in is Santa Claus with a Russian accent and no wife (Alec Baldwin), the Tooth Fairy (stupid Isla Fisher), and the Australian Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman, still doing penance for appearing in the Wolverine movie) and Sandman (Heather Romagano in a non-speaking non-acting role).

These latter four meet up at the North Pole where yetis are making toys and elves are “helping.” They find out that a crisis is imminent and The Man in the Moon has chosen a new hero to join them in guarding the children of the world. Naturally, that’s Jack Frost. But he’s a loner, baby, a rebel. He doesn’t play well with others and they don’t take him seriously. I wonder if the rest of the film will be about how Jack Frost is hiding is own feelings of inadequacy behind flippant remarks and then he makes a mistake — due in part to his insecurity — and gets rejected by the real champions but then redeems himself in some final lone wolf act of heroism? Whoops. I just gave away the plot of every PG kids movie ever. My bad.

Anyhoo, enter the villain. The Bogeyman AKA Pitch Black (Jude Law) flipped through Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather and was inspired by the tooth fairy subplot contained therein. He is tired of being ignored in favor of friendlier fantasy figures and hatches a plot to destroy the belief that makes them real while leaving him invisible.

Overall this was a fine family film. I mean, have a talk with your children about sexual politics and the patri-archal ideology communicated through-out the narrative, but other than that not bad. If you stick around during the credits there are some extra scenes.Now showing at Wynnsong 7, Carmike 12 and Carmike Market Fair 15.

The Fayetteville Transportation and Local History Museum was voted the “Best Little Known Attraction” in Fayetteville by Up & Coming Weekly readers last year. Right in our back yard we have one of the 40 designated National Landmarks in North Carolina. The museum is located in the fully restored Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad Depot and offers a retrospective view of transportation and so much more.

According to Bruce Daws, museum director, the vision is to bring all manner of local history to the public. There is an annex located next door to the museum that extends the story of Fayetteville’s affi nity for trains, planes and automobiles. Occupying the annex are vintage cars and a recreated gas station circa 1920. The annex also houses exhibits dedicated to law enforcement and fire department history, farm life and the early years of Fort Bragg and Pope Airfield.

“We have an excellent speaker’s group capable of bringing history to life. They have addressed civic groups, schools, churches and military functions. We can design specific programs on request. We will open early for groups. Just let us know what your needs are,” Daws said.

The museum also hosts the Fayetteville Farmers Market and the City Market. Local arts, crafts and produce grown locally are available for purchase. Imagine sitting in a rocking chair on the museum grounds in the late spring, a gentle breeze and scents of soaps and candles circulate. Picture biting into a home-grown apple while viewing the treasures purchased from the artisans. The markets are where downtown becomes a haven for families.

The museum and the school system have an excellent relationship. Fourth and eighth graders can take a four-hour walking tour and see Southern architecture at its best. Pre-schooler’s experience a sing-along story and home schoolers are frequent visitors as well. Seniors have been benefactors of the museums traveling presentations.

“We have something for all ages. It’s special to listen to a child’s amazement validated by an elder. Learning takes place on so many levels,” explained Daws. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts engage with museum activities in pursuit of merit badges. Students can also take in a quick civics lesson with a visit to the city council chambers as well as a tour of the Emergency 911 Center.

There are two major exhibits offered at present. This year is the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 as well as the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. The relics and artifacts displayed are numerous and awe-inspiring. Agricultural and Native American exhibits are also displayed on a rotation basis. This spring will debut the role of the Jewish people in Fayetteville and the rich heritage they brought to the local area.

The Market House is one of the jewels in the museum’s crown. It was completed in 1832 and designated as a national landmark in 1973. It served as Fayetteville’s Town Hall until 1907. Tours are offered on the fourth Friday of the month.

For the history buff or those seeking to learn of life in a different time, the museum complex has much to offer. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information about the museum and the multitude of programs, please call 910-433-1458.

Photo: The Fayetteville Transportation and Local History Museum brings local history to the public.

One of the Finalist for FPD Chief  Is Black; So What?

Fayetteville is in the process of hiring a police chief. The need for doing so was brought on by the retirement of Chief Tom Bergamine. There is no doubt in my mind his decision to retire was the result of well over a year of allegations of racial profi ling (also referred to as “Driving While Black”) directed at the Fayetteville Police Department. Although various reports showed that roughly three times as many black motorists were stopped and searched as whites, no concrete evidence of racial profi ling was ever presented and Bergamine stood strong in defense of his personnel.

As is my routine, I walked to the street and picked up the Dec. 13 copy of The Fayetteville Observernewspaper. With my wife standing in the garage door, I opened the paper to look at headlines. In the Local & State section, there it was: “1 police chief finalist is black.” I literally screamed, “So what?”

My reaction grew out of what I see as the perilous condition in Fayetteville. We are a city divided by race. I am convinced that if this were not the case, The Fayetteville Observer would not have deemed it appropriate or necessary to print this headline.

It was stated by Jesus as recorded in Matthew 12:25, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” This quote is from the New King James version of the Bible.

Let me walk through just some of the destructive consequences that are possible, even probable, from this police chief selection process due to our racial divide and tension. First, given the obvious push from some sectors of the city for a black police chief and considering the tremendous racial tension that has brought us to this point, I cannot believe that Ted Voorhees, the recently hired city manager, can feel safe in making a selection based solely on qualifi cations if doing so does not result in the selection of the black candidate. In light of Fayetteville’s unenviable record regarding forcing city managers to resign, this cannot bode well for high morale among city employees or for attracting and retaining quality employees.

Second, if the black candidate is selected, he will be expected to, as Attorney Allen Rogers is quoted in the article as saying in an email: “The fact that an African-American is one of two fi nalist is extremely encouraging. The potential selection could offer a minority perspective in the way justice is administered and could improve biased perceptions that would be benefi cial to the continued progress of this community.”

Given my experience in this town, that translates as he or she would be expected to agree that there is racial profi ling, take action to correct the perceived resulting injustices and toe-the-line regarding any other complaints/allegations raised by those who have pressed the racial profi ling issue. When I failed to toe-the-line regarding allegations of racial profi ling and contended that Chief Bergamine and the Fayetteville Police Department were being treated unfairly in how the allegations were handled, one leader in that cause asked me, “How can you be black and say the things you say?” If the new black chief yields to this pressure without clear and substantiated reason for doing so, he or she will lose the respect and trust of many department personnel and of many citizens. It does not take tremendous insight to see the resulting condition of the Fayetteville Police Department/the citizens and what that resulting condition would mean to this city.

