Celebrate Halloween at the Poe House 

Halloween is the night for revels! The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex invites the public to experience a Victorian Halloween at the 1897 Poe House throughout the month of October. All month long the 1897 Poe House will be decorated with traditional Victorian and early 20th century Halloween decor. Participants in the 1897 Poe House tours will learn about the history of Halloween and how it was celebrated during the Poe’s time in Fayetteville.

Is the Poe House haunted? Find out the answer by taking a Victorian Halloween-themed tour during the month of October. 1897 Poe House tours are given at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. on weekdays and on the hour on weekends.

Mark your calendars for Halloween Revels Night Tours of the Poe House on October 19-20 and 26-27 from 6 to 10 p.m. The Museum of the Cape Fear has partnered with the actors of the Gilbert Theater to bring this Gothic Eastlake Victorian home to life after dark. Actors will portray members of the Poe household and their friends as they prepare for a night of Halloween revels. You may even see some Arsenal ghosts wandering the grounds of the Museum Complex. “We wanted to offer the public something different than the traditional haunted houses and tours at Halloween. This is a great event for families with just the right amount of spookiness created by the actors and the Victorian decor, without all the screaming and gore. It also works for those on a budget because it is one of the only free events in town,” says Megan Maxwell, 1897 Poe House education coordinator. The cost is free, but you must sign up for a tour time. Tours will depart every 20 minutes beginning at 6 p.m. with the last tour at 9:40 p.m. Tour space will be limited to 20 participants per tour.

As part of the Halloween programming, the museum will also host a Jack-o’-lantern contest. Carve your own Jack-o’-lantern at home and bring it to the museum to be displayed at the Poe House during our Halloween Revels Night Tours. Entries will be accepted beginning on Oct. 18, and the fi nal deadline for entries will be Oct. 27 at noon. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative design, the scariest design and the most historical design. The contest winners will be announced during the Poe House Trick or Treat Program on Oct. 27.

Finally, the annual Poe House Trick or Treat on Oct. 27 from 1-5 p.m. features a costume contest, scavenger hunt and traditional Halloween carnival games for the kids. Learn how to make tasty Halloween treats in the Poe House kitchen, have your fortune told and gather around to hear a ghost story. Family fun for everyone!

There are many cities that claim to be international. Few of them celebrate it like we do. For more than three decades, Fayetteville has spent one weekend a year focused on the beauty and diversity of the local population. This year the International Folk Festival runs Sept. 23-25. Come ready to learn, try something new and be entertained. It is a chance to see the world without ever leaving town.

There are more than 30 cultural groups that participate in the event each year. Although each person travelled a unique path to get here, the members of these groups are excited to share their culture with their adopted hometown.

“Something people may not realize is that these are our friends and neighbors representing these cultures, and they are representing them in many different ways,” said Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County Marketing Director Mary Kinney. “At the festival you see people in the parade and then in the afternoon they are cooking for us — and they are cooking what they would cook for their families; and they are selling arts and crafts. On Sunday, those same friends and neighbors are performing. They are showing us traditions and dancing in their native dress. There are at least four different ways that they are celebrating with us and for us.”

The fun kicks off on Friday, Sept., 28. Enjoy a celebration of culture during the 4th Friday activities. There is plenty to do downtown, with different entertainment, programs and gallery openings. The Arts Council exhibit, The Figure: Likeness and Presence is scheduled to hang through the festival and the Arts Council will be open throughout the festival.

On Saturday, head downtown to see the Parade of Nations. Take in the colors and sounds of the world as Fayettville’s diversity is showcased through the center of downtown. Groups from different countries don their native garb and step into the spotlight to share their heritage with the city. It is a chance to learn a bit about our friends and neighbors and appreciate what they add to the community.

From noon until 10 p.m., Fesitval Park is the place to be. There will be live performances, authentic cuisine, arts and crafts booths, a children’s area and more. The stages in the park will rumble nonstop with the dancing, drumming and singing of songs from all corners of the globe as performers entertain and interact with the crowds.

As part of Fayetteville’s 250th birthday celebration, R&B singer Aaron Neville is scheduled to sing on Saturday, Sept. 29, in Festival Park at 8 p.m. With a new album scheduled for release in Jan. 2013, Neville has been hard at work. The album My True Story, revisits many of his favorite songs. Some of the tracks include “Money, Honey,” “Gypsy Woman,” Be My Baby,” “Tears on my Pillow,” “Under the Boardwalk” and “This Magic Moment.”

With more than 50 years in the music industry, Neville knows how to woo a crowd. He’s been nominated several times for Grammy Awards in categories like Best Traditional Sould Gospel Album, Best Jazz Vocal Album, and Best Engineered Album – Non-classical.

While you are at Festival Park check out the handiwork of the international groups. There will be jewelry, art, crafts and more. View the craftsmanship, ask questions and listen to the stories about the processes and history that go in to each item.

Who can resist a good meal? At the International Folk Festival you don’t have to — come hungry and try cuisine from all around the globe. With so many groups participating, there will be plenty of flavorful concoctions to go around.

If you can’t make it on Saturday, the festival continues on Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

“It looks like one big melting pot — and we truly are,” said Kinney. “When you stop and think about how many ways cultures are showcased in the festival, what is so special about it is being able to experience so much in so many ways — and it is our friends and neighbors who are doing this for us.”

While it is a wonderful treat to spend the weekend savoring the diversity of the community, there are several diverse and historic offerings in the community on a regular basis. Don’t restrict yourself to one weekend a year. Enjoy any of the 15 Cultural Heritage Trails including the International Cuisine Trail or the Patri-Arts & Gardens Trail.

Find out more about the International Folk Festival at www.theartscouncil.com or by calling 3213-1776.

Photos: The International Folk Festival is a great place to learn about Fayetteville’s diversity and to enjoy the many cultures that make up our community.

It’s the place where the Nile river flows. The pyramids stand there as a monument to ingenuity and creativity. Africa. It is a place of promise and political struggle. It is known as one of the prominent cradles of civilization.

Through the years, its history has traveled through wise oracles passing on the legends of the land. Africa is a place where the rhythm of drum beats, the roar of lions and the cadence of stories are carried through the wind of time.

Jon Onye Lockard captures the beauty of the land and its culture in his exhibit Africentricity, which is on display as a part of the Fayetteville State University Fine Art Series weekend of events. This exemplary art is an examination of socio-political Black art aesthetics. The work illuminates historical revelation and is a visual reflection of African society.

The Rosenthal Gallery will display Lockard’s work from Sept. 22 through Nov. 3. An opening reception will be held on Sept. 22 from 1-3 p.m. Lockard will attend the reception and will also be available to speak with students on Thursday and Friday prior to the reception.

Lockard’s world view, which stems form urban life and political struggle, is woven into his work in a refreshing way. His more than 50-year career span as an artist, muralist, portraitist, illustrator, educator and historian brings wisdom and enlightens his work.

According to Lockard, “My art regenerates my spirit and renews my continuing curiosity of life. The existence of my people reflects a long, rich history of images that I have learned to immerse my spirit in, to give me visions of regeneration.”

“Those Who Learn, Teach” is the theme for the Africentricity exhibit, and Lockard has been both a student and a teacher. He is the senior lecturer at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. He is the former president of the National Conference of Arts and is currently a member of the board of directors. He is the associate director for the Society of African Culture & Aesthetics, and was part of the coordinating team that worked with sculptor Lei Yi Xin on the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial project. Lockard is truly making his mark in time and teaching through his art. Africentricity is an emotionally electric melody of African culture, challenge and contribution.

Rosenthal Gallery hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and you may contact Dwight Smith at 910-672-1795 for more information.

Photo: The works of Jay Onye Lockard are on display as part of the Fayetteville State University Fine Art Series. at the Rosenthal Gallery on the campus of FSU.

With the election season in full swing, things are hopping at the Cumberland County Republican Party Headquarters. The stakes are high this election and it has motivated the local GOP to invite all of the Republicans across the state who are running for offi ce to visit Fayetteville, meet the voters and get out their message. On Sept. 29 at the AIT building on Hay Street, join the Republican Party from 4-7 p.m. for a Potluck and Pink Slips for Democrats meet and greet. Tickets cost just $20 and food is provided.

Mikele Haywood, the events chair and others in the party are concerned for the future of the country and are looking to make a difference.

“I love being a factor in helping Republicans win office and getting out their message of conservatism and smaller government,” she said. “Our government is so big and bloated — it just has to stop somewhere. My fear is that we are so large. I am afraid we are almost to the point of no return. I don’t want to end up like Greece and that is where we are headed. People from every political party should be terrified by this.”

The event coincides with the International Folk Festival, and with good reason. Haywood sees the festival as an opportunity to inform people and connect voters with the candidates. Since the festival is so much fun, she is expecting a good turn out.

“I’ve held events down here during previous festivals and it has always turned out well,” said Haywood. “It’s a festive environment, it should be a lot of fun and we will have a 50/50 raffle, which means that someone will be taking home some money. The last time we had a 50/50 raffle the winner took home more than $500.”

