The Fayetteville SwampDogs have enjoyed another stellar first-half of the season this year, cementing themselves as one of the premiere clubs in the Coastal Plain League. Fans have poured into “The Swamp” consistently from the start of the summer, and look forward to an even better second half of the campaign.

Team USA was in town on June 25, giving fans an opportunity to see the elite collegiate talent in the country play against the SwampDogs in front of a rau-cous crowd. The Dogs impressed throughout the game, proving that they can compete with any level of competition.

The July 3 Fireworks Extravaganza was the biggest and brightest show the team has had yet, with fans piling into “The Swamp” to catch the action that followed the game. The annual event has become a staple in the Fayetteville-area social calendar, as thousands of loyal SwampDogs fans once again came out to show their support of the team.

Fayetteville will play three home games in the next week, beginning with Opening Night Part Deux on July 5, where fans can relive some of the best sequels of all time. The first 500 fans receive a souvenir team photo on July 7, with Guaranteed Win Night on July 10, where fans will receive a free general admission ticket to the next game if the SwampDogs lose.

As always, the Miller Lite Liberty Lounge will be open with dollar beers, hot dogs and hamburgers all night long.

Photo: The SwampDogs are enjoying a great season this year.

Rock of Ages (Rated PG-13) 4 Stars

Adam Shankman was the genius that directed the Prop 8 musical short (if you haven’t seen it do yourself a favor and Google it. I promise you won’t regret it). However, that genius did not translate into an awesome adaptation of the popular off-Broadway musical, Rock of Ages (123 minutes). If you like musicals, you will like this. Just keep in mind that the material is in no way transcendent. Also, in my version of the film Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand spent a lot more time making out. And Mary J. Blige was an actual character instead of an afterthought.

Picture 1987 in your head. You are probably picturing denim and bad hairstyles. If you can imagine watching that for two hours while sitting in a karaoke bar having its “Dinosaurs of Rock” night, you don’t actually need to see the movie. But maybe you are dying to see a country singer and a would-be Menudo member pretending to be hard rockers? Or maybe you want to see Tom Cruise grabbing women and being both gross and shirtless? Well then, this is the movie for you.

Sherrie Christian (Julianne Hough) is a wide-eyed innocent from Oklahoma. Her dream of becoming a famous singer leads her to L.A., where she meets bar-tender Drew Boley (Diego Boneta). He wants to be a singer too! They have some much in common! Predictable love story ensues, which I watch intently in order to hear a few moments of “Don’t Stop Believing,” the best Journey song ever.

After a bit of back and forth, Sherrie gets a job working at the same club as Drew, which is owned by Dennis Dupree (Baldwin) and Lonny Barnett (Brand). They need the extra help because they’re hosting the final concert of Stacee Jaxx (Cruise). Too bad the Mayor (Bryan Cranston) has his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) are picketing the club in an effort to rid L.A. of its corrupting influence.

The night of the big show arrives and the opening act is a no-show. Since Drew is too much of a wimp to speak up, Sherrie carpe diems by convincing the owners to give her a shot at realizing her dream of becoming a singer. Or at least that’s what would happen in a movie a bit more female friendly. In fact, she gets the owners to let Drew have a shot and wanders around humming “Stand by Your Man.”

Before the show, a reporter (Malin Ackerman, continuing her efforts to make us forget the one cool role she had in Watchmen) arrives to interview Jaxx. The entire female cast falls over at the mere sight of Jaxx and she is no exception. This is extremely irritating to me. Even more irritating is the way that Cruise is paid huge amounts of money to act crazy on film when it doesn’t require him to act at all.

Drew misinterprets a moment between Jaxx and his girlfriend, and then unleashes a misogynistic onslaught all over her. This rejection leads her to recommit to pursuing her dream for about five minutes, but then she gives up when she doesn’t become an instant singing sensation. Meanwhile, Drew descends into the seedy underbelly of a Boy Band factory.

As Drew is drawn further and further into the degradation of pop-rap and multi-colored oversized shirts, Sherrie decides to work at a strip club where the ladies do pole tricks that must be the envy of even the most creative Cirque du Soleil gymnast.

Overall, if you’re anything at all like me, you will sing along to the songs dur-ing the movie, and consider buying the soundtrack while planning to listen to it only when you are alone. I mean, this was no Jesus Christ Superstar, but it wasn’t bad.

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

Ways to Enjoy the Summer

Enjoying a breezy spring day or the warm summer temperatures don’t have to be a dis-tant memory for seniors and caregivers. After being cooped up in the house for possibly months at a time, senior adults can breathe in the fresh air, even if they are experiencing mo-bility problems. It takes some advance plan-ning and choosing an activity that won’t seem like a chore, but it’s worth getting out of the house, for you and your elderly parent.