Third, in the racially tense and racially divided atmosphere of this city, how will citizens who were never comfortable with the handling of the racial-profi ling allegations against the police department react to the selection of a black person as chief of police? The conversations I have had with people around the city and responses to my written comments on the racial profi ling matter indicate that this group is sizeable. My suspicion is that if we did not have this racial divide and were without the debilitating racial tension, the selection would be accepted and even applauded by these citizens. However, that is not our circumstance. Very likely most who questioned the handling of the racial profiling allegations would see such a selection as political expediency. That is, seeking to please and calm a vocal segment without due consideration of the whole of this city. This view would conclude that the selection was not made based on qualifications, but on skin color. That conclusion would only further racially divide this city and insure the decline that comes to a divided city. Jesus spoke truth.

In the midst of what I have presented as a very disturbing condition of our city, there is a bit of encouragement, a glimmer of hope. The article by Andrew Barksdale reports that Jimmy Buxton, president of the local NAACP, said having a black police chief would be historic, but color is not his concern. Then he quotes Buxton directly as saying, “My main concern is qualifi cation, more than anything else.” This is from a man who was at the center of pressing the allegations of racial profi ling against the Fayetteville Police Department.

My prayer is that all the citizens of Fayetteville will have reason to believe that the selection of the next Fayetteville Chief of Police was made based on qualifi cations and understand that this is as it should be. Without this result, I fear that what seems to be Fayetteville’s march toward self-destruction will continue.

Life, with all of its laughter and tragedy is a complex thing. Each day we wake up to something different, something new. How we react to what life throws at us says more about who we are as people then what is actually happening.

On Friday, Dec. 27, the Gilbert Theater will explore the quirks of this crazy thing called life with the world premier opening of Life As We Know It. The show, written by Fayetteville-native Elaine Alexander, is a bonus offering by the Gilbert and is being produced in partnership with Up & Coming Weekly.

“The arts have always been very important to Up & Coming Weekly,” said the newspaper’s publisher, Bill Bowman. “For the first few years we were in existence, the arts defined who we were as a publication. I am a firm believer that today, the arts define who we are as a community.”

Bowman said that he, as an individual, and as a publisher, is always looking for ways that he can support the arts in the community.

“I think a community with a dynamic arts culture is a community that can grow and prosper,” said Bowman. “I also believe that people who participate in the arts either as patrons or participants lead much richer lives.”

With that in mind, Bowman is always on the look out to find interesting ways to support and participate in cultural events. And, after viewing Alexander’s work on a different play in Charlotte, Bowman believes he has found a natural fit for the community.

“Whenever we can celebrate someone who is a part of our community, it’s incredibly important to do so,” he said. “When I saw Elaine’s show in Charlotte, I immediately started thinking about ways we could showcase her unique talent and the unique community in which she grew up.”

To that end, he contacted the Gilbert Theater’s new artistic director, Robyne Parrish and suggested a partnership to produce the world-premier of Life As We Know It in Alexander’s hometown. Parrish was immediately on board.

“The Gilbert is known for celebrating cutting-edge theater and for promoting new playwrights,” said Bowman. “When I started thinking about Elaine and her work, I immediately thought of the Gilbert, and we have put together a wonderful partnership that will bring a great talent home and give Fayetteville residents a chance to enjoy great theater.”

For Alexander, the production of her work is a dream come true.

“It’s like getting to be in the homecoming parade,” said Alexander during a recent interview. But just as her play is about the foibles in life, her homecoming was interrupted.“There are so many exciting things happening over the next couple of weeks that I’m working very hard to make sure I look good for my moment of glory,” said Alexander.

One of the many events was a photo shoot with the Fayetteville Observer. Alexander, who describes herself as a “woman of a certain age,” wanted to ensure she looked her best, so she visited the hairdresser prior to her appointment. Her hair was perfectly coiffed. Her makeup fierce. As she drove to the appointment, her steadfast car, which has seen her through countless soccer games and PTA meetings, let out a horrible sound and died. “I went through the five stages of grief at the stoplight,” she joked. “Denial came first.”

It is that exact kind of moment that Alexander brings to the stage in the five, one-act plays that comprise Life As We Know It. Alexander explained that while each of the plays is unique, they all take a look at life through a fun-house mirror.

“I’m holding up a fun-house mirror to the madness I see in everyday life,” explained Alexander. “Each of these plays is about the crazy times we live in. People will instantly recognize the people they see every day, of course they are amped up and exaggerated, but they are the people we come in contact with every day.”

Alexander believes that comedy in its deepest essence is truth. She noted “When you see something truthful, it is funny. As E.B. White said, “Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it.”

When asked where she gets the inspiration for her characters, she said, “I have to say that they are people I run across. I am a soccer mom. I am a PTA mom. I am out there on the front lines and I see all of the craziness. These plays are about what we all see in society. We live in crazy times. We spend more time focused on our phones than our loved ones. We know more about the Kardashians than we do our neighbors. We long to be celebrities, and we fight tooth and nail to maintain our looks. So these plays take an exaggerated look at these kinds of vanities in our lives.”

The plays range in topic touching on everything from the near “blood sport” of getting our children into the perfect school to the lengths women will go to keep their looks to the ways our phones dominate our lives.

“These are the kinds of things I am making fun of,” said Alexander, who was hesitant to go into great detail about the content of the play. “I have seen enough plays to know that the excitement comes from not knowing what’s coming next.”

This is the first play that Alexander has had produced, and she is excited that it is happening in her hometown. She is equally excited that it is being done at the Gilbert.

“The Gilbert is an incredible addition to downtown. They are willing to do plays that are like mine; that are not known. They are able to do the quirky kind of works that the average theatre does not,” said Alexander. “I am thrilled to work with our director, Jeremy Fiebig, and co-director, Robyne Parrish. These are theatre professionals with incredible resumes. My plays are in excellent hands. The cast is made up of talented actors. It is very exciting and gratifying for me to see my work come to life by these wonderfully talented actors.”

Over the years the Gilbert has gathered a strong cast of actors for this show, including Cheryl Edson (Musical of Musicals, FTCC’s Hello, Dolly!), Stanley Seay, Paul Woolverton (Clusters), James Merkle (The Fantasticks, As You Like It), Jessica Black (A Christmas Carol), Cassidy Ragland (FTCC’s Hello, Dolly!), Antionett Gage (A Christmas Carol, Gilbert Ensemble) and Whitney Manns (Fayetteville State University’s Spoon River Anthology, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot). Throughout the run of the show, there will be several special events, which organizers believe will create some excitement during the down time between Christmas and New Years when there isn’t a lot going on.

On Friday, Dec. 28, the Gilbert, Up & Coming Weekly and Hilltop House will sponsor an opening reception at 7 p.m., with the curtain rising at 8 p.m.

“This is going to be a very exciting evening,” said Bowman. “We are going to have great food, great drinks and then the opportunity to see — for the first time — this show on stage.”