Judges who are running for a seat on the bench and for reelection are expected to attend the event, too. “We invited everybody across the state,” said Haywood. “Justice Paul Newby is invited. He holds the court in balance right now, without him it will be a liberal court so we want to make sure that people get to meet him and talk with him about issues that are important to them.”

The party is hoping for a good turn out, especially since many of the memebers see this election as a pivotal point in America’s history. “Hopefully most of the candidates will be making an appearance,” said Haywood. “This will be the only event the Cumberland County GOP is doing this fall. It is the last event where voters can actually come in and ask questions before the election. That is why it really important.”

In addition to meeting the candidates, attendees can stock up on election items like T-shirts, bumper stickers and yard signs. The Cumberland County Republicans have already made and sold out of several items. “We’ve had Romney/Ryan T-shirts made in pink and royal blue and I have already sold out of the pink and had to reorder,” said Haywood. “We are expecting yard signs to come in soon. We get calls about that everyday and people coming in asking for them.”

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the republican candidates and to have your voice heard by the republican candidates.

The Possession  (Rated PG-13) 2 Stars

The Possession(92 minutes) is like every other movie about demonic possession you ever saw. But get this. Instead of drawing on Christianity for its backstory, it draws on Judaism. Instead of the stars being non-practicing Christians, they are non-practicing Jewish people. The idea that the father, at least, is Jewish is advanced very subtly via mention of Wagner. You see he is divorced, and when his ex-wife mentions that she is attending a Wagner concert with the new boyfriend, he smirks. I think it is a credit to Jeffrey Dean Morgan that he manages to convey the anti-Semitism of Wagner with a mere quirk of the lip and raised eyebrow, while also sneering at the subconscious rejection of his beliefs inherent in his ex-wife embracing a new-found love of Wagner. Or maybe Wagner is just Wagner and I was groping for something interesting to write about.

The film opens with a True Story disclaimer that conveniently explains the timeline of events as a 29-day period. As a framing device it adds nothing to the plot and has no significance to the story. It comes off as a cheap and gimmicky attempt to capitalize off the popularity of documentary-style, shaky-cam films. That, in turn, not only turns me against it before it even begins, but sets up audience expectations that are not fulfilled.

The first scene begins with a woman trying to destroy an intricately marked up box. Since the audience knows the box is somehow a source of evil no one is surprised when the woman strokes out and ends up as a limp ball on the floor. Her son finds her and in fairly short order begins to liquidate her assets via the ever popular yard sale. Clearly he is a bad son who is just itching to put his mom in a home, as evidenced by the way he grabbed things at random out of her house to sell from her yard. Too bad for the unsuspecting passersby that the demonic items are priced to sell, as the recently divorced Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and his two kids Emily and Hannah (Natasha Calis and Madison Davenport) sadly discover.

Emily, a naïve, optimistic adolescent going through her vegetarian phase, is quick to succumb to the seduction of the dark side. It turns out the box her loving father purchased for her is home to a dybbuk, a demon by any other name. Em makes friends with the spirit, and endures increasingly lengthy episodes of its possession. At first the young actor does a pretty good job with the possession scenes, but she loses track of the difference between acting and overacting in short order.

Even after consulting with a professor of some kind Daddy Dearest isn’t able to convince his wife (eternally young Kyra Sedgewick) of the need for some serious intervention before a hag-ridden Emily manages to convince everyone that he is a Bad Daddy. A couple of contentious court hearings and one restraining order later, Clyde has headed for New York’s Jewish district to get some answers and recruit some dude to exorcise his daughter.

Anyway, if you have seen The Exorcist you probably don’t need to bother with this one. The young spiritual guy trying to exorcise the tricky demonic being, the male screaming “Take me! Take me!” and the little girl growling out “Em’s not here” while twitching … it’s been done. And as it is presented here, these tributes to other, more original, possession movies come off as borderline parody. The only really scary bit is watching the little girl leap onto full grown adults like a feral animal — and that gets old quickly. Overall, if you have never seen another movie about exorcism, you might get some cheap thrills out of this one. Just don’t buy your ticket expecting any major scares.

Now showing at Wynnsong 7, Carmike 12 and Carmike Market Fair 15.

On Sept. 28, downtown Fayetteville will once again come alive for a local favorite tradition, 4th Friday. At this family-friendly event, the shops downtown stay open late and arts and entertainment flood the streets and galleries creating a fun atmosphere unique to Fayetteville.

Fascinate – U, the children’s museum will participate in the festivities with fun kid-friendly activities. Not only will they be open late for families to enjoy, admission will be free. Kids can enjoy a craft that goes along with the International Folk Festival theme. It’s one more way to teach children to appreciate the cultural diversity in Fayetteville. Youngsters will be able to participate and learn how to make Japanese origami. Fascinate-U will be open from 7 to 9 p.m. for this event and is located at 116 Green St.

The Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum will provide a historical aspect to 4th Friday. In commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum opened Fayetteville and Cumberland County in the War of 1812, on May 1. The museum is now honored to host the National Museum of the United States Navy’s traveling, mini-exhibit: War of 1812: A Nation Forged by War. Visitors will recognize how well the two exhibits complement each other and paint a more complete story of the War of 1812. Both exhibits will run through the bicentennial.

War of 1812: A Nation Forged by War highlights the prominent role of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service in bringing Great Britain to the negotiating table and forcing European recognition of a truly inde-pendent United States. The exhibit tells the stories of heroic U.S. Navy crews in battles on the oceans and Great Lakes, as well as the contributions of sailors in celebrated land battles from Canada to Louisiana.

The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum’s exhibit, Fayetteville and Cumberland County in the War of 1812, highlights the military, political and social history of the era. National events such as the inspiration for our National Anthem, the burning of the White House, and Battle of New Orleans set the stage for events affecting North Carolina. Learn about the state’s defense measures and the British invasion along our coast. Explore the weapons and tactics of Napoleonic warfare and gain a greater understanding of the war’s impact on the home front in Fayetteville and the surrounding area. The museum is located at 325 Franklin St. and will be open from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

For those who like art, there are numerous galleries in downtown Fayetteville that will be open late for 4th Friday. Gallery One13 located at 113 Gillespie St. will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. The artists whose work is displayed here are all local.

Another place to explore the work of local artists is Cape Fear Studios. This gallery has many different mediums of art, so there is something for everyone to enjoy. This month, a new exhibit about glass opens on 4th Friday.

Glass blower David Goldhagen is the featured artist. As a visiting artist, Goldhagen’s work will show and be available for sale through the holidays. Other artists included in the show are Kathy Oda and several CFS artists: Lois White, Connie Bennett and Jaylene Nordgren. The show is called “...and then there was glass!”

Cape Fear Studious is located at 148 Maxwell St. and will be open on from 6 to 9 p.m.

There are plenty of other things available at 4th Friday celebrations, too. Downtown Fayetteville boasts 37 places to shop and 28 places to eat. Most of these businesses will participate in the festivities by staying open late and some even offering free refreshments for patrons. 4th Friday provides the citizens of Fayetteville with a safe and fun environment to enjoy the town after hours. It is a family-friendly place to enjoy everything the town has to offer, from shopping and food to art and history.

Find out more about 4th Fridayat www.theartscouncil.com.

The Best Is Getting Better

The Best is still getting better. You are reading our most popular special edition of the year. It’s the most read and sought after issue of the entire year: The 15th Annual 2012 Best of Fayetteville.

Every September for the past 15 years we have honored and recognized the “best of the best” people, businesses and organizations that have shaped, impacted and defined our community’s unique, awardwinning quality of life. So, enjoy! Save this special edition all year long and use it as your personal reference for where to go to get the best professional services, shop, dine and play. The complete edition will be available 24/7 on our website at www. upandcomingweekly.com with hyperlinks to the websites of the 2012 winners. Get to know them and become familiar with proven, local businesses and organizations that have, by their actions and attention to detail, shown they have mastered the art of quality workmanship, superb service and good ole-fashioned southern hospitality. To all of the winners, we want to say thank you and congratulations on your achievements!

Winning a Best of Fayetteville award is a cherished honor. I want to thank our loyal and long-time sponsors for supporting this event and helping us maintain the program’s prestige, integrity and legitimacy. In large part that integrity is owed to Lee Utley and Dale Knowles of Utley & Knowles, CPAs. Serving this community since 1986 Utley & Knowles assisted in counting, validating and verifying the ballots.

Jimmy Keefe and Steve Driggers of Clark’s Sporting Goods/ The Trophy House are our partners every year in creating the beautifully designed award certificates and plaques.

Rob Kallmeyer, owner of Brainbox Development, designed and implemented our first-ever Best of Fayetteville online ballot. It worked perfectly.

To Josh and Tonya Collins and the great staff at Wet Willies, we give thanks for hosting our 15th Annual Best of Fayetteville Awards Party.