The benefits of getting outside

A main advantage of heading outdoors, even for a short period of time, is being able to soak up the sunlight, which generates Vitamin D — necessary for brain, bones and muscle function. Some doctors even prescribe sunlight as a source of Vitamin D, which research also finds can improve cognitive function.

Another key benefit is that being outside enables elders to socialize and interact with caregivers as well as other adults, children and animals. Those activities can give people an extra spring in their step and rejuvenate them.

Although caregivers may be aware of the benefits, sometimes it seems as if the obstacles, such as wheelchair access, bathroom access, frailty and fatigue are too great to overcome the great outdoors.

Caregivers can start to prepare elders with mobility problems to take the steps to head outside. Your physician can suggest chair exercises to increase stability and build muscles.

Even though the temperatures may be pleasant, it’s also important to make sure an elderly family member stays well hydrated; if not, it can impact muscle function and blood pressure and lead to a dangerous situation.

Types of outdoor activities for caregivers and seniors

Instead of being overwhelmed by the potential challenges, focus on activities and interests that you and the elderly person you’re caring for enjoy.

Here are 10 suggestions:

• Catch a sporting event. Watching a grandchild’s soccer game or attending a professional game, like baseball.

• Fish for fun. For folks who enjoy fishing, you can cast a rod from a pier or other location, even if someone is wheelchair bound.

• Be a tourist. Take a tour of our town to see the local sites.

• Take a dip. For some folks, it may just be putting a foot in the pool, while others may be able to handle low-impact water aerobics.

• Stroll around. If a walk is possible, start slow with a few minutes and build that time steadily.

• Be a bird lover. Checking on a birdfeeder daily can give seniors a reason to go outside.

•Pedal around. Rent a three-wheeled bicycle, which are easier to mount and ride, and also could offer back support.

• Go fly a kite. Head to a park or beach and get a kite soaring. Let a senior individual take control, which they can do while sitting down. If children are around, they can get involved by trying to keep the kite in the air.

• Picnic outdoors. Seniors can watch children run around or enjoy the buzz of outdoor activity at a park or playground

.• Celebrate the holidays. From Fourth of July fireworks to Labor Day concerts, there are plenty of community events this summer with opportunities for seniors to get out and be part of the crowd.

All of these events are available in the Cumberland County area. Just check out Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: There are many benefits to getting out and enjoying the summer weather.

Pews to Polls? Not on Sunday

Voting on Sunday? You’ve got to be kidding me! I can’t wait to see the position our North Carolina Legislature takes on this issue. Wow!

Hatching ideas like this it’s no wonder Cumberland County gets little respect from our peers in Raleigh. After all, with voter turnout during local, state and national elections reaching all –time highs in new lows, the notion that residents in Fayetteville and Cumberland County need an extra day or two to get to the polls defies logic.Despite ardent declarations and assurances from some community leaders, like NAACP President Jimmy Buxton, that this request is not just a cheap political maneuver, reeks of the contrary.

No intelligent, responsible citizen is buying this “pews-to-polls” initiative does not have political undertones. One would have to be blind not to see how this maneuver would, and could artifi cially manipulate the outcomes of local elections. Even though the Cumberland County Board of Elections voted two to one to approve this recommendation, the notion still defi es basic logic from a practical point of view. Practical –not religious point of view as Republican board member Ralph Reagan suggested.

Reagan was the one dissenting vote. When common sense logic is applied the notion just can’t stand up to scrutiny.

Case in point: If you are under 40 years old, you probably do not remember when “blue laws” were in effect and pretty much the law of the land in America – especially here in North Carolina and the South. Believe it or not there was a time when the Sabbath was recognized and respected as a holy day. God’s day. A day of rest. It was a time when churches were opened on Sunday and businesses were closed. Americans could choose to take a “time out” from their jobs and everyday routines and worship with family and friends. Ahhh, the good ole days!

Now, fast forward to present day when blue laws have pretty much disappeared across the American landscape, with the exception of government offices and Chick-fil-A. I see little evidence of America returning to the days when the secular population yields and respects the holy day.

My point is this: The reason blue laws became extinct is because the people, by their actions, demonstrated that they wanted to have the option to work, shop and do what they wanted to do on Sunday. This being said, there has been absolutely no demonstration by residents for the need to vote on Sunday – only from political activists. More importantly, and most disturbing, is the fact that this proposed option would be fiscally irresponsible, costing Cumberland County taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.