If you are looking for a fun way to ring in the new year, look no further than the Gilbert. During the special 9:30 show, attendees will be treated to drinks and hors d’oeuvres before the show and during the intermission. Following the show, the party will continue as attendees will count down the old year with the cast of the show and party likes it’s 2013.

The final special event will be on Friday, Jan. 5, with a Meet the Playwright reception and question and answer session after the show. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will also be available during intermission and during the meet and greet.

Because this is a bonus performance in the 2012-2013 season schedule, Gilbert Season tickets are not eligible for use on this show. However, all Gilbert Season ticket holders are invited to attend the Dec. 27 preview performance for free.

Tickets for the preview show on Thursday, Dec. 27 are $10. Tickets for the opening are $20 to $30, and include drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets for the New Year’s Eve Show range from $40 to $50. All other tickets range in price from $13 to $15. To purchase tickets, visit the website at www.gilberttheater.com/life-as-we-know-it-bonus-show-for-2012. Profits from the show will go to support the theatre and the Kidsville News! Literacy and Education Foundation.

For tickets, reservations or more information, call (910) 678-7186.

A community unto itself, Haymount offers charm and variety to visitors and residents alike. Unlike manybig-box stores and services, there is a story behind the establishments here — a history behind the buildings and organizations and a friendly smile and warm welcome from behind the counter, desk or pew. Those who live and work in Haymount will tell you it is a special place with a small town feel, it feels like, well, it feels like home.

So much so that professionals looking to build relationships with their clients chose Haymount specifically because of the closeness of the community.

In 1996 Dr. Robert Twaddell purchased Downing Chiropractic and Chiropractic Advantage. The practice was established in 1928 and was one of the first chiropractic offices in the state. Twaddell sought out the Haymount district because of its reputation as a nice community and its close proximity to his house of worship, Highland Presbyterian Church. The practice offers unique approaches to manage back pain including acupuncture and laser. Find out more about this practice at www.ahealthyback.com.

Established in 1953, Fayetteville Children’s Clinic is the oldest pediatric clinic in town. Generations of local children prospered under the care of the late Drs. Kelly, Shaw, Powell and Breeden. Now it is Dr. William H. Kelly, Dr. Niveen Y. Iskander and Dr. Horace R. Long who are serious about providing top-notch care to their patients. Being in a small neighborhood close to the old Highsmith Rainey Hospital was appealing when the practice located there almost 60 years ago and still is to this day. Visit www.faychildrensclinic.com to learn more about this practice.

In an emergency it is good to know that there is a place to go with your best interests at heart. Haymount Urgent Care was established in 2008. The proprietors chose Haymount because they wanted to provide comprehensive services that support a healthy community in the Haymount area. Haymount Urgent Care provides immediate unscheduled and after-hours medical care and urgent care services. They also provide affordable care and discount programs for those without health insurance. Find out more about Haymount Urgent Care at www.haymounturgetncare.com.

At the top of the hill, Stewart Compounding Pharmacy stands ready to fill and compound all kinds of prescriptions. Complete with a clean room for making sterile products in varying dosage levels, Stewart Compounding Pharmacy is the only place in town, not just Haymount, to provide these services. This establishment has its origin in the MacKethan’s Family Pharmacy, which was established in 1908. The Stewart family purchased MacKethan’s Family Pharmacy in 1991 and are proud to continue the tradition of providing a full-service family pharmacy concentrating on the art of customized medication. Learn more about them at stewartcompounding.com.

Physical health is just one component in a well-rounded life. There are several churches in Haymount that serve the many families in the area.

Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, also known as the Hellenic Center, was built in 1955. The only Greek Orthodox Church in Fayetteville, and home to a lively and generous congregation, Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church provides more than a place to worship to the community. Each year the congregation hosts a Spaghetti dinner and a Greek Festival as part of its outreach to the people of Fayetteville.

Snyder Memorial Baptist Church also has its thumb on the pulse of the community. Worship services and Sunday school classes are full on any given Sunday, but perhaps just as important, outreach efforts are well received, too. Snyder Memorial Baptist Church has a strong music program and offers classes in various instruments and voice. The church also has a childcare center and several ministry programs geared towards meeting the needs of the community. Learn more about Snyder Memorial Baptist Church at www.snydermbc.com.

New to Haymount, but not to Fayetteville, European Gifts & Collectibles opened at 1228 Fort Bragg Rd., in October of 2011. The business moved from the Westwood shopping center after 32 years. The history and unique boutique atmosphere make Haymount a perfect fit for this shop. When Sonja Axler came to Fayetteville from Germany, she started this business to bring a taste of Europe to her new home. Although Axler passed away in 2010, her dream lives on and shoppers need to look no further than European Gifts & Collectibles for crystal and one-of-a-kind items.

For one-of-a-kind clothes, shoes and accessories, check out Fabulous Finds at 1212 Fort Bragg Rd. Owner Samantha Thompson is known for bringing high fashion to Fayetteville. She routinely travels to New York City and Atlanta to make the latest trends available locally. There is no need to leave town to find stylish attire. When Thompson opened her shop in 2006, she knew that Haymount was the place to be. Her clientele live nearby and the ambience and history of the area make it feel like home. Find out more about Fabulous Finds Boutique and the great selection and service provided there at www.fabfindboutique.com.

Jennifer R. Cooney, attorney at law, loves the charm of the area as well and opened her law firm there. A Fayetteville native and resident of Haymount from an early age, she knows how to serve the community of her childhood. Specializing in real-estate transactions, guardianship proceedings and estate planning and administration, Cooney is a local resource for helping residents with life’s details. Find out more at www.thecooneylawfirm.com.

Haymount BP stands at 100 Broadfoot Ave. and has been serving the area since the 1940s when it was known as Haymount Gulf. Owner Bobby Wiggs, Jr., grew up working at the station. In an age of instant gratification and self-serve establishments, Haymount BP offers both full service and self-serve gas as well as auto repair services, state inspections, oil changes and tune ups and more. Stop by or give them a call at 910.484.62451.

Whether Haymount is new to you or as familiar as grandma’s homemade cookies, it is worth the trip to stop by and pay a visit.

Photo: Haymount is a favorite destination for many in Fayetteville, and for good reason.

By the time Christmas Eve arrived, I had already been arrested, kicked out of school, yelled at mom and even hit my dad. For a young 14-year-old girl, this was quite an accomplishment. Only a year earlier I was an A-B student with bright prospects, loving relationships with my family and a pretty religious girl.

Even though I hung out with friends at school and had more in common with them, in reality my grandmother was my best friend. When I was sad, she was there. When I was happy, she was there. When I performed in the choir or played soccer, she was there. She was always there. On my birthday it was always a crisp $20 bill. At Christmas it was her homemade Christmas fudge. On the fourth of July it was her famous tuna fish sandwiches. She was there.