And, last, but certainly not least, we want to thank our newest sponsor Mac Edwards and the great community radio stations of Beasley Broadcasting. They were magnificent in getting the word out and getting the votes in. Wow! What a line up of great community partners. Without their help, understanding, support, assistance and expertise Up & Coming Weekly would not be able to maintain this important program. As you travel throughout the community, look for the Best of Fayetteville plaques and certificates on display at the businesses you frequent. Look for our logo in their newspaper and TV ads. Listen for it to be mentioned in their radio commercials or appear as a symbol of excellence posted on their websites.

This issue is a labor of love for the professional staff of Up & Coming Weekly. At a time when traditional newspapers nationally are tasked with maintaining their relevancy as a media source and many struggling for survival, community newspapers like Up & Coming Weekly continue to grow and prosper. Why? Because our dedicated and professional staff stay in touch with the community and make telling Fayetteville’s story our #1 priority. Nobody does it better. T

hank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. We are extremely proud to be your community newspaper. After all, you are the best of the best.

The world’s longest running musical is coming to Fayetteville. The Fantasticks is on stage at the Gilbert Theater from Sept. 20 through Oct. 7. Show times are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

This 1960s musical tells the moving story of two young lovers whose fathers plot to trick them into falling in love. They discover the deception and go their own ways, only to find love with each other once the bumps and bruises of life mature their notions of love.

This well known musical, with music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics and book by Tom Jones, has been performed more than 17,000 times in the last 42 years. The score includes familiar songs such as “Try to Remember,” “Soon It’s Gonna Rain,” and “Much More.” It is played with a small cast, a two to three-person orchestra and minimalist set design.

This will be the first show for Robyne Parrish, new artistic director for the Gilbert Theater. Says Parrish, “I saw the show when I was 16-years-old in New York City with my father. It is the longest running musical in the world for a reason. This is the kind of magic the Gilbert has, and what better way of carrying on the tradition than having the Fantasticks be my first show as Artistic Director here at the Gilbert.”

The Gilbert Theater was founded in 1994 in the basement of Lynn Pryer’s home, and over the years operated in several locations around Fayetteville. The theater’s current home is 116 Green Street. On the corner of Green and Bow streets located near the Market House, the theater’s entrance is on the Bow Street side of the building.

The Gilbert Theater is a semi-professional, community-oriented theatre company and conservatory serving Fayetteville, and the surrounding area. The theater produces up to six plays and musicals per year as well as a full slate of theater-oriented classes for students of all ages in its Gilbert Conservatory and Gilbert Glee initiatives. The theater prides itself on committing itself to the continuous improvement of its community of local artists through training, collaboration with professionals in the field and meaningful production experience.

An exciting first for the Gilbert Theater, the cast will be joined by union actor, Patrick Riviere from Los Angeles. He will spend five weeks in Fayetteville just to play the lead part of El Gallo.

“The theater is very proud to be evolving in such a way that hiring a professional Equity guest artist seemed like the next step in raising the stature of the theatre — a theater that prides itself on quality presentations,” said Parrish.

Tickets cost $15 for all shows, with discounts available for large groups, military members and students. Call the box office for more information. Tickets can be purchased online at www.gilberttheater.com. For reservations, call (910) 678-7186 or e-mail the box office at boxoffice@gilberttheater.com. Doors and box office open one hour before start of show, although seating is not guaranteed without reservations.

The Apparition(Rated PG-13) 2 Stars

The Apparition(86 minutes) isn’t as bad as everyone is making it out to be. At the end of the day, yes, it sucks hardcore, just not as bad as everyone says. Clearly the picture had no studio backing since it was released in the August dead zone, and the flaws show pretty clearly. But this movie could have been really good. If only Todd Lincoln had a little more experience as a writer and/or a director. If only Ashley Green could actually act. If only Tom Felton’s British accent didn’t sound so fake! Which, wasn’t he born in England? He didn’t pile it on this much in Harry Potter.

What we have here is the redheaded stepchild of Poltergeist and Insidious, with a smattering of Paranormal Activity. If the movie had spent some more time exploring the premise hinted at by its tagline (“If you believe, you die.”) we would be in full-on famous original Nightmare on Elm Street territory, where forcing yourself to disbelieve in the monster that is trying to kill you might save you — or might not. That would have been cool. I wanted to see that movie. Instead I was forced to sit through this one. In which belief in the thing that is coming to get the characters has nothing to do with whether or not you die. Stupid, misleading tag line.

We begin with a completely nonsensical scene, shot in classic Dark Castle scratchy flashback style. Six people are conducting an old-school parapsychology experiment. What does this have to do with what happens later? Nothing whatsoever. It is cheap and gimmicky filler designed to add a few precious minutes to the barely feature-length running time.

Moving into the next scene, three college students named Patrick, Ben and Lydia (Felton, Sebastian Stan and Julianna Guill) are mumbling some nonsense about how capturing their attempt to contact the dead on film will “prove” that ghosts exist. Yes dears, and watching The Avengers proves that super-powered beings are battling aliens from another dimension. Anyway, that doesn’t go well. I bet it would be really exciting to see the aftermath of the failed experiment. The writer doesn’t agree, and we move onto the next scene.

Kelly (Green), Ben’s girlfriend, has moved into her parent’s house in an almost deserted neighborhood (nice nod to how the bottom dropped out of the housing market). There is at least an attempt to build some suspense, as mysterious burn marks and mold stains begin to appear all over the house. It gets downright ominous, leading Ben to start installing security cams. One would think he might return the increasingly frantic calls from Patrick regarding the ghost experiment, or at least tell Ashley that she might want find a couple of priests, but no.

Predictably, when things get super-duper spooky the cat gets let out of the bag, and poor, stupid Kelly kicks Ben out. So she can face the nasty, mean, spirit thingy alone without knowledge or assistance. A real sharp cookie is our Kelly. That particular New Year’s resolution lasts until Mr. Vaguely-human-shaped-scary-thing shouts Boo! into her fancy heat sensitive camera; then Ben is back in the game!

Patrick reappears and the power of his British accent seems to banish the ghost back into the ether. Or does it? I would tell you to go see for yourself, but you probably shouldn’t spend any of your hard-earned cash encouraging Todd Lincoln to make any more movies.

Now showing at Wynnsong 7, Carmike 12 and Carmike Market Fair 15.

33 Miles Working on New CD

This week in The Buzz we will get caught up with the band 33 Miles, Mark Schultz will share his thoughts on his new album, and we will share a recipe from mother and artist, Sara Groves.

What has the band 33 Miles been up to lately?

After touring with Mark Schultz last year, 33 Miles is working on a new CD and heading out on a new fall tour. Jason and Chris — that’s right, 33 Miles is now a duo — released the CD Today last fall and the single “What Grace Looks Like” to radio just a few months ago. They are now working on a new album that is all about worship. We don’t yet know the title or release date, but we do know some of the songs will be original worship songs and some will be their favorite covers. Expect a few of these worship tunes to make their way onto the band’s live set. Look for the fall tour Scars to Grace with Jonny Diaz at a city near you.

Mark Schultz talks about his newly released CD

“I once read a quote from theologian Frederick Buechner: ‘The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.’ ‘All Things Possible’ means something different than when I was first starting out as a musician,” said Schultz. “When I first got signed, I thought that if 10 people bought my record, that would be ‘all things possible.’ But today, using this platform for myself to sell more records is not as inspiring to me. I can only accomplish good things if God is in them, and God shows up. I want to pray those prayers.”

A tasty treat from the kitchen of Sara Groves

Groves says, “I don’t know where this recipe originates from... but this is a Groves family favorite!”

Ingredients:

• 1 unbaked Pillsbury pie crust
• 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella, divided into half cups
• 4-5 ripe medium tomatoes
• 1 cup of chopped basil
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/2 cup of mayo
• 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

Directions: 1. Bake pie crust 10 min at 450 degrees. 2. When crust is cooled, place 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese on bottom of pie crust. 3. Place sliced tomatoes on top. 4. Top with chopped garlic and basil. 5. Mix mayo and Parmesan cheese and spread on top of tomatoes, basil and garlic. 6.Put 1 cup of mozzarella cheese on top. 7. Bake @ 375 degrees for 30-35 min. Sara is about to embark on her first ever tour of the UK next month.

Signature partnerships enrich a culture of excellence

I have often said there has never been a great university without a great community. From its founding, Methodist University has been fortunate to benefit from so many community members who have taken special owner-ship of this institution and its success. This has varied from individuals who have volunteered or contributed financially to ensure the well being of the institution, to organizations that have forged relationships with MU for the betterment of both institutions.

A Culture of Excellence

Perpetuating a “culture of excellence” is one of the fundamental principles of the University’s cur-rent strategic plan. Such a culture is characterized by signature people, programs and facilities. It is also enhanced by signature partnerships that have never been more critical.

The MU Journey

This past spring, we launched what we refer to as the “MU Journey,” which provides students with four different pathways that will allow them to complement their academic experience with ex-periential learning. These pathways include lead-ership, community engagement, global education and undergraduate research and creativity. The first two of these pathways will require the creation of partnerships as students become in-volved in special projects. We have also placed a special emphasis on internship opportunities for all MU students, so this initiative, too, will require more community partners.