With Cumberland County in a recession and unemployment at more than 9 percent, reckless spending of taxpayer’s money on a whim of convenience is totally irresponsible. I’m convinced Sunday voting would be a waste of time and money. Below, I have listed comments solicited from local community residents on the topic. You be the judge.

• Current voting times are fair and equal for all citizens.

• Early voting times are fair and equal for all citizens. Everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to vote.

• Sunday voting would prove to be designed and utilized by only a small segment of our community.

• Sunday voting intrudes on and disrespects the rights of Cumberland County employees and election officials.

• There is no documented need for Sunday voting except from self-serving political activists.

• Asking Cumberland County employees, who are paid to serve all Cumberland County residents, to give up their private time and work for the convenience of a few is irresponsible and discriminatory.

• Opening the Board of Election offi ces on Sunday will be expensive, costing Cumberland County taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars needlessly.

There you have it. Again, you can be the judge. However, if Cumberland County officials endorse Sunday voting it will show a conspicuous hypocrisy toward fiscal responsibility. Leadership? That’s always been a problem here. We’ll see.

In the meantime, thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly and don’t forget to VOTE for Best of Fayetteville. Now online.

While sitting in one’s own backyard grilling with friends and neighbors would make for a delightful Independence Day, for those who want to go out and celebrate with the town, the local community offers incredible opportunities.

For those looking to start the party a little early, the N.C. Symphony offers a perfect opportunity on July 1. The symphony will perform its annual patriotic concert in Festival Park as a gift to the community. The free performance will be followed by traditional fi reworks and a silent tribute to veterans with Liberty Luminaries sponsored by the Pilot Club all along Ray Ave.

Dunn is also offering an early celebration with their Patriotic Explosion to be held on July 1. Festivities are presented by Central Baptist and will begin at 7 p.m. with music and a dramatic performance by the CBC choir and drama team. There will be free hotdogs and fi reworks at dark.

The town of Hope Mills; however, is celebrating all day on Independence Day. A parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the Hope Mills Municipal Park. The route begins at Hope Mills Middle School and ends at the park. Immediately following the parade, it is time for the annual Party in the Park. The party includes food, games, vendors, live entertainment, cheerleading exhibitions, competitions and of course ... fireworks. Both events are free and open to the public. Find out more at www.townofhopemills.com.

But to no one’s surprise the military provides the biggest celebration, which was recognized as the Best Independence Day bash in the whole of the Southeast by visitsouth.com in 2010, This year’s celebration is sure to please. The gates open at 3 p.m. with Kiddieland and food vendors offering snacks and entertainment. At 3:45 p.m. Tyler Hilton performs, followed by Natalie Stovall at 5 p.m. Then the acclaimed U.S. Army Special Operations Command Black Daggers parachute demonstration team is scheduled to drop in at 6 p.m., followed by a concert by Gloriana. At 7:45 p.m. the senior commander will speak, and the evening portion of the festivities begins with the National Anthem and flag ceremony. A patriotic event of this magnitude would not be complete without a performance by the 82nd Division All American Band featuring the 1812 overture with live cannon fire.

Finally, the evening comes to an end with a spectacular fireworks display, which is scheduled to run from 9:42 to 10 p.m. providing for a long day stuffed with patriotic fun.

For those early birds, an early morning run to honor veterans will be held by the RWB Team. The 4th of July Fun Flag Run will be held on July 4 at 8:30 a.m. at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. It is unoffi cial and there will be no sign ups. People are encouraged to just show up in patriotic garb and participate to support veterans.

The North Carolina Symphony will present classic American favorites to celebrate Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of Fayetteville on July 1 at Festival Park.

The celebration begins at 8 p.m., with a special posting of the colors by the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry. Mayor Anthony G. Chavonne and elected offi cials will read a 250th anniversary proclamation.

“The Fayetteville 250th celebration is an opportunity for our citizens to celebrate and commemorate our 250 years as a city, which is an exciting occasion for the community,” Mayor Tony Chavonne said. “Starting July 1 with the N.C. Symphony event, the community can participate in events that not only celebrate and commemorate the city’s sestercentennial, but educate residents about Fayetteville’s history. The sale of commemorative edition Fayetteville 250th coins offers citizens the ability to purchase a keepsake to forever remember this special time in Fayetteville’s history.”

The purpose of the 250th anniversary celebration is to celebrate, educate and commemorate. Fayetteville is planning a series of events between July 1 and November 3 that will allow citizens to come together and celebrate, to take advantage of the various historical tours designed to educate the citizens on Fayetteville’s rich history and occasions for the community to come together and commemorate this milestone. There will be events to spark the wide range of interest of the community such as architectural tours. The Independence Day concert is one of many events to come.