Then, she wasn’t.

Early April she died at the ripe young age of 59. It was a drunk driver swerving onto a sidewalk that took her life. It happened in the middle of the day.

And now it was Christmas Eve. I told my family emphatically that I would not celebrate Christmas. I didn’t believe in the holiday and had nothing to be happy about. I immediately went to my room. My parents argued that night about how to deal with me. I could hear them in the other room. I have to think that they also knelt and prayed because they would do that sort of thing.

My mom came in several times to plead with me to join Christmas the next morning, but I belligerently said no.

Resentfully in the morning I listened as my brother, sister and parents laughed and sang songs celebrating a holiday during a year when there could be no joy. My grandmother, my best friend was not here.

When the morning activities had ended and the afternoon lunch was finished, I knew the family would be watching a movie in the family room. I quietly made my way to the kitchen to get a snack. I was hungry, having avoided the festivities all day.

I was never sure if my father heard me, or if he just happened to come into the kitchen for a snack, but he walked in while I was smothering mayonnaise on bread for a turkey sandwich.

“Sarah,” he said in a gentle voice, “If you are going to eat, you need to at least open your presents.”

Reluctantly, I agreed. In reality, I knew it would be another opportunity to ridicule the family’s lack of caring about my grandma dying. The first gift was a sweater from my brother. “Thanks but I wouldn’t be caught dead in that thing,” I said shamelessly. I next opened one from my sister. She got me a new watch. “I will wear the one grandma got me,” I said emphasizing the word “grandma.” I was no kinder about the multitude of gifts my parents got me that Christmas.

The last package I received said it was from grandma. My entire family seemed genuinely surprised that the gift was even there. If not for the surprised looks, I would have been certain it was a cruel prank. I opened it slowly to find a batch of her Christmas fudge. I snickered and said, “Like this is really grandma’s fudge.”

I hastily cut a piece. As I took it to my mouth I could smell the fresh peppermint aroma and that alone brought the many wonderful memories of my grandma back to me. The flavor confirmed that this was indeed my grandma’s fudge. I don’t know if it was the patience and love of my family or the taste of the fudge, but I had a sudden realization of what I had been doing. The tears began to flow. My mother hugged me and then my father.

I did not become perfect overnight. In fact, it was a long road and took many months to repair my life and the relationships I had nearly destroyed. But over time, they healed and so did I.

Every year since then I have received a package of my grandma’s Christmas fudge. Even when I moved away from home it somehow seemed to make it under my tree or onto my doorstep. It took nearly 20 years for me to discover that it was my brother making and delivering the fudge. He still makes and delivers grandma’s fudge every year, and for that I am forever grateful.

Decoding the Problems of Seniors and Hoarding

Some families have a tradition of Spring Cleaning. But we want to focus on Holiday cleaning since there might be visitors over the holiday who could assist with the task of cleaning the house. We at Home Instead Senior Care advise family caregivers to help older adults declutter during cleaning to avoid household hazards.

You enter your dad’s home and can’t believe the stacks of stuff that have accumulated on every fl at surface: piles of newspapers and mail everywhere, the medicine cabinet overfl owing with 10 years worth of hair spray (despite his being bald), heaps of dirty laundry on the bed so there is no place for him to sleep. You wonder how it got this bad.

“A lifetime accumulation of possessions combined with a daily infl ux of junk mail, bills and newspapers can quickly overwhelm seniors who may already be struggling physically, mentally or emotionally,” said Home Instead Senior Care Co-Founder Paul Hogan.

Experts say that seniors are prone to cluttering for a variety of reasons, including fear of loss, anxiety, depression, not knowing how to get rid of possessions or even memories associated with specifi c items that hold no intrinsic value.

“It’s sort of the elephant in the room,” added Dr. Catherine Roster, a University of New Mexico clutter researcher. “People don’t want to acknowledge there is a problem, which creates an underlying anxiety, stress, guilt or embarrassment that can have a negative effect on their mental health and productivity. There are a lot of issues including economics. When there is general disorganization, people lose important documents and can’t find bills and then miss payments. So some serious issues start affecting them. All the research shows that people are slow to recognize the problem.”

And for seniors, the risks of living in clutter are many, from slipping on loose papers to the threat of fi re to the health effects of mold and mildew. Clutter can also interfere with family relationships and leave adult children wondering if the only inheritance awaiting them is a big mess.

In order to identify potential trouble, the Home Instead Senior Care network is alerting family caregivers to watch for the signs in a senior’s home that indicate clutter creep could become a problem including:

“Family caregivers can become just as overwhelmed as seniors,” said Home Instead Senior Care’s Hogan. “Holidays and vacations are great times for family caregivers to help seniors de-clutter for their own health and well-being. We suggest a three-step plan where the family caregiver brings three bins — one for the stuff the senior wants to keep, one for donations and the other for trash. Sometimes seniors just need a little help. One Home Instead CAREGiver helped her client go through a basement full of newspapers and clipped the important articles that he wanted to save, enabling him to throw away the bulk of the clutter. That was a relief to both the senior and his children.”

For help in this area, look for the next series of Senior Corner articles. Call 910-484-7200 or visit www.homeinstead.com/647 also for more information on this topic.

Photo: For seniors, the risks of living in clutter are many.

Since the turn of the century when the use of safe electric lighting became possible, people have been warding off the dark of winter and celebrating the Christmas season with light displays. Prior to the invention of light strands run by electricity, the only way to light the darkness was by candle power. Dating back to the 17th century, families would actually light their Christmas trees with live candles, but the danger of fire limited the lighting to short periods of time under carefully supervised conditions.

Fast forward to today, and we have a seemingly limitless supply of lighting choices. One trip to the seasonal aisle of your local home-improvement store and you may actually have a hard time deciding what type of lights to purchase. We have traditional incandescent bulbs or LED in a variety of shapes and sizes, fi ber optics, multi-colored, clear, bubble, mini, icicle, rope strand, globes and more. The options can be mind boggling.

Thankfully, many organizations, and even individuals, host special holiday light displays for us to enjoy. One of the best displays in the Fayetteville area can be found at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Located at 536 N. Eastern Boulevard in Fayetteville, last year’s display drew over 4,000 visitors.

Now in its second year, the garden will be running Holiday Lights in the Garden from Dec 14-29. Show times start at 5:45 p.m. and run through 9 p.m. The last entry each evening is at 8:15 p.m. The garden will be closed Dec 24 and 25.

With more than 40,000 lights, this show is sure to amaze. The light displays have been expanded this year and now include the water wise garden and Heritage Complex. The farmhouse and country store will also be open for viewing. On select evenings, special choral and instrumental groups will perform holiday music.

Ribbit the Exhibithas also been lighted and will continue to run through the end of December. If you have not yet had a chance to tour this whimsical art display you will be able to view this as well.