The Monarch Network

A third initiative calls for the creation of the Monarch Network, which mobilizes MU affinity groups and other volunteers to serve as partners to areas of greatest need. This extends our community initiative well beyond the Cape Fear region and embraces Methodist University alumni, parents and friends in our quest to provide the very highest quality experiences for our students, and ultimately, brings these partnerships to life.

The Year of Partnerships

Our goal with all partnerships is to align them with our strategic priorities. Since we have spent the past year identifying our priorities, we begin this new academic year with a commitment to expand our reach, extend our partnerships and explore many more opportunities that will make a Methodist University education a unique experience for every student.

The year 2012-13 will be “The Year of Partnerships,” in which we will identify and celebrate these relationships and put them to action. These partnerships will come from every sector, including health care, business, education, the arts, not-for-profits, military and religious organizations, among others. Furthermore, we will bring “experts in residence” from each of these sectors to campus to help us maximize the benefits from these partnerships.

A “culture of excellence” at Methodist means taking programs and initiatives to the next level. Our community partners will ensure that we meet this expectation and deliver the very highest educational experience to our students.

How to Preserve Family Memories

Preserving family memories for seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias is important for several reasons.

Memories can help bring much happiness and joy to that older adult.

Preserving memories helps establish an important legacy for future generations.

Capturing and preserving memories can happen in a number of ways. It might entail turning on a favorite 1940s big band hit, spreading photos out on the coffee table, intentionally creating a list of questions to ask and sitting down in the living room together to record the thoughts your loved one shares. Or reminiscing might occur more spontaneously during a family gathering. If so, make sure you have a notepad or video camera handy.

To accommodate your family member’s cognitive ability level and make sharing memories in any situation a positive, meaningful experience, keep the following considerations in mind:

• Do involve other family members; don’t put the person with Alzheimer’s on the spot.

• Do look at photographs together; don’t expect the person to recognize everything.

• Do share your own thoughts as they relate to the memories your loved one shares; don’t monopolize the conversation.

• Do ask specific, personal questions; don’t interrogate.

• Do ask good questions and record the discussion; don’t expect a fivehour session.

• Do focus on general memories and emotions; don’t focus on exact facts and details.

The goal is to give your family member with dementia the opportunity to share cherished memories with the people he or she loves. You don’t need a precise journalistic account of the person’s life.

Activities to capture and preserve memories with your family living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias should focus on what that person can and wants to remember. You can help to minimize frustration by paying attention to your loved one’s limitations and adapting opportunities for reminiscing accordingly.

Photo: Capturing and preserving memories with a loved one can happen in a number of ways.

Foot In Mouth Disease

I have a pretty thick political hide after many years as a campaign volunteer and eventually as a political candidate and then as an elected offi cial. Mine was a deeply rewarding political career that culminated in being portrayed by a political opponent as a prostitute on national television, an ad which CNN’s Anderson Cooper featured among the worst political ads in the nation that campaign season.

In other words, I often view comments made by politicians as distorted, self-serving, stupid or all of the above. Rarely do I get excited by politicians’ words and particularly not during an election year that almost always results in style over substance.

That being said, Todd Akin of “legitimate rape” infamy really got under my skin.

The notion that a woman’s body somehow shuts down when a rape is “legitimate” is not only insulting but reveals astounding scientifi c ignorance, not to mention an odd attitude toward women. What on earth would be “illegitimate” rape, and who on earth would make that call? Todd Aiken, who — if you can believe this! — is a member of the House Science Committee?

We in North Carolina cannot be too smug about this dimwit, however.

We had our own version of Congressman-would-be-Senator Aiken almost 20 years ago in the form of a General Assembly member named Henry Aldridge, a highly trained Pitt County dentist by profession. Representative Aldridge, like his soulmate Aiken, caused quite a stir with this unbelievable remark, which he never quite disavowed, made in public to the House Appropriations Committee.

“The facts show that people who are raped — who are truly raped — the juices don’t flow, the body functions don’t work and they don’t get pregnant. Medical authorities agree that this is a rarity, if ever.” “Truly” must mean the same thing as “legitimate …”

Well, Mr. Aiken and Dr. Aldridge, medical authorities do not agree with that at all.

According to 1996 study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology women get pregnant about 5 to 6 percent of the time, and it makes no difference whether conception occurs snuggled under the covers of the marital bed or during an unwanted, abhorrent act of violence. Another large-scale study found that rape victims actually have a slightly higher conception rate than women consenting to sex, but the reason for that is not known. It is known, however, that a woman involved in a relationship can consent or not, while a rape victim does not have that option.

Biology is biology is biology.

Aiken and Aldridge zoomed to national ridicule for their absurd remarks because they held elected offi ce, and they were justifi ably skewered for them.

My disgust with both of them, though, is not political. Aldridge is long gone from the public scene and Aiken will have a long road ahead to get past this politically.

My disgust with them is far more personal.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, I was part of the group which founded the organization that is now the Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County. In those early days, there was no money and no offi ce. Records were kept secure in car trunks and under beds. What there was, were dedicated volunteers with the support of local law enforcement and the district attorney’s offi ce. We took calls every day of the year, which usually meant long hours at either Cape Fear Valley or Womack as rape victims, usually, but not always women, submitted to physical examinations and underwent law enforcement questioning.

I have held hands with women as they endured the “rape-kit” exam, a necessary procedure but one which often feels like a further violation. I have scrounged around to fi nd clothing for a woman to wear home from the hospital as her own clothes had become evidence in a criminal investigation. I have cried with women who are devastated and terrifi ed by what has occurred to them. I have raged with women who are angry beyond measure. I have watched, bewildered, as a 15-year-old, who was raped outside of a skating rink, chalked it up to “the way things are.” I have sat beside a woman who was charged with manslaughter because she shot her rapist. I have been to court with women who need moral support as they testify against the rapist who is in the courtroom with them.

So, yes, the remarks of Mr. Aiken and Dr. Aldridge before him, did and do get under my skin.

Rape is not an issue to be tossed around as a partisan political football. It is a profoundly personal attack from which some women never recover and all never forget.

Shame on all who try to use it for partisan political advantage.

Photo: Representative Todd Aiken recently came under fire for remarks he made about rape.He was not the first politician to make inaccurate comments about the subject. 

Last year the Cape Fear Botanical Garden was invaded by larger-than-life bugs for several months as the Big Bugs exhibit entertained and educated garden visitors. On Sept. 1, Ribbit the Exhibit opened featuring, you guessed it, frogs — metal frogs that are full of whimsy and wonder and created by Andy Cobb.

These outgoing amphibians aren’t hiding under rocks or croaking from the depths of the swamp. They are dancing, watering the garden, mowing the grass and more. The exhibit features 10 to 13 unique sculptures located throughout the garden.

Cobb’s frogs are made from fl at sheets of copper that are shaped, textured and welded together around a steel frame so that the sculpture will last for years. When a piece is complete, a patina is added to give it a unique fi nish. Cobb has been working with copper for more than 15 years. One of the things he loves best about working with copper is that “… it moves, it’s malleable, it feels like skin.”

Cobb usually works on commission, but for this show he stopped taking orders and spent fi ve months working seven-days-a-week to put together this exhibit. It gave him the opportunity to create a few pieces he has wanted to work on for a while.

“The three musicians were a lot of fun for me,” said Cobb. “I think I captured what I was looking for, which is passion. They are right in the middle of playing and they are having quite a time.”

The other two are a frog version of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing.

“He is in tails and she is in a little dress, and they are going full swing,” said Cobb. “Those are five frogs that I have wanted to do for a while and I was able to do them for this exhibit.”

Cobb explained that while many artists claim to create for themselves and then hope to fi nd buyers for their work, his career is built on creating work from other people’s ideas.

“The majority of my work is commission work, so I am usually doing a piece for somebody … periodically they will say ‘do what you want,’ but usually it is someone buying a frog with someone else in mind. It is fun for me to hear their idea and I try to execute in a way that they like. It is fun.”

Cobb’s first frog was inspired by Old Toad from the book Wind in the Willow.

“I read that book later in life and really liked it,” said Cobb. “This idea of an old toad in a morning coat and with a watch fob intrigued me. The reaction to that first frog was so extreme that I was motivated to do a few more, and it just caught on.”

His work is such a big hit with so many of his clients that Cobb often receives cards during the Christmas season with pictures of the frogs dressed up for the holidays.

Frogs from this exhibit are available for sale and can be purchased through Cape Fear Botanical Garden. The exhibit runs through Nov. 30. Admission is free for garden members. Regular admission applies for nonmembers: Adults $8, Military $7, Children 6-12 $2.50 and those under 5 are admitted free. Cape Fear Botanical Garden is located at 536 N. Eastern Blvd. in Fayetteville.

A champion of the American Revolution from a young age, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette, is not only our city’s namesake. He is credited with playing a big part in winning the war. Lafayette was just 19 years old when he came to America in 1777 and joined the colonists in their quest for freedom, fi ghting with and leading American soldiers. He contributed fi nancially as well, spending much of his personal treasure on the war and persuading the king of France to send soldiers and money to the colonies.