“The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County is proud to partner with the City of Fayetteville and Reed-Lallier Chevrolet to present this community’s Independence Day celebration. The North Carolina Symphony will perform patriotic music in Festival Park followed by glorious fi reworks. It promises to be an exciting evening for the whole family!” said Mary Kinney, marketing director, Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County.

The Indepedence Day concert will present a good, old-fashioned salute to the red, white and blue with patriotic favorites and high-spirited classics honoring the U.S.A. on its birthday. Eager concertgoers will have the best seats for some of the state’s biggest Fourth of July firework displays. This concert is part of the Concerts in Your Community, a gift to the people of North Carolina to launch the Symphony’s 80th year of service to the state. With 80 years of experience, the N.C. Symphony knows how to put on a show.

Music Director Grant Llewellyn is known throughout the world as a musician of great talent, versatility and passion. Llewellyn has brought “transcendent performances” with his “graceful and expressive direction.”

This free concert celebration will include patriotic and tried and true American favorites. The line up includes: “The Star-Spangled Banner”, “Semper Fidelis March”, “South Pacifi c: Symphonic Scenario”, “American Eagle Waltz”, “Superman March”, “Hymn to the Fallen” from Saving Private Ryan, “Servicemen on Parade”, “Olympic Fanfare”, “The Dam Busters March”, “A Trumpeter’s Lullaby”, “American Fantasie” and “Sing Along, America!”

The performance of these songs are sure to spark a note within the hearts of Fayetteville’s community and instill a stronger pride to be American. Enjoy the light-hearted beats and powerful songs that were the anthems this great country was built on. Not only can the community take pride in being American this Independence Day, citizens can also take pride in living in Fayetteville. Fayetteville is a unique place with a rich history all it’s own.

In 1775, a group of 55 local patriots met in Cross Creek, present day Fayetteville, to sign what has commonly become known as the Liberty Resolves, a document, which pledged their lives and fortunes in the furtherance of American Independence.

Fayetteville was the birth place of many history-making decisions. During the convention of 1789 held in Fayetteville, leaders ratified the U.S. Constitution, chartered the first public university and ceded her western lands to form the state of Tennessee.

The history of Fayetteville is a complex one. Cumberland County was formed in 1754 from Bladen County and the first courthouse was established in present day Linden. In 1756, John Newberry built a gristmill near present day Green Street and Maiden Lane. The mill became a genesis for the village of Cross Creek, which developed in the area of present day downtown Fayetteville. Although Cross Creek was never officially chartered, in 1762 the colonial general assembly charters land on the west side of the Cape Fear River and named the 100 acres Campbellton. By virtue of this official charter in 1762, Fayetteville is celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2012. The town of Fayetteville received its name later. In 1778, Cross Creek and Campbellton combined as Upper and Lower Campbellton. Finally, in 1783 Upper and Lower Campbellton were joined to create Fayetteville.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, numbered, limited-edition 250th anniversary coins will be sold. One side bears the city seal in the center surrounded by the words “Fayetteville 1762-2012 Sestercentennial” The reverse side features ripples, symbolic of the Cape Fear River and a long leaf pine, both pivotal resources in the development of Fayetteville.

Each coin is numbered 1- 250 and is displayed in a special wood presentation box with the 250th anniversary logo on the lid. The coin comes with a certifi cate of authenticity signed by the mayor. Reservations to purchase the coins can be made beginning July 1 at the N.C. Symphony concert. The coins sell for $75. The money raised from the coins will go to fund a lasting tribute to the 250th anniversary.
After July 1, the 250th anniversary coins can be purchased at the Fayetteville Transportation and Local History Museum located at 325 Franklin St. in downtown Fayetteville. Citizens are asked to call before coming to the museum to purchase a coin. The museum staff can be reached by calling 433-1457, 433-1458 or 433-1944.

Be a part of this historical celebration by attending the Independence Day concert brought to you by the N.C. Symphony and be on the look out for events to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Fayetteville.

Photo: Reservations for this 250th Anniversay commemorative coin can be made July 1, during the Symphony concert.

In a town of people, most of whom have military connections, it is only fitting that the local service organizations take action to honor them. On July 1, the Fayetteville Pilot Club, a global international organization of executives, businesses and professional leaders working together to improve the quality of life in local communities and throughout the world, will salute the men and women who serve in the armed forces by lining Ray Avenue with Liberty Luminaries following a performance of patriotic music by the North Carolina Symphony and a finale of fireworks.

Nettie McQueen, a member of the Pilot Club, explains the inspiration for the event as the club has been doing it for the past few years.