This walking tour is handicapped- and stroller-friendly, and can take approximately 45 minutes to tour. New Deli Cafe will be open for guests to purchase seasonal refreshments and hot drinks. The gift shop will be open as well.

If you want to avoid the crowds at the mall, never fear. Old Saint Nick is also paying a visit to the garden. There will be a professional photographer so you can purchase photographs of your children’s visit with Santa. While taking photographs in the garden is encouraged, please no personal cameras with Santa please.

Tickets for adults are $4 for members and $8 for non-members. Tickets for children 6-12 are $2.50, and children under 5 are free. Tickets can be purchased online for a small fee, in the gift shop or by phone. While tickets can be purchased at the door, it is recommended that you purchase them ahead of time.

Please visit www.capefearbg.org for more information or call 910-486-0221. Please be aware that while the Cape Fear bridge is under construction, the road is open and accessible to the gardens.

Staying Focused

Life can sometimes get a little crazy. How blessed we are to have so many re-sources available to help us focus on what is most important.

One of those re-ources is Christian music. In ‘The Buzz’ we often highlight the latest Christian-music releases or what is happening lately with the artists who bring us this music we love. The primary ingredient of a truly great song is how its message can take us from where we are, emotionally or spiritually, to where we need to be. So this week it seems appropriate to let the lyrics from a new Christmas song help us to focus on the most wonderful aspect of this most wonderful time of the year.

For King & Country

“Baby Boy”
If you told me all about your sorrows
I’d tell you about a cure
If you told me you can’t fight the battle
Theres a baby boy who won the war
The war was won by a baby boy

(Chorus)
HALLELUJA
HWE CAN SING
ITHALLULUJIAH
HEAVEN’S RINGING
HALLELUJIAH
ENDLESS HOPE, RELENTLESS JOY
STARTED WITH A BABY BOY

Before there was that silent night
No Savior and no Jesus Christ
The world cried out so desperately
And a baby boy was the reply
Yes Heaven’s reply was a baby boy

See, the King is coming down
And He’s here without a crown
The baby boy without a bed
Giving life back to the dead
Hear the angels shout it out
As the people come and bow
Unexpected majesty
Hallejuiah what a King

Maybe all we need to get our life back in order can be found in a baby boy. Wishing you and those you love the very best Christmas!

The Fayetteville FireAntz hockey team has gotten off to its best start in team history and FireAntz fans are having a great time watching. The 4000+ fans in attendance, every game, have been cheering loudly all season as the FireAntz have the best home record in the league.

The FireAntz have a lot of exciting games coming up, during the holidays, and you’ll want to make sure to mark your calendar and bring your family and friends to the games this holiday season.

Tuesday, Dec. 18, the rival Knoxville Ice Bears invade the Crown. The former Southeast Hockey League foes have one of the longest rivalries in league history and when the two teams collide it’s always a really exciting time for the fans.

The FireAntz have had their number so far this season, winning all four games played including two blowout wins at the Crown Coliseum. This will be a game you don’t want to miss!

Friday, Dec. 21: Kids Night, brought to you by JTL Services, will feature a performance by the Mac Williams Middle School Band. The band will perform the National Anthem and may just surprise the fans with an encore later in the night.

The FireAntz will be playing the Pensacola Ice Pilots that night. Along with the following night, it will be the only time that fans will get to see the Ice Pilots this season.

Saturday, Dec. 22 is Canada Night. Join the FireAntz as we pay tribute to many of the players’ homeland, Canada. Hosting a Canada Night has become a tradition for the FireAntz and it has been a very emotional night for the native-Canadian hockey players for the FireAntz.

There will be specialty jerseys worn that night that will be auctioned to fans after the game. These are jerseys that fans really enjoy and you won’t want to miss it.

Additionally, there will a post-game meet and greet at Carolina Ale House. Come to the game and then come on out to Carolina Ale House to meet and greet all of your favorite FireAntz players.

Saturday, Dec. 29 Come see the FireAntz battle the Augusta Riverhawks.With the league’s unbalanced schedule, the FireAntz play the Riverhawks very often throughout the course of the season. That leads to intense hockey action and this season has proved no different. The battles between these two common foes have been really exciting and hard hitting. And, it’s the only game this weekend so be sure to mark your calendar for this matchup.

Monday, Dec. 31 ring in the new year with a special New Year’s Eve game. There is a special puck-drop time on New Year’s Eve at 6 p.m. That is, of course, for you, the fans. Come on out to see the FireAntz battle the Columbus Cottonmouths and then enjoy the turning of the New Year with your friends and family.

There will also be a cow bell giveaway to the first 1,000 fans in attendance, courtesy of Allegra, to allow fans to “ring in the New Year with the FireAntz.” On that night, fans can also bring coats to donate to those less fortunate in the community.

Make sure to come out to the Crown Coliseum and join in on the exciting season for the FireAntz this year. For more information on the FireAntz, or to purchase group tickets at a reduced rate visit the FireAntz Website at www.fireantzhockey.com.

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

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

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

The Haymont Grill has fed generations of Fayetteville families. On any given morning the dining room is fi lled with businessmen and women preparing for the day over a cup of coffee, moms with kids in tow and groups of friends young and old. Since 1946 Fayetteville has come to the Haymont grill for the food, but more importantly for the family atmosphere and welcoming service.

Across the street from the Haymont Grill are shops offering a variety of goods and services. All Things by Hand has been in business for just more than a year. The shop specializes in jewelry-making supplies including beads and stones and beautiful yarns from companies like Cascade, Fibre Compnay and Berroco. Open table nights and classes in everything from knitting to beading to metal clay, enameling, metal casting and lampworking attract not only shoppers but students and artists. In their short tenure in Haymount, owners Lisa Bellamy and Kay Bowles have made the store an important part of the Fayetteville creative community.

“Our open table nights on Tuesday and Friday nights offer an opportunity for a large group of women to come together for great conversation, sharing of ideas and a time to work on individual projects with lots of moral support,” said Bellamy.

Visit them at www.allthingsbyhand.com or on Facebook to fi nd out more.Just a few doors down, in the same shopping center, Robin Kelly owns Lisa’s Custom Framing. The business was established in 1982, and Kelly has owned the shop for the past five years. It was the sense of community that drew her to the Haymount area.

“I grew up in Haymount and cherish the memories from my childhood,” said Kelly. “Doing business in Haymount is like coming home again. I just love it.”

Customers at Lisa’s Framing have access to hundreds and hundreds of beautiful mouldings and the benefi t of more than 15 years of experience in master framer Carolyn Culbreth. The works of local artists and an assortment of small but unique and interesting gifts are also available in the shop. Find out more about this unique business at lisascustomframing.com

.Filled with young and busy families, the greater Haymount area turns to Kinder Care Learning Center when it comes to taking care of life’s most precious treasures. Established in 1980, Kindercare offers unique and expertly designed early education programs for infants as young as six weeks and school age children up to age 12.