In 1783, our fair city became Fayetteville, N.C. It was the fi rst of several towns in America to honor the Frenchman by taking his name, and the only one he ever visited.

“When Lafayette came to visit in March of 1825, he was a celebrity,” said Hank Parfi tt, a Lafayette Society spokesperson. “It was like when the Beatles visited the United States in the ‘60s. People were really excited about him visiting Fayetteville. He was a very popular fi gure — he was not a distant historical fi gure in a town-hall meeting. The common man absolutely loved him. When he came to visit Fayetteville, the town was practically empty because everyone was lined up at the river where he came in.”

His influence is still recognized today and on Sept. 7-8, the Lafayette Society invites the public to join in the celebration of Lafayette’s birth.

On Friday, Sept. 7, meet historian and Lafayette author Marc Leepson as he discusses his book Lafayette: Lessons in Leadership from the Idealist General. The book explores how Lafayette infl uenced America’s formative years and how he contributed selfl essly to the founding of our country.

“Leepson’s book is part of the world general series,” said Parfitt. “McMillan Publishing had authors write about seven different military leaders through the ages and what made them successful. Leadership groups are invited to discuss the book. Leepson is going to talk to the Chamber of Commerce and the freshman class at Methodist University while he is here, but the public is invited to come and hear him at the Market House.”

Leepson is scheduled to speak on the second fl oor of the Market House at 7 p.m. The event is free, but space is limited, so reservations are recommended. Make a reservation by calling 678-8899. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

On Saturday, join the day-long celebration and participate in one of the many activities. It starts at 7 a.m. with the Lafayette French Toast Breakfast Fundraiser. For just $7 you get French toast (or pancakes) and a side of bacon or sausage. It’s at Horne’s Café and lasts until 3 p.m. For every plate sold $2 will be donated to the Child Advocacy Center.

At 9 a.m., the Lafayette Parade of Pooches takes place at the corner of Anderson and Hay streets. Call the Dogwood Festival to register your dog. It costs $5 to enter your dog in the parade.

Meet at the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Museum on Burgess Street at 9 a.m. and enjoy a guided tour of the Lafayette Trail. The event begins with coffee and croissants and a viewing of a documentary about the 250th LaFayette Birthday Celebration.

“The Lafayette Trail is always wonderful,” said Parfi tt. “Last year it was sold out.”

Although the trail involves some walking, there is an air-conditioned bus that is used for part of the tour. At the end of the tour, enjoy lunch at the Market House. Tickets are $30 per person and include the food and the tour of the trail. There are 30 spots available, and registration is recommended. There may still be a few spaces left — call 678-8899 or visit City Center Gallery and Books for details or to register.

If you are looking for something with a bit of a faster pace, join the Lafayette Birthday 3k Dog Jog and 5k Road Race. Participants meet at the Medical Arts Building on the corner of Hay Street and Bragg Boulevard. The event is sanctioned by USA Track and Field. Proceeds benefi t the Child Advocacy Center of Fayetteville. Call Julio at 578-9680 for more information.

With so many fun things going on downtown, don’t miss the sidewalk sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Merchants will set up along the sidewalk and offer great deals in honor of Lafayette. Don’t miss the unique merchandise and chance to grab a great find.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the All-American Fencing Academy hosts the 4th Annual Lafayette Open Fencing Tournament. Lafayette himself served as a member of the Black Musketeers, an elite unit in service to the French king upon which The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas was based.

This year the fencing tournament includes competition in epee as well as the foil. This event is sanctioned by the North Carolina Division of the United States Fencing Association. Guests are welcome to visit the academy’s studio at 207B Donaldson St. to enjoy the action. Call 910-644- 0137 or go to info@allamericanfencing.com for more information.

The Festival of Yesteryear is a big part of the day’s activities. It is held at the Museum of the Cape Fear and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival highlights North Carolina’s Colonial and Revolutionary War history. There will be military reenactors, an artillery canon and fun activities like rebus puzzles, a tricornered hat project and interactive toys and games. Professional storytellers will tell exciting tales that bring the past to life. Visit www.museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov or call 437- 2603 for more information.

After visiting the museum, head to Cross Creek Park for cake and ice cream (while it lasts). Arlene Fields has been coordinating the party for three years now and she really enjoys the idea of people of all ages having a good time and learning a little in the process.

“A lot of people don’t know that Fayetteville is named for the Marquis de Lafayette. What better way to share that than to have a party?” said Fields. Cross Creek Park is the perfect place for the party, she added “… there is a beautiful statue of Lafayette on the grounds and the landscape is interesting with a good layout.”

Admission is free. It’s the perfect place to take a break and have lunch. There will be a special kids area with crafts, games, face painting, bounce houses and more. This year the party hats are different colored French berets, which will be for sale while supplies last. Look for Kidsville News!own Truman, who will be on hand to celebrate the city’s namesake. Enjoy some bluegrass music. There will be barbeque for sale, so come hungry. The barbeque plates cost $7 each.

Fields first came to the Lafayette Society through her job at Davis Memorial Library at Methodist University where she is the archives librarian. Part of her job is to oversee the collection of letters written by Lafayette that are on fi le at the Library.

“We have letters written by Lafayette and the Lafayette Society has provided funding to buy many of them, so it makes sense for me to be involved with them,” said Fields.

The letters provide a peek into the everyday life of Lafayette.

“Some of them are mundane. One is from a person who wants an introduction and Lafayette says ‘I can’t introduce you to the king of Peru — because I don’t know the king of Peru,’” said Fields. “My personal favorite is a letter he wrote to his friend ‘…you made a promise … to return my books in two weeks’ time and the time has far expired,’” she added.

The letters have all been scanned and translated and are available online at www.methodist.edu/library/archspec/ lafayette/lafayet.htm or at the library.

Find out more about the Lafayette Birthday Celebration — and Lafayette — at www.lafayette250.com.

You would do well to consider Paranorman (93 minutes) as a gateway movie, the first step a child takes on a long road filled with the living dead and other creepy crawlies. As a family movie it works very well and is a good example of the right way to do a children’s film. As a horror film, especially one designed to appeal to children, it is surprisingly sophisticated. Having said that, this is exactly the sort of film that gets social conservatives in a twist. Not only are there casual references to everything they hate clearly placed in the no big-deal zone, there are also real moral issues filled with shades of grey as opposed to neatly delineated categories of good and evil.

The film is set in New England, so right away you have all that rich history of women who stepped outside the norms of their gender and were hanged as witches. The opening scenes establish that a boy named Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is able to both see and speak with the dead. His family (Jeff Garlin, Leslie Mann, and Anna Kendrick) are not as supportive as they might be, which leads to Norman feeling isolated at home and in school.

The determined efforts of Neil Downe (Tucker Albrizzi, who is really reminding me of Gordon Crisp from Freaks and Geeks) to become friends with Norman remind him that there are good people out there even though I question if pre-adolescents are ever really that poised. Their friendship grows in part because they are both tormented by the same bully (Christopher Mintz-Platz).

While walking home with Neil one afternoon, his Uncle Prenderghast (John Goodman) stops him to spout crazy nonsense about visions and rituals. During a rehearsal of the school play commemorating the 300-year anniversary of the execution of the town witch, Norman has a vision that is part ghostly daydream and part history lesson, revealing that his Uncle might not be as crazy as everyone thinks.

After a bit of consideration, Norman decides that it is his duty to carry out the ritual as instructed by his Uncle. Unfortunately, as so often happens, the instructions turn out to be a bit on the sketchy side and lacking all sorts of important details. He puts his best foot forward and makes it as far as the graveyard before the bully throws a wrench in the works. As it turns out, when the ritual isn’t properly completed, the dead rise from the grave and chase after the one person who might be able to put them back to bed.

Meanwhile, back on the other side of town, Norman’s sister (Kendrick) enlists the aid of Neil and his brother Mitch (Casey Affleck) to track down Norman. At this point the plot slows down a bit, and the movie wanders offplot and onto a variety of increasingly boring chase scenes. The citizenry forms into an angry mob complete with torches and egg beaters, but all is not as it seems.

Finally, it has a very distinctive look, and almost all the backgrounds highlight an incredible use of color and movement. I can’t claim to be a huge fan of the way they conceptualized the human form but production company Laika did one heck of a job of creating a real sense of humanity in the stop motion figures. Their ability to inject real human emotion into what are essentially clay figures is refined to an incredible degree by two of the best child actors working today, Smit-McPhee and Ferland. And anyone who wants to challenge that statement should go see The Road and Tideland immediately.

Now showing at Wynnsong 7, Carmike 12 and Carmike Market Fair 15.

Give Kids the World is a story that began with a simple wish by a little girl and one man’s desire to make that wish come true. The little girl’s name was Amy. Amy had leukemia and her one wish was to visit the theme parks in Orlando. To facilitate Amy’s wish, the request of a complimentary stay was made to a respected hotelier. As he had done many times before, the hotelier gladly obliged and Amy’s wish was that much closer to being realized. Sadly, the remainder of Amy’s travel plans took too long to arrange and her wish was never granted because she died. Time simply ran out.