“For a long time we were looking for different ways to honor the military, to celebrate all they’ve done for us,” said McQueen. “It sort of evolved from one project to another. We just borrowed ideas from other pilot clubs around the state. Many of them do luminaries for different things and we just decided it would be a good way to do our project for them, and it kind of grew.”

As with any event, the fi rst attempt did not go smoothly. McQueen recalls the first Liberty Luminaries the Pilot Club held in honor of Memorial Day.

“It was small at first, and our first one was down by the Airborne Museum. We barely got them lit and we had a huge thunderstorm,” she recalled.

In a stroke of serendipity, the misfortune of the Memorial Day weather that continually befell the program lead to a partnership that improved the event. “One (Liberty Luminaries) we had to postpone. We started out on Memorial Day and again the weather was a real problem so we ended up closer to July, and then we found out the symphony does a patriotic concert down at Festival Park, and they do fireworks afterwards and it just seemed like a perfect combination. A good way to end the evening with a silent tribute after all the music and fireworks,” said McQueen.

As a whole, the luminaries stretch out across the park in a beautiful and often touching display of light, but each individual luminary also contains the symbolism of the celebration. McQueen explains, “…the light inside the luminaries refl ects the gratitude we feel towards the military for giving us the freedoms that we have. We wouldn’t have a birthday if we didn’t have people who fought for it. The red, white and blue ribbons at the top of the luminaries represent their service to our country.”

The Pilot Club also allows people to honor specifi c individuals by purchasing a luminary in their name for $5, which is the most touching part of the event McQueen says. “It will be a wonderful silent tribute that will end a lovely evening.”

Forms to purchase luminaries are available at www. pilotclubfayetteville.org. The event will be held on July 1, on Ray Avenue from 8:30 to 10 p.m., following a performance by The North Carolina Symphony and a fi reworks display.

Photo: On July 1, Liberty Luminaries will line Ray Avenue.

More often than not Bragg Boulevard gets a bad rap despite the fact that several businesses, cultural establishments and eateries are consistently recognized and voted “Best of” in our annual Best of Fayetteville Readership Survey. However, that image is changing as Bragg Blvd. slowly, but surely, is being revamped and revitalized with many new businesses and dwellings popping up. Residents and business owners are pleased with the progress and changes.

One of the newest developments on the boulevard is the luxury apartment complex, The Villagio which opened in 2011. At nearly 90% occupancy, it’s been such a success that local owner/developer Rajan Shamdasani is continuing his Bragg Blvd. revitalization efforts with an aggressive new venture, The Pallazzo. The Pallazzo will be a luxury commercial condominium style office complex.

Shamdasani has called Fayetteville home since he relocated here more than 44 years ago after being impressed with the area and the local hospitality he received here during his business trips. “Fayetteville is a phenomenal place” states Rajan, “and we have been so fortunate that this gracious community has embraced all of our endeavors.” Many people feel the same way including Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce President, Doug Peters, who said it’s refreshing to see such a strong commitment to local economic development as Rajan’s and to actually share in the excitement of watching his dream become a reality. Like many others in the community Peters feels that the Shamdasani family is a major force in encouraging and driving investment into our region. “Rajan Shamdasani represents not only a variety of businesses in the community but also a family with great vision, values and commitment. Shamdasani’s passion for the Fayetteville community is clear and evidenced by his actions as an entrepreneurial pioneer developing, and redeveloping, the Bragg Boulevard corridor.” says Peters.

It will be impressive. The 32,523 sf Pallazzo complex will be high-end office condos offering local businesses luxury office accommodations with amenities commonly found in larger metropolitan cities. Amenities like WIFI throughout, a luxurious and spacious lobby, several large meeting rooms and an enchanting roof top garden complete with a walking trail. It’s commercial office space but, like residential condos, the tenants can own their own customized space and build equity in their investment.

To create The Pallazzo, Shamdasani gathered input from local businesses and community leaders about how to best meet the needs of the tenants. His vision, along with the painstaking evaluation of ideas from four architectural firms, resulted in its unique style and will speak volumes to showcase our businesses, community and future economic development partners.

Everyone is excited about the project. “This is going to be the only office building in Fayetteville with a roof garden complete with a walking trail and a covered area,” said Project Manager Dee Taylor. “You can have picnic tables and can eat out or even have meetings up there. We are looking to revitalize the area as well as go green and this is the common sense way to do it. It will be good for people who work there, good for the environment and it just makes sense. It will be something you just don’t see in Fayetteville, yet.” Taylor added that even though there are detailed conceptual drawings, initial tenants/owners who purchase early will have a greater opportunity to provide design input to customize their space. “This a great opportunity and investment for anyone who needs office space - doctors, lawyers, contractors, you name it,” said Taylor. “As we know what tenants are looking for we can accommodate their needs to make this a space perfectly suited to their needs.”