“Kinder Care provides a balanced approach to learning, giving you the peace-of-mind that your child will have fun as he or she develops socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually,” said Director Kimberly Purdy. For more information about KinderCare, call 483-3582.

Since 1350, carols have been used to spread the joy of Christmas. In this tradition, each year the Cumberland Oratorio Singers perform George Frederic Handel’s Messiah Sing!There are two performances this year. One is on Saturday Dec. 15 at Galatia Presbyterian Church at 6 p.m. and the other is on Sunday, Dec. 16, also at Galatia Presbyterian Church at 4 p.m.

For many people Handel’s Messiah is a meaningful part of the holiday season. What is special about this production is that the public is invited not only to attend, but to participate as well. Those looking to participate should come ready to have a good time and sing with gusto. Handel, a German composer from the 1700s, is well known for his English choral work Messiah, which he wrote in 1742. The piece was not received with great popularity immediately, but it is now one of the most widely preformed choral pieces in the western world. Although Messiah was originally an Easter production, it is an integral part of the holiday season for many.

This special free concert performed in tandem by the Cumberland Oratorio Singers and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra brings together two of the community’s top-notch performance groups to deliver a stunning and meaningful performance that reminds both listeners and participants of the true meaning of Christmas.

This performance is a great fit for the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the Cumberland Oratorio Singers and something that has become a local tradition in itself.

“We are always open to collaboration with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and developing our relationship with them,” said Cumberland Oratorio Singers Director Dr. Michael Martin.

Always looking to deliver a stellar performance, Martin loves this particular event because it is a chance to give back to the community and connect with people who share his love of music and performing.

“The organizations, the people and the musical freedom,” are some of the things he loves best about the unique collaboration with the FSO.

While the Cumberland Oratorio Singers definitely fill a niche in the local music scene, the group is always looking to add new talent to its community group.

“Our goal is to keep growing and keep providing opportunities,” said Martin. Whether it is a retiree, a high school or college student or anyone in between, there is always room for another voice in the group.

Find out more about the Cumberland Oratorio singers at www.singwithcos.org. For more information about the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, visit the website at www.fayettevillesymphony.org.

Applying the motto of the Visual Art Alliance, “Buy original, buy local,” is a perfect strategy for this shopping season. Although the area’s universities and community college galleries will be closing soon for the holidays, downtown gallery artists are ready to greet shoppers looking for distinctive gifts while supporting local artists and the local businesses.

One stop for shopping should be the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Arts Council on Hay Street. The exhibit, Local Craft Style, is comprised of a select group of area artists who have distinctive styles and who use traditional craft materials. From birdhouses made out of recycled materials to folk-art doll making, each artist in the exhibit has a distinctive gift for originality — an example of the talented pool of artists who transcend the ordinary to the original.

Only two artists in Local Craft Style have long-standing exhibition reputations, Greg Hathaway and Martha Sisk; for the remaining artists this is their first exhibit with the Arts Council. Shawn Hobbs is an example of a local artist who has been developing his reputation as an artist; Hobbs fabricates functional birdhouses from recycled material.

Originally from Peter’s Creek, N.C., a small farming community 25 miles southeast of Fayetteville, Hobbs began his birdhouse fabrication path after making a Mother’s Day gift in 2009. Creating one-of-a-kind birdhouses is his signature style. Each one is unique and suitable for the outdoors, a decoration for a porch or even indoor sculpture.

Two examples of Hobbs’ unique designs are titled Reflections and Dogwood Birdhouse. Mounted on4”x4” posts, both bird houses are functional and a work of art. Reflectionsis made of cedar, small round mirrors arranged on wrought iron create a whimsical habitat for our feathered friends. Dogwood Birdhouse has original hand-painted images of large dogwoods on the surface of a habitat that incorporates vines. Both are unique, as are the other 10 birdhouses for sale.

Two quilting artists are participating in the exhibit: Martha Sisk and Sana Moulder, who both have very different styles. Sisk is a retired educator and a freelance artist who exhibits regularly. She incorporates print making techniques in her quilted wall hangings. In Local Craft Style, she is also selling two baby quilts and affordable handbags.

Moulder has served in the fi eld of nursing and presently works for the Cumberland County Library in adult services. She is a quilter and an animal advocate who has been known to auction her quilts to benefi t animals. The subjects of two of Moulder’s quilts are animals — a dog quilt and one with a cat pattern. Both are light-hearted creations in which Moulder illustrates the joy of animals.

Doll maker Susan O’Conner is also a local educator — a math teacher at a middle school. She has lived in the Hope Mills community for seven years. In 1989, she established her doll-making business known as Rabbit Hollow Prims. O’Conner sells one-of-a-kind soft dolls made of fabric, found objects and decorated with embroidery. She shared her process to make the soft sculptures look aged. “I often use a distressing technique with acrylic paints and then sanding and baking for a truly vintage and worn out look and a rich leathery patina,” said O’Conner, whose dolls in the exhibit follow several themes as a subject: seasonal, doll interpretations and patriotism.

Two ceramic artists are exhibiting, Hathaway and Sandra Y. Valdivia. Hathaway is an established artist who is well known in the Fayetteville community as an art advocate for the last 30 years. Known for his Raku ceramics and watercolors, Hathaway is exhibiting two large seasonal angel fi urines, several large vases and two original ceramic urns. In true Hathaway style, all are highly creative, original and beautifully crafted.

Valdivia is a new exhibiting artist. After recently earning an undergraduate degree in ceramics, Valdivia is exhibiting work that reflects her cultural heritage. She stated: “My ceramic style has been influenced by pre-Hispanic and pre-Columbian works. My love for natural materials, warm colors and organic designs has been infl uenced by my native origins in Mexico.”

Valdivia is exhibiting sculptural forms and platters that double as functional and sculptures when not being used.

Local Craft Style exhibit closes on Saturday, December 15, 2012, so shopping time is short. While the Annual Member Artists Holiday Exhibit at the Cape Fear Studios on Maxwell Street runs through January 21st, 2012.

A popular gallery, Cape Fear Studios is offering a variety of artistic creations for sale during the holiday season in its Annual Member Artists Holiday Exhibit — paintings, glass art, wood, photography, jewelry, fine-writing pens, and pottery are all on display in this special yearly exhibit and everything is for sale.

A specially priced collection of art miniatures is part of the exhibit; small paintings and drawings, all costing less than $100; hang on one wall of the gallery. Nearly all of the Cape Fear Studios artists contribute to this annual holiday fare — bargains for everyone’s budget, an original work for everyone’s taste and style.