This unfulfilled wish inspired a man, the hotelier, to make a vow that no child in need would ever be failed again. That man was Henri Landwirth and his desire to ensure that Amy’s story would never repeat itself resulted in the creation of a village that is represented by Give Kids the World.

Today the village is a 70-acre resort complete with more than 140 villa accommodations, entertainment attractions, whimsical venues and fun specifi cally designed for children with special needs. With your help and the help of many generous individuals, corporations and partnering wish-granting organizations, Give Kids the World has welcomed more than 115,000 families from all 50 states and more than 70 countries. With the support of local communities a memorable magical, no-cost experience can be provided to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

No child in need has ever been turned away — and no child ever will. Give Kids the World is a place where families fi nd joy, laughter, serenity and a lifetime of memories. Through the tireless support of volunteers, employees and generous partners, each and every day is dedicated to these special families.

A child with a life-threatening illness between the ages of 3 and 18, whose one wish is to visit any of Central Florida’s best-loved attractions, may have their dream vacation come true by fi rst being identifi ed by a doctor as a child with a life-threatening illness.

The child is then teamed up with one of more than 250 partnering wish-granting organizations from around the world, who then refer the eligible wish child and their family to GKTW Village.

Once a wish has been approved and recommended by the wish child’s local wish-granting organization, their Give Kids The World wish includes:

• Accommodations on-site in one of 140 villas. • Donated tickets to all three major theme-park resorts (SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World)

• Transportation

• Meals in our Gingerbread House Restaurant and Katie’s Kitchen; and ice cream all day in the Ice Cream Palace

• Many other fun surprises

On Sept. 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Candlewood Suites in conjunction with Cape Fear Harley-Davidson is hosting a Charity Ride/Block party. Various levels of sponsorship and participation are available. To support the event, contact Michelle Williams at 868-0873 or send an email to csffsales@gmail.com.

Don’t look now, but North Carolina seems to have survived a significant reduction in the duration of the state’s legislative sessions.

According to the official count, the 2011-12 biennium of the Republican-led General Assembly convened on Jan. 26, 2011 and adjourned for good on July 3, 2012. In-between those dates were two regular sessions — the “long” session in 2011 and the “short” session in 2012 — plus several special sessions devoted to redistricting, veto overrides or other matters.

If you add up all the days in which the General Assembly held session over the past two years, you get 138 days. That’s 103 legislative days in 2011 and 35 days in 2012.

There’s another way to count session lengths, however. Rather than counting the number of days the state legislature conducted business, you count the number of calendar days between the time a session starts and the time it concludes, regardless of whether the legislature met on those days. By that measure, you get 224 calendar days — 167 in 2011 and 57 in 2012.

I happen to think that the North Carolina Legislature can conduct its legitimate business in an even-shorter time than 138 legislative days per biennium. I favor imposing a formal length on legislative sessions. Virginia has a constitutional limit of 60 calendar days in even-numbered years and 30 calendar days in odd-numbered years. Florida’s constitutional limit is 60 calendar days. Georgia’s is 40 legislative days.

Overall, 39 states impose some kind of formal session limit, most often via their state constitutions. North Carolina doesn’t. That’s a mistake on our part. Even factoring in special sessions that may not count against the limits, these state legislatures are compelled to use their time more efficiently. That makes it easier to balance members’ public service with their other professional or personal responsibilities, while saving tax dollars and reducing the damage that lawmakers can do by hanging around the state capital too long.

All that having been said, the North Carolina Legislature under new management is at least moving in the right direction. In terms of legislative days, the 2011-12 biennium was the shortest since 1979-1980, when the count was 123 days. If you look at calendar days, the 2011- 12 biennium was the shortest since 1985-86, when the count was 208 days.

While most state legislatures operate under session limits, and some North Carolina politicians and political activists have long advocated them, the idea does have opponents. Previous Democratic leaders of the General Assembly have argued that the legislative business of a growing state simply can’t be done without spending lots of time in Raleigh. Uh, do they really believe that North Carolina is better governed than, say, Virginia?

Critics have also argued, more persuasively, that a session limit by itself would serve to alter the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches of state government. If the General Assembly isn’t in town to keep an eye on the governor and other state officials, animportant check on executive power would be lost.

I have two responses to this argument. First, North Carolina’s governor remains fairly weak by national standards. Because there is good reason to believe that strengthening executive power has salutary effects on the cost of state government, I think that session limits would have net benefits for taxpayers even if enacted on their own.

However, I also think that it would be reasonable to tie the enactment of session limits to other constitutional amendments that would increase legislative oversight of the executive branch. For example, perhaps the North Carolina constitution should require governors to receive legislative confirmation for certain high-profile appointments, such as those filling vacancies on the state appellate courts. Or the constitution could codify the rule that executive agencies must cite specific statutory authority before spending money or issuing rules.

Over the past two years, the new Republican leadership shifted the legislature back a bit towards its original part-time status. Let’s continue the trend.

The nonprofit Fayetteville Area Hospitality Association (FAHA) comprises a group of area businesses committed to promoting “Hospitality and community awareness and involvement” in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. That commitment to community is underscored by FAHA’s hosting of its 11th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 14, at Cypress Lakes Golf Course. Tournament format is four-person captain’s choice, with registration and breakfast at 8 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Deadline for registration or sponsorship is Monday, Sept. 10.

Proceeds from the tournament, sponsored by International Minute Press, Miller-Motte College, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, R. A. Jeffreys Distributing Company, LLC and Up & Coming Weekly, will benefit the Falcon Children’s Home and Kidsville News! Literacy and Education Foundation.

“We started this series 11 years ago as a charity fundraiser,” said Ramona Moore, president of FAHA. “Groups that have benefited from the tournament in the past include the Fayetteville Police Foundation, the Stanton Hospitality House, The Cancer Center, the Boys and Girls Club, Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project.

“We made a five-year commitment to Falcon Children’s Home a few years ago. We have built such a rewarding relationship with Joey Leggett, the director of the home. Falcon shows such appreciation to any group that helps it,” Moore said. “We just love them. And Kidsville News!wanted to partner with us to grow the tournament and benefit their program for the children.”

For more than 100 years, the Falcon Children’s Home has opened its doors to children needing out-of-home placement. Its programs include the Mothers and Babies Program, which assists teen mothers with education, parenting skills and life-skills for independent living.

Nationally acclaimed Kidsville News! of Cumberland County is an award-winning literacy and educational resource newspaper provided free each month to all K-6 children in Cumberland County and Fort Bragg.

According to Moore, 92 participants helped raise $10,000 during last year’s tournament. FAHA hopes to exceed those numbers this year, with a goal of 120 participants. Various levels of sponsorship and participation are available for the tournament, including Individual Golfer, Hole Sponsor, Four-member Team and Team Sponsor (foursome and Hole Sponsor). Donations are tax deductible.

”You can buy a sponsorship for $100, and we display your sign on the tee boxes so you get good coverage there,” said Jack Stultz of Kidsville News! Title sponsors’ names will appear on a banner over the picnic hut where the trophies will be on display.

The tournament offers prizes for first-, second- and third-place teams, the longest drive, closest to the pin and hole-in-one, as well as door prizes.

“We have a lot of prizes,” Stultz said. “A tremendous amount, from local restaurants and including trips, free rounds of golf on other courses and gift certificates.”

After the tournament, participants will enjoy lunch catered by Olive Garden Italian Restaurant. It is the second year the restaurant has provided the meal.

“We believe it is a good cause,” said Moe Kong, general manager of the restaurant. “We encourage everyone to come out and support it.”

The tournament is well received — and well known — throughout the community.

“We’ve been doing this tournament for a long time,” said Michelle Williams of FAHA. “It’s very, very successful. It always amazes me that when I am an attendee at other tournaments, people recognize me and say, ‘Aren’t you part of the Hospitality Association tournament? That’s a great tournament!’ We want people to come out and donate time, prizes, anything that can help make it more successful for a great cause.”

Participants and sponsors are encouraged to sign up by Monday, Sept. 10.

“We certainly need and welcome people’s support,” Stultz said. “We have a great time. I think if they come out, they’ll join us again next year as well, and many years to come.”

 For more information or to sign up as a sponsor or participant, please contact Moore at (910) 922-8737 or Jared Ostendorf, Golf Committee chair

It’s about family, faith and culture. It’s about food, dancing and community. It’s about celebrating. It’s Greekfest 2012.

Every September for the past 22 years the Greek community has spent an entire weekend celebrating and sharing all things Greek with the community. This year, the festival falls on the weekend of Sept. 7-9, and it promises to be even bigger and better than before. And it’s free.

A cornerstone of the Greek culture is its faith. The congregation of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church are passionate about their faith — so much so that church tours are offered throughout the Greek Fest. Visitors who take the tour get a peek at sanctuary and the many religious icons that are a part of the worship services. Father Alexander Papagikos leads the tours and explains the faith, taking questions from visitors along the way.