Rajan Shamdasani is planning a special reception on June 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Villagio to share his vision with local businesses and community leaders and provide them the opportunity to view the plans of the complex. It is this type of vision and investment that keeps our community growing.

Photo: Rajan Shamdasani's vision of the Palazzo.

Prometheus (Rated R) 5 Stars

I don’t deny that Prometheus(124 minutes) was entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed it and for the most part I liked the actors. However, as much as director Ridley Scott might deny that the film is a direct prequel to the Aliens franchise, there are several callbacks to the 1979 original that muddle the distinction. While the film was originally conceived as a prequel, when the writers started fiddling with the script and rearranging details there was a concerted effort to move away from the narrative arc of the first two films. For example, the use of the “space jockey” discovered by Ripley and crew in the first part of the original film.

This sort of prequel references the space-jockey image, but reinvents the scene. You will give yourself a headache trying to figure out how the space jockey in this film becomes the space jockey found in the original, so it may be best to just think of this as Ridley Scott’s Evil Dead II. He reimagined his ideas, reinvented his creature, rebooted the franchise and left plenty of room for a sequel. So, Prometheus is modeled on the same universe and uses some of the same locations and imagery, but is a stand-alone film that does not lead directly into Alien.

The film opens on a humanoid, and, in a pretty cool scene, his disintegration leads into the opening credits. The next scene offers a beautiful perspective on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, and a helpful time stamp marks the year as 2089. Archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) have discovered a bad plot device — the latest in series of ancient star maps shared amongst several cultures that have no history of interaction. They pack up their copies of Chariots of the Gods and hop aboard the spaceship Prometheus to hunt for the planet shown in the star maps.

The Weyland Corporation is funding the expedition, and has thoughtfully supplied an android to look after the crew while they are in cryosleep. David, the android butler (Michael Fassbender), appears to have an unhealthy obsession with Lawrence of Arabia and his speech patterns resemble Hal’s from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Also, he has an irritating habit of speaking in quotes, muttering under his breath and acting independently. Nevertheless, he wakes the passengers without incident and all the expendable crew members don their red shirts and head into the briefing room. Corporate rep Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron, making some questionable acting choices) explains that the archaeologists and miscellaneous cast will explore the surface of the planet but will not engage with any creatures they find.

A group heads to the surface and finds a constructed dome of some kind that actually has an atmosphere breathable by humans. That’s all Charlie needs to know before immediately ignoring the risk of biological contamination or unknown atmospheric poisons and popping off his helmet. A smart crew would either quarantine him or lock him in the brig for criminal stupidity, but this one just follows his lead, popping off their helmets and wandering around the unexplored edifice of uncertain purpose.

David triggers some sort of black-box hologram that leads the explorers to a body and a room filled with jars. Of course, the group is immediately called back to the ship where shady people begin doing shady things. If you can’t trust the Weyland Corporation, who can you trust?

People start disappearing, and the secrets of the dome are slowly revealed. Overall, the film ends with more questions than answers, and is certainly interesting enough to earn a second look.

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

To say that Tom Quaintance, the artistic director of the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, is excited about the upcoming season at the CFRT is something of an understatement. Quaintance, who is going into his first full season as the artistic director, has been diligently working on putting the upcoming season together, and it’s one he believes is going to live up to the theatre’s new motto: Great stories told here.

“The vision for the new season came from working through the theme of the season — the whole idea of telling great stories on our stage,” said Quaintance.

To that end, he pulled together a play selection committee of people from within the community to help choose the plays for the upcoming season. The committee was comprised of members of the board, actors and other supporters of the theatre. Their mission was to take about a dozen plays chosen by Quaintance and then whittle the list down to fi ve for the upcoming season.

“We spent a lot of time talking about how these plays worked together to tell great stories in our community,” said Quaintance. “It is very important that the community feels a real ‘buy-in’ to this season. I wanted the community to know that these plays were not chosen independently of one another, and made a great effort to show a great breadth of appeal for the many different parts of the community. These plays all have different styles, and will have a vast appeal community-wide. The group was great, in that it gave me the opportunity to bounce ideas off people and to get their opinions.”

Quaintance is all too aware that he is the new kid on the block, and wanted to ensure that the community shared his vision for the theatre.

“We have had a very strong reaction from the community about the upcoming season,” said Quaintance. “They have expressed a lot of excitement about the selection of plays. I was very concerned that they didn’t see me as an outsider doing the selection of the plays — I did not want the season to be about me, but rather about the community, and on building on our position as one of the cultural leaders in the community.”