Cape Fear Studios is also showing glasswork by a visiting artist, The Art Glass of David Goldhagen, an internationally known glass-art designer based in Hayesville, N.C. Goldhagen uses traditional glassblowing methods to create each of his works individually — beginning with a gathering of molten glass layered and manipulated on the surface, then creating intricate patterns and movement within each piece of glass.

Goldhagen’s work is often seen as organic, sensual, fl uid and energetic. He creates large- to small-scale sculptural art glass as well as smaller works such as holiday ornaments, small sculptures and elegant vases. Cape Fear Studios is carrying a wide selection of his work — perfect gifts for the season.

Goldhagen’s work can be found in the permanent collections of corporations, museums and foundations including Merrill Lynch, Walt Disney, The North Carolina Museum of History, the Asheville Art Museum, Tucson Museum of Art and Philips Arena in Atlanta. Even if you don’t have shopping in mind, the holiday season is a perfect time to visit and explore Cape Fear Studios, a chance to see the powerful glass art of a master glassblower and the artists who regularly exhibit throughout the year.

Ellen Olson Brooks, executive director of Cape Fear Studios, had this to say about the Annual Member Artists Holiday Exhibit, “Of all the exhibits and events, our holiday show and our Visiting Artist David Goldhagen tops the list. There really is something artistically lovely and unique for every person who comes in through the door. The jewelry is exquisite; the glass works by our own glass artists are beautiful for display or use; the mini paintings are absolutely charming and real bargains; the pottery is wonderful. We have original creations priced from $13 to $1,300. But even more fun is the fact that this is truly an art exhibit as well as a retail show created by Cape Fear Studios local artists. The holiday season is the perfect time to come see us at Cape Fear Studios!”

If you don’t find what you looking for at the Arts Council or Cape Fear Studios, there are several other galleries you can visit and purchase original works of art during the month of December: Gallery 208 at 208 Rowan Street, Gallery One13 at 113 Gillespie Street and Maxwell Street has Greg’s Place Gallery and Olde Towne Gallery.

Photo: One stop for shopping should be the Fayetteville and Cumberland County Arts Council on Hay Street. 

The Methodist University Journey has been underway for a full semester and our Monarchs have been busy on the four Journey pathways, Leadership Development, Community Engagement, Global Education and Undergraduate Research and Creativity.

It seems like there is something happening every day that relates to the MU Journey. This morning, a Community Engagement project was completed at Operation Inasmuch, when students from the MU chapter of the American Marketing Association and the Resort Management Club, along with Sodexo, provided and served breakfast at the shelter. This is third time that students have managed this Community Engagement project.

Leadership Development

In September, the Leadership Program partnered with Fayetteville’s Lafayette Society to host a distinguished visitor, Professor Marc Leepson, to speak on the leadership qualities of General Lafayette to commemorate the general’s birthday.

In November, the Lura S. Tally Center for Leadership Development sponsored the first speaker in the new Expert in Residence Lecture series. Major General Rodney O. Anderson (Ret.) spent the day on campus and spoke about leadership to several gatherings of students and community members. Also in November, students in the “Empower” residence halls participated in a series of discussions about leadership as displayed in three feature films, accompanied by lots of snacks, of course. This coming semester, freshmen and sophomores who are interested in being considered as Leadership Fellows will be submitting applications to be Leadership Fellows candidates.

Community Engagement

The Pine Forest High School (PFHS) Mentoring Project brought 150 PFHS upperclassmen to campus Nov. 30 as part of the year-long program, which has brought together 25 MU students to mentor these PFHS mentors who are in turn mentoring ninth-grade students at the high school. The students participated in a moderated panel discussion with MU students and had lunch on campus.

Other ongoing or completed student projects from the Center for Community Engagement include Stop Hunger Now, assisting the Bicycle Man program, a regional salary-comparison survey project, a logo-design project for Fayetteville Urban Ministries, a rebranding project for the Fayetteville Regional Chamber and the Peace One Day Project with the Rotary Club. Students also recently completed a voter-registration project, where 45 students devoted 84 hours of work for the registration drive.

Global Education

Over winter break, nine students will travel with campus ministry on a mission trip to Haiti, where they will visit the St. Joseph Home for Boys and work with orphans and on construction projects. The week-long service project is one of several short Study and Service Abroad trips planned for MU students. The spring semester is Study Abroad’s busy season, as students will take advantage of spring-break trips to Guatemala and an international tourism class’ cruise that will visit Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala. In the late spring, Study Abroad trips are being planned for England, Scotland and possibly Sweden and Spain.

Undergraduate Research and Creativity

I traveled to Duke University recently to support presentations by 22 MU students at the 8th Annual State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium Nov. 17. The students represented the university very well, and we had one of the largest groups participating in the event. Methodist University will hold its Second Annual Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium April 17, and I am looking forward to seeing many of the unique and interesting projects that our students will present. The Center for Undergraduate Research and Creativity is also in the process of developing a fellows program, which students will be able to apply for.

In closing, I would like to congratulate each student who will graduate this Saturday, Dec. 15. I send you and your families my best wishes, and hope you will stay in touch with your classmates, friends, and faculty members as you embark on new adventures. Indeed, every Monarch has a journey, and I can’t wait to see where the MU Journey will take us in 2013.

“Innovation is the key.”

We are hearing these words of wisdom all the time, aren’t we?

And we nod our heads in agreement, remembering our pocket computers and communication devices that we still call phones. Or how the 3D technology and programs of North Carolina-based Geomagic make possible the on-demand manufacture one-of-a kind products based on the special 3D design plans from Geomagic’s software.

But does the word have meaning to us ordinary humans who are not geniuses like Apple’s Steve Jobs or Geomagic’s Ping Fu?

At a recent discussion on innovation at the AdvantageWest Economic Summit in Asheville, I asked panelists to explain what innovation means and illustrate with an example.

Their varied answers helped me understand that there is a place for innovation in almost every workplace.

Mike Adams, president of Moog Music Inc., the high-tech manufacturer of the Moog music synthesizers, noted the innovations that had swept by in his lifetime in rapid long-distance communication: Telephone and telegraph replaced mail, which was replaced by telex, which was replaced by fax, which is being replaced by emails, which are being replaced by a variety of innovations.

“I try to think like a 12-year-old. They are thinking, what is next?” he said.

For Anita Brown-Graham, director of North Carolina’s Institute for Emerging Issues in Raleigh, innovation is not so much about mere good ideas. An innovation to her is an idea that can be applied to meet an unmet need.