A new event this year, is Faith and Family Sunday, which is scheduled for Sept. 9. All clergy and church families are invited to participate in the Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy Sunday morning, and if that is inconvenient, to attend, they are invited to lunch. On this day, in honor of faith, family and worship, a donation to Fayetteville Urban Ministry will be made. The donation will come directly from a portion of the Sunday lunch proceeds at the Greek Fest.

“Each year we choose an organization to support and this year it is Fayetteville Urban Ministry,” said Kelly Papagikos, event spokesperson. “Sunday we are having Faith and Family Day. After other congregations have f nished their services, they are invited to come and join us for lunch and tour of the church. If anyone wants to worship with us that day they are more than welcome.”

The food at the Greek Fest is reason enough to come for a meal or two throughout the weekend, but supporting the Fayetteville Urban Ministry makes it that much more enjoyable. The tables in the food tent stay full during the Greek Fest as gyros, souvlaki, spanikopita and other delicacies are served to eager customers. The food offered to the crowds comes from the same recipes used for generations in the old country.

For dessert, don’t forget the ever-popular Greek pastries that are available for sale. Baklava, Finikia and Kataifi are just a few of the many confections usually sold at the fest. Members of the Greek community spend days preparing for the fest and serve only the best to the guests that come to the celebration.

“The women in the Greek community work for weeks to prepare for this. Everything is freshly hand-made. There is no store-bought baklava for sale at this festival,” said Papagikos. “The women pass the torch from generation to generation in hopes that the younger women will be then next generation to make the pastries. The pastries are always the first to sell out — no matter how much the church makes.”

Each year the dance troupes perform dances from Greece for the visitors to the festival. This year they will perform in new costumes from various regions of their native land. The Nick Trivelas Band is scheduled to perform this year. Trivelas performs regularly at festival and events in the southeast and has beenperforming for more than 35 years.

While Greek and American beer and wine imports are popular, a new addition for adults this year is the uozo blue shots. Uozo is black-licorice flavored liquor popular with the Greeks and it packs a wallop.

“It will knock your socks off,” said Papagikos. “…and give you a taste of Greece.”

The Greek Festival is a popular event that grows each year. What started in the fellowship hall has overfl owed into the lawn and church property. There will be a larger playground for the children this year, as well as more vendors at the Greek Market. Take a little bit of Greece home from the fest. Pick up a few items at the Greek grocery market or the ever-expanding Grecian Marketplace.

“The markets are so popular, we are always looking for ways to add new vendors,” said Papagikos.

Looking for Greek god-like skin?

“We have added a new line of soaps this year that are made with things like goat’s milk and olive oil,” she added.

The raffle, a staple at Greek Fest every year, costs $5 per ticket. Tickets are drawn hourly for prizes and the grand prize is either $2,000 or two round-trip tickets to Athens, Greece.

On Friday , Sept. 6, local schools are invited to come and enjoy a meal and learn about the Greek culture.

“Last year more than 400 students from surrounding schools came to learn about the culture,” said Papagikos. “This way we are able to give back education-wise once a year. We love having them — we give them lunch, teach them to dance and enjoy sharing our culture with them. The Greeks are known for their fellowship and warmth. It is called filoxenia — fellowship, warmth and love — and that is definately something Greeks are known for.”

Not only does the Greek Fest open the hearts of the Greek community during the weekend of the festival, it builds a sense of purpose and community in the weeks and months leading up to the event — and it’s not just for the Greeks.

“It is amazing how many people from outside the church come to help with the fest,”” said Papagikos. “With all the different cultures blending in Fayetteville everyone longs to come to the Greek Fest. It is a place where everyone feels welcome and accepted. It is always a good time with lots of good food …you can’t help but walk away with a new Greek friend.”

The festival is held at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church at 615 Oakridge Dr. The festival starts on Friday around lunch time and runs through 10 p.m. Saturday the hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Call the church at 484-2010 for more information.

Photo: Fayetteville’s Greek population comes from all over Greece, according to Kelly Papagikos, wife of Father Alexander Papagikos at Sts. Helen and Constantine Greek Orthodox Church.

Memories are precious. Families spend substantial amounts of money to create memories. Powerful memories can elicit emotions years after the event occurred and some philosophers even hypothesize that memories are what make people individuals. Alzheimer’s, the incurable and unfortunately common disease, robs people of their memories and ability to function.

Alzheimer’s is the nation’s sixth leading cause of death, but communities across this nation have banded together in support of research, care, support and pursuing the end of Alzheimer’s. The largest organization in the nation that supports this fight against Alzheimer’s is The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and on Sept. 8 local residents will join the fight as they walk to raise money for the cause.

Since 1989, this organization has been walking and has grown from the first 1,249 walkers to last year’s astounding 39,000 participating teams nationwide. Susan Thomas, the walk coordinator, says that this year, “Fayetteville hopes to have 40 teams walking on Sept. 8 and plans to raise $25,000. All monies raised support the Alzheimer’s Association mission to advance research, enhance care and support and advocate for Alzheimer’s disease on both local and national levels.”

However the knowledge of the money raised pales in comparison to knowing how this association is helping individuals. Thomas comments that the most rewarding part of this fundraiser is “Meeting all the people that Alzheimer’s has affected. Hearing every individual and unique story about some amazing and inspiring people … caregivers, family members, friends and meeting those people who have recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.”

Alzheimer’s has a wide reach; it is not even regulated by age. It could affect anyone in the community. That is why it is so pertinent that the entire community band together and contribute to finding a cure for all of its members. Thomas says that the most important way for the community to support this great initiative is to “come out on Sept. 8 and either walk or volunteer.”

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place on Sept. 8, with a starting point at The Cottages at North Ramsey, 120 Nandia Court. The walk starts at 9 a.m. Registration is both online at www.alz.org/walk and at the walk itself. Registration opens and 9 a.m. and the walk and the opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. Fo more information, Susan Thomas can be contacted at 703-2390 or Susan. Thomas@Century-Care.com. The website www.alz.org can provide more information.

The Department of Defense continues to support the popular Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program,which provides up to $4,000 (over 2 years) of financial assistance for military spouses who are pursuing degree programs, licenses, or credentials leading to employment in portable career fields, with several key changes in eligibility and dollar amounts. Here is a summary of the changes:

• Be available to spouses of active-duty service members in pay grades E1-E5, W1-W2 and O1-O2 including the spouses of activated Guard and teserve members within those ranks. Spouses of Guard and reserve members must be able to start and complete their courses while their sponsor is on Title 10 orders.

• Offer a maximum financial benefit of $4,000 with a fiscal year cap of $2,000. Waivers will be available for spouses pursuing licensure or certification up to the total maximum assistance of $4,000.

• Require military spouses to finish their program of study within three years from the start date of the first course.

• Be limited to associate degrees, certification and licensures.

The MyCAA program does not include Coast Guard spouses.

MyCAA Financial Assistance pays tuition for education and training courses and licensing/credentialing fees. This includes state certifications for teachers, medical professionals and other occupations requiring recognized certifications; licensing exams and related prep courses; Continuing Education Unit classes including those offered through professional associations; and degree programs leading to employment in Portable Career Fields. MyCAA also pays for high-school completion courses, GED tests and English as a Second Language classes.

• MyCAA does not pay for education and training programs that include computers; application, graduation or membership fees; student activity cards; childcare; parking; transportation; or medical services.

• If a spouse enrolls in a course without an approved MyCAA Financial Assistance document, the spouse will be responsible for paying course costs.

• MyCAA does not provide reimbursements of any kind to spouses for any reason.

• MyCAA FA payments are made directly to schools using MyCAA’s electronic invoicing system. Eligible spouses can establish a MyCAA Account by visiting the MyCAA website at https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa. Once spouse profile information is provided, MyCAA will verify spouse DEERS benefit eligibility.

Eligible spouses will be allowed to create the Career and Training Plan and request FA when within 30 days of course start dates. Additionally, spouses are responsible for applying to their selected school or program and enrolling in each course included in their approved MyCAA Career and Training Plan.

Military spouses can help themselves by:

•Visiting www.careeronestop.org to explore Portable Career Fields and find schools that have programs of study leading to licenses, certificates and degrees

.• Finding their school in the MyCAA website using the School Search function. If the desired school is not listed, follow the directions shown at the end of the School Search.

• Establishing and managing their MyCAA Account at https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa, use MyCAA resources to create a Career and Training.

During Colonial times, the social event of visiting one’s neighbors provided not only entertainment, but also the opportunity to share news of the day. How guests were received and welcomed in the home was an important aspect of society.

The concept of warm hospitality is extended today to visitors to and residents to Fayetteville through the efforts of the Fayetteville Area Hospitality Association, a group of hoteliers, restaurants and service-oriented businesses and organizations who work together “to promote hospitality and community awareness and involvement.”

“We are a nonprofit organization of committed businesses promoting tourism, social welfare and quality of life by improving the quality and variety of food, lodging and recreational areas for travelers and local residents,” said Ramona Moore, president of the group. “The organization stays up on matters that may affect our industry or our community, such as the recent possibility of decreasing the per diem rate for our area.”