The following plays comprise the 2012-2013 CFRT season:

Jesus Christ Superstar

Sept. 21 - Oct. 7, 2012

Since its Broadway debut, this spectacular musical phenomenon has thrilled millions of theatergoers worldwide mesmerizing them with its passion, captivating them with its story and entrancing them with its anthemic title song. Quaintance is very excited about this show. He has wanted to do a production of this show since he was in graduate school. He noted the timing was perfect because he wanted to do the show during an election year.

Legally Blonde: The Musical

Jan. 24 - Feb. 10, 2013

Quaintance calls this a “big, bold show” that will be appreciated purely for its entertainment value. Based on the hit movie of the same name it’s so much fun it shouldn’t be legal! Sorority star Elle Woods doesn’t take “no” for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

The Parchman Hour

March 8 - 24, 2013

According to Quaintance, this show may be the most important show staged this year. The show, written by North Carolina native Mike Wiley, chronicles the first months of America’s civil rights movement when waves of young people, mostly college students, rode buses into the heart of the Deep South. Many were brutally attacked, arrested and imprisoned in Mississippi’s notorious Parchman Farm Penitentiary, where they invented an ingenious pastime to help them endure, a live variety show inspired by programs then popular on radio and television. Jokes, stories, singing and Bible readings sprang from every cell. This nightly event became known as The Parchman Hour. The play commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders’ journey from Washington, D.C., to New Orleans, La., during the heart of the Civil Rights era. The Parchman Hour embodies CRFT’s deepened focus on bringing its audiences accessible but challenging works that stimulate discussion even as they entertain. Quaintance sees this as a show that will generate conversation in Fayetteville.

Pride and Prejudice

April 19 - May 5, 2013

Jane Austen’s most popular novel, in this theatrical adaptation by Joseph Hanreddy and J.R. Sullivan. Mrs. Bennet will stop at nothing to obtain advantageous matches for her five middle-class daughters. As always, the CFRT will continue the tradition of staging The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, with school performances Dec. 4-14 and public performances Dec. 6-16.

The Classic Theatre Series Production will feature Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at FSU’s Seabrook Auditorium Feb. 28 - March 3, 2013. This show teams the CFRT with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, a partnership Quaintance is excited to explore.

For more information, visit www.cfrt.org.

Quick Action Needed

You thought this could never happen: You or a senior loved one has been the victim of a scam.

You need to get help now, before another dollar trickles away and your credit score takes a big hit.

Here are some key steps, according to legal experts:

• Contact the police. File a report with the police department in the area where the crime was committed.

• Get a copy of the police report. If you are unable to obtain a copy of the police report, be sure to get the report number.

• Close your accounts. If you notice any accounts under your name that have been tampered with or opened without your con-sent, close them immediately. Call each bank or company and then follow up in writing. If there are fraudulent charges or debts on your account or if a new account has been opened, you should immedi-ately file a fraud report with your bank’s fraud department. If you close an existing bank account and open a new one, be sure to cre-ate new PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) and passwords.

• Eliminate fraudulent new accounts. If a new account has been opened without your knowledge and consent, ask that company if it has a fraud department. If it does, file a fraud report with that department. If not, ask if the company will accept an ID Theft Affidavit from the Federal Trade Commission. You can print out an www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/resources/forms/affidavit.pdf [ID Theft Affidavit]. The FTC also provides www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/02/idtheft.shtm [more information on fraud].

• File a federal complaint. The Federal Trade Commission is the federal consum-er protection agency. The FTC, in conjunction with the FBI, maintains an Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse. The FTC aids identity theft investigations by collecting complaints from victims and sharing the information with law-enforcement agen-cies, credit bureaus, companies where the fraud took place and other government agencies. File at www.consumer.gov/idtheft [FTC complaint] or call 877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338).

• Initiate a fraud alert. Place a fraud alert on your credit file as well as review your credit report. This will prevent a thief from opening any more accounts in your name. You should contact the three major credit bureaus. Credit bureau contact information: Equifax, 800-525-6285; Experian, 888-397-3742; Transunion, 800-680-7289

• Follow-up. After you have a fraud alert included in your credit history, you are entitled to receive a free copy of your credit report from each of the credit bureaus. Request a copy and review your re-port for accounts you did not open, debts on your account that you did not know about, inquiries from companies you don’t know and inaccurate information.

The important thing to remember is that you’re not alone. It’s unfortunate, but scamming has become commonplace, and there’s no reason to be embarrassed. Acting quickly may prevent someone from going through the same thing. Law enforcement officials are experienced in handling cases such as yours, and they are sympathetic to your plight.