Brown-Graham described a teacher in Chapel Hill who found it hard to get her students’ attention after lunch. But if she let them first go to the playground, they came back refreshed and alert. The teacher wanted to give her students stimulating exercise. She also wanted to preserve serious class time. By innovating, she did both. She recorded her lectures for the post-lunch class, gave each kid a listening device and took them for a 35-minute walk while they heard her recording. Her innovation met her need. It is also meeting the needs of other teachers through The Walking Classroom program that makes available a WalkKit listening product preloaded with a year’s worth of lectures.

Brown-Graham is optimistic about the innovation capabilities of the generation just entering college. They are risk takers and programmed to be innovators. However, they don’t have the support networks, experience in small business, or the financing to make their innovations a business success.

Dan Gerlach, president of the Golden Leaf Foundation, agreed and emphasized the need for sources of funding for the effective exploitation of innovations in a commercial context.

Gerlach described an unusual innovation in the location and construction of a wave-making machine in the Nantahala River in Swain County. That innovative idea, when brought to reality, drew thousands of people to the region for this year’s Freestyle Kayaking World Cup Championship.

Charlotte’s Mark Erwin, former U.S. ambassador to Mauritius, an island off the coast of Africa, used that country as an example of innovation. In 1976, when the island gained its independence, it was one of the poorest countries in the world, almost totally dependent on a sugar plantation economy. When the new leader took an economic inventory of his country, he found there was almost nothing, only 1.3 million mostly uneducated people. Since the people were the country’s only resource, the leader declared that education would be free for everyone.

“That was innovation,” said Erwin. “Today it is the most prosperous country in Africa, with the highest literacy rate, a huge Information Technology center, much tourism and a thriving textile industry.”

These different examples of innovation suggest that, since there are an untold number of unmet needs, there are an equal number of opportunities for innovation. Just waiting for some of us to exploit.

Photo: The Walking Classroom is an example of how innovation can make a difference.

The cast area at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre is usually a very joyful place. The pre-show chatter is upbeat as the actors prepare to take the stage. It is never more so than the weeks that the cast of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever takes over the theatre.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, featuring a cast of what seems like thousands, but is really more like 60, fills the theatre with laughter and the unmistaken joy of Christmas. Each year, the presentation of the BCPE is the theatre’s gift to the community and its children. Those who have been in the community for a while, have come to know and love the story of the worst kids ever — The Herdmans. The play, simple in its construct, but incredibly difficult to put together, tells the story of the Herdman family and how they came to change the heart of a community through their appearance in the annual church Christmas play.

For CFRT Artistic Director Tom Quaintance, the BCPE is a labor of love. Quaintance took on the show during his first year at the theatre as a means of getting to know the heart of community. He thinks that was a good move, and has returned this year to direct the show alongside the theatre’s education director, Jae Powell. Since the community has embraced the showfor more than 20 years, one of the duo’s main tasks is keeping it relevant.

“That really has to do with never taking the story for granted and never making it more complicated than that,” explained Quaintance. “This is one of those shows that does not need to be reinterpreted for contemporary times. It is as timeless as Christmas itself.”

He contrasted the show with the recent staging of Jesus Christ Superstar at the CFRT. “When we did Jesus Christ Superstar, we paired it with a pretty original idea, but the play remained based on the text,” said Quaintance. “But there is really nothing in BCPE that asks for that kind of change. The only reason you try to do too much with a play is boredom, not because you need to do anything with it.”

Quaintance said that the play will have the same feel as last year’s show, but it won’t be exactly the same. There are three separate casts performing again this year, which totals around 170 cast members or around 60 people per cast.

“We have a really good group of kids. There is a lot of camaraderie and a strong sense of community between them,” said Quaintance.

They have also developed a strong sense of family. At the beginning of practice, the directors brought the cast together and assigned them into families. Each family was tasked with getting to know and take care of their other family members.

“They have really taken that to heart,” said Powell. “As you know, when you get a group of kids as diverse as this together, you can sometimes have problems. But we haven’t.”

Instead what they have found is a group of children who look out for and take care of each other. Quaintance says each cast scores high marks in what he calls the “Big Cs: caring, compassion, camaraderie.

And that’s really the heart of the story in the first place — how a community finds it heart through the very children they thought would ruin the show. To share in this amazing Christmas experience, visit the CFRT website at www.cfrt.org. The show runs Dec. 6-16.

His classic black circle ears are instantly recognizable all over the globe. He is Mickey Mouse and he is the face of one of the most successful companies on the globe — Disney. Since it’s inception in the 1920s, Disney has steadily expanded into many different markets. Movies, music, television, theme parks and all manner of merchandise can all be found under the Disney umbrella. One of the most popular products Disney offers, however, is its ice-skating shows. Since 1981, the Walt Disney Company has connected with audiences all across the world through the magical antics of Disney characters on ice.

This year Disney will present Rockin’ Ever After at the Crown, Dec. 12-16. The performance features many of the newer Disney characters such as Sebastian and the Daughters of Triton from The Little Mermaid, the rowdy pub thugs from Tangled and the spunky and enchanted servants from Beauty and the Beast competing to be the next big superstars. The performance is comical and makes the unique characters even more lovable, but it all culminates with the appearance of the Disney Princesses.

This year Disney on Ice has added some of the newer princesses along with a few of the classic royal characters. Look for Ariel, Rapunzel, Belle and — in her Disney on Ice premier — Merida from Brave.

When speaking about the newest Disney Princess’ arrival on the ice, producer Nicole Feld said, “The most exciting part of bringing a fearless and independent character like Merida to the ice for the first time is knowing that she has a powerful and inspiring message to deliver about finding the courage to determine one’s own fate. We think her story translates well to the ice and will really resonate with today’s audience.”

The beauty of Disney on Ice is that as Mickey and Minnie travel to see these wonderful characters, each story is highlighted so that the audience can experience each character’s triumph. There is something for everyone here because so many stories are shown on the ice, and the energetic music and choreography keeps everything engaging and exciting.

One of the performer’s in Rocking Ever After is North Carolina native Lauren McHenry. McHenry has been skating since the age of 7, and her dedication and skill has won her many different awards including representing the United States at the 2009 Prague Cup International Competition.

“It is an incredible show! We are featuring Ariel, Rapunzel and Belle and their stories are all tied together with a talent show theme, based off reality show life on T.V. Mickey and Minnie are the hosts for the show. They are searching for the greatest talent in the land, and I am an ensemble skater so I am in all the numbers. I am also Arista, one of the daughters of Triton,” McHenry said.

Disney on Iceis always family friendly and full of fun. There will be something there for everyone and it is not just for children, McHenry expresses this feeling by saying, “Everyone who has a chance should come and see it! There really is something for people of all ages. There is fantastic skating and cool special effects, great music that has been revamped and is more contemporary. Everyone should come and see it!”

Disney on Ice Rocking Ever After will be at the Crown Coliseum from Dec. 12 - 16. Performances are at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through the Crown Coliseum at www.atthecrown.com.