Moore, who has been with the organization for more than 20 years, explained that the nonprofit has been around since the ‘70s.

“It was the Hotel-Motel Association originally. We have expanded our qualifications for membership, and we changed the name to the Fayetteville Area Hospitality Association.”

The three different categories of membership include fi rms that provide hosting, like restaurants and lodging facilities; companies that provide a service, such as an exterminating company or rental car company, and entertainment, including recreation and sport, which would comprise groups like FireAntz Hockey and Fayetteville SwampDogs teams or the Crown Coliseum that might seek membership.“

We meet at 12:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month,” Moore said, “and we have an educational program at each meeting that the host that particular month provides, something of interest to our industry. It’s a luncheon meeting. We network with each other. We share any news having to do with our industry, and we always have a guest speaker.”

The meetings are hosted at a different place each month, depending on who hosts it; for example, a full-service hotel may host it at its facilities, or a CVB or other group might hold it at a restaurant that has a private meeting room.

In addition to supporting tourism, FAHA works to improve the quality of life in the community. The organization hosts an annual charity golf tournament, held the last two years in September. Groups that have benefi ted from the tournament include the Fayetteville Police Foundation, The Cancer Center, the Stanton House, the Boys and Girls Club, Make a Wish Foundation, the Wounded Warrior Project and for the past few years, the Falcon Children’s Home and Kidsville News! Foundation. Funding comes from membership dues.

“If the CVB has a special group coming to Fayetteville and they may need some extra funding to provide some portion of the visit, they may come to FAHA and ask us to make a donation,” said Moore. “We don’t have anything set except for our annual golf tournament that we do every year. Everything else is as it comes along. We just made a large contribution to Mark Wilderman, operations manager/sales of the Fayetteville SwampDogs, who suffered burns [as a result of an explosion in the concession building of J.P. Riddle Stadium in May]. He’s a good friend of our industry. We made a contribution to him of $1,000 for the special clothing that he’s going to need for a while.”

Other charitable contributions include a $1,000 to the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Scholarship Pageant, quarterly contributions to the USO and several others throughout the years. Monies raised from the golf tournament helped pay off the mortgage on the first Stanton Hospitality House of the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation, which provides accommodations to family members while loved ones receive treatment at area hospitals. The organization also works the Salvation Army Angel Tree at Cross Creek Mall as a group.

Moore noted that many of the things it does do not receive a lot of publicity.“A lot of people don’t know about our organization or what we’re about.”

For more information about FAHA, contact the organization at fay.area.hosp@gmail.com.

When a patient is having a heart attack, nearly 85 percent of the damage occurs within the first two hours. That’s why hospitals work so hard to get patients to the cath lab as quickly as possible.

Recently Cape Fear Valley Health added special equipment to its ambulances that can cut this time dramatically. The LIFENET system, purchased with a $76,640 grant from the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation, allows paramedics to transmit EKGs to emergency department physicians in real time. The goal is to reduce time to treatment, known as door-to-balloon time, for patients who experience a dangerous type of heart attack known as STEMI (ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction).

D2B time refers to the interval from patient arrival at the hospital to infl ation of the balloon catheter within the patient’s blocked artery — the shorter the D2B time, the greater the chance of survival.

This equipment made a real difference for 80-year-old Phillip Outterbridge, who lives in western Cumberland County. Outterbridge’s D2B time was an incredible 12 minutes. A 90-minute D2B time has become a core quality measure for hospitals nationwide.

It all started when Outterbridge suddenly became weak, started sweating and became short of breath. The pain in this chest was unrelenting. A widower who lives alone, he called his neighbor, Marion White, to drive him to the hospital. “Phillip called me and told me he wasn’t feeling good,” said White. “He was sweating and couldn’t breathe. I knew the right thing to do was to call 911. I’m not a doctor or nurse, but I knew from my first-aid training in the military that it could be a heart attack.”

First responders from Fayetteville Fire Department’s Station 8 arrived first. Shortly thereafter, EMS arrived and paramedics hooked Outterbridge up to the 12-lead EKG at 1:22 p.m. The Emergency Department physician could see the EKG in real time, and a code STEMI was called at 1:23 p.m. The paramedics began treatment en route to the hospital.

Once the ambulance arrived at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center’s ambulance garage, paramedics took the patient directly up the express elevator to the cath lab where Dr. Ginn, an interventional cardiologist, and the cath team were waiting.

Dr. Ginn already knew what to expect. He was able to read the patient’s EKG sent from the fi eld to his smart phone, so he knew the blockage was located in the right coronary artery, the vessel that supplies blood to the bottom part of the heart. That advance knowledge led to the incredible 12-minute D2B time.

Thanks to Cape Fear Valley’s electronic medical record, Dr. Ginn was also able to pull up Outterbridge ’s previous medical records before the patient even arrived at the hospital. That gave Dr. Ginn additional information he could use in planning Outterbridge’s treatment.

White’s decision to call 911 probably saved Outterbridge’s life. Too many people take a “wait-and-see” approach when faced with warning signs of a heart attack — and that can be a fatal mistake.

Outterbridge says, “Dr. Ginn told me I got there in the nick of time. He told me I should go home and hug my neighbor.” And Outterbridge did just that.

If you would like to be a part of saving lives, Friends of the Heart Center invites you to our fi rst In Step with the Beat Dance. This dance features beach music by the Entertainers. This event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 8-11p.m. at SkyView on Hay in downtown Fayetteville. Tickets for the event are $50 per person and include the entertainment, heart-healthy hors d’oeuvres and beverages. For more information, tickets or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rachel Richardson at (910) 615-1449 or rrich2@capefearvalley.com. Come get your Shag on and help save more lives!

Photo: Paramedics can now transmit life-saving EKGs to the emergency department in real time.

Four years ago I was asked to take the helm of an organization then known as the Cumberland County Business Council. In doing so, I was given a charge — solidify the organization’s economic-development role and return it to profi tability. In July 2008, the CCBC became known as the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce. With that name change came a renewed focus on leveraging the build-up that came with BRAC and the arrival of the U.S. Forces Command and the U.S. Army Reserve Command. Our community has fared well despite the struggles of our national economy. Currently, the chamber is in its third consecutive year of profi tability. Our financial struggles were plenty, and the challenge of cutting expenses a mighty task. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of staff and volunteer leadership alike, we’re rebuilding our reserves and have stopped spending money anywhere but where necessary.

Our work won’t stop there. Last year, on the heels of BRAC completion, we engaged the nationally renowned firm of Garner Economics to conduct a comprehensive review of our economic-development strategy, our organizational structure and many other attributes that make up our unified chamber/economic development brand. Thanks to an engaged board and a thoughtful vision, our economic-development effort has become its own autonomous entity, surrounded by a well-trained, experienced, professional development staff and — for the first time in years — a dedicated board.

We learned a lot from the Garner Report. We learned that we can’t be all things to all people. We came to understand that we can do better. We confirmed that there’s a bigger role for the chamber than solely being the community’s “industry recruiter.”

We had not served our membership as well as we we could have, as our focus had been on shoring up finances and building relationships with local government. We sold value-added benefit as the primary value of membership, rather than serving our members by being their collective voice on business-related legislative issues.

We also learned about perception, finding that a surprising number of people were confused about the chamber and its relationship with local government. Some thought that, because the city and county funded the economic-development effort, they were funding the chamber and its operations. Government does not fund the Chamber of Commerce. Government funds the marketing of our community and the economic-development effort that strives to retain the jobs we already have and attract new jobs and investment to the area. In reality, the chamber’s financial woes were brought by the organization subsidizing economic development, and overspending revenue caused by shuttering the former Fayetteville Area Economic Development Corporation and the stream of private revenue it contributed to the economic-development effort.

Your chamber is not an arm of local government. We are not a franchise of the U.S. Chamber or the North Carolina Chamber. We are as unique and local as our community itself, and we’re driven by the leadership of our investors. The chamber’s name has suffered because of attacks on the economic-development effort. We must rebuild both brands.

So where are we today? We are poised to emerge as the region’s chief business advocacy organization, and will stand tall on regulatory issues that impede the area’s ability to grow, add jobs, investment and create a higher quality of life. We’re stepping into the corner of businesses who are fighting the daily battle to make payroll, deal with government bureaucracy and understand complex, burdensome regulations.

In addition, your chamber will strengthen our foundation as a champion for small business. Coming will be new and improved management-assistance programs and seminars, an academy to assist those interested in serving in public offi ce and countless other programs all deisnged to promote small-business development, survival and growth. Further, we will expand our current offerings, including exclusive, member-only discounts; a cost-saving health insurance program; expanded networking opportunities to connect people and businesses.

Among the discussions currently taking place is the creation of a business incubator to help strengthen emerging businesses by sharing overhead costs, support and expertise. We are also identifying opportunities to better engage our members to ensure we’re meeting their expectations. We understand that small businesses have limited resources and are often left weighing the value of membership versus increasing fuel prices for their delivery vehicle. We get it. As a wise man recently told me, when times are tough, small businesses need their chamber more than ever before. We’re stepping up to the plate. Expect great things.