For seniors, family members and care givers can help, too, by serving as a second set of eyes and ears in a senior’s home. These individuals can be on the lookout for suspicious activity and assist seniors by sorting through junk mail, throwing out unwanted credit card offers and reminding older adults about other material that needs to be shredded before discarding.

For more information, visit: www.ago.ne.gov/resources/dyn/files/392571za5a5011a/_fn/AGO_IDTheftBroch_122910.pdf.

Photo: Scammers are equal opportunity crooks. Protect yourself.

There are a lot of things that get taken for granted in life, and for many people healthy teeth is one of them. But talk to any of the 37,000 patients who have participated in the North Carolina Missions of Mercy program since it started in 2003, and you will likely hear stories about good teeth gone bad and the sweet relief delivered by the selfless volunteers who man these mobile clinics. When the priority for the day is getting food and securing a place to sleep that night or when there just isn’t an extra $20 to buy groceries much less pay for a visit to the dentist, a toothache may have to wait. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of people in this situation.

On Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30, NCMOM, hosted by The Care Clinic, Better Health, and Operation Inasmuch is offering a free adult dental clinic at the Charlie Rose Agri-Expo Center. This event has been a long-time coming. Hours of volunteer work have been spent recruiting volunteers to work at the event, coordinating food for the workers and snacks and transportation for the patients — but there is still much to be done.

While the clinic provides space and equipment, local organizations have offered grants to pay for the expenses that NCMOM is unable to donate. Thanks to the North Carolina Dental Society, Florence Rogers Charitable Trust, Cumberland Community Foundation, Advised/Charitable Funds of Sammy and Carol Short, Lynette S. Green and Michael R. Green, Ray and Daphne Manning, Eleanor B. Manning and Marcia Gallina, patients are able to receive dental care at no charge during this event.

It all started with a story on the news last year showing people standing in line waiting for a chance to see a dental professional.

“We know we have a need here, too,” said Care Clinic Executive Director Cathy Ory. “(At the Care Clinic) we provide extractions to low-income uninsured people so we see the need,” said Ory. “Better Health provides emergency funding when they can. They get calls on this, too. Operation Inasmuch deals with the homeless and they see tremendous need for dental care. We started working on it and were able to persuade them to consider Fayetteville. It worked. We have a phenomenal community and many churches and organizations that are assisting.”

Judy Klinck is the Executive Director at Better Health. She is also a dental hygienist and has volunteered with NCMOM in the past. “I have seen this in action and it is remarkable what can be done in a mobile temporary clinic. This clinic meets a critical need in Cumberland County for people who do not have access to dental care. If you need care, don’t be dissuaded by the inconvenience of waiting in line — it will be worth it.”

At Operation Inasmuch, a smile is more than just a smile. “There is not enough dental care for the homeless in this town. They don’t have the income to go get dental care,” said Sue Byrd, executive director of Operation Inasmuch. “If you have a cavity and no money and no dental insurance, all you can do is get that tooth pulled. At this event they can get cavities filled and keep their tooth. This can be life changing to have a tooth repaired and not pulled. Having a healthy smile can sometimes mean the difference between getting a job and living on the street. If you have a mangled smile many businesses won’t hire you because they don’t want someone with a nasty mouth representing their business.”

People don’t always consider that a healthy mouth is part of overall good health.

“When C. Everett Koop was the Surgeon General he said that a person who is not in good oral health is not in good health,” said Klinck. “It has been researched and validated that poor dental health is related to heart diseases. It is critical that we have good dental care and health care for all our citizens, and this is a step in that direction.”

“We are still in need of volunteers to during the event and to help set up and tear down. To work the two days of the event you must be 18 or older,” said Klinck.

The clinic is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Patients are accepted on a first come, first served basis, no appointments accepted or required.

To volunteer, or for more information visit www.ncdental.org.

Photo: N.C. Missions of Mercy brings a free dental clinic to the Crown on June 29 and 30.

Whether interested in reading or writing, the library can provide a wealth of information, opportunity and support. The Internet — with its vast wealth of knowledge — cannot replace the face-to-face conversation and advice from someone who has experience. On June 22, Headquarters Library will hold a Local Authors Showcase, providing an opportunity for anyone interested in writing to learn about the tricks of self-publishing and anyone interested in reading to browse local author’s works and purchase their books.

Due to the rise of the Internet and blogs, self-publishing has increased dramatically. Studies show that more than 200 million Americans feel that they have the potential of a book within them. The differentiation becomes those who take the time to first put their thoughts on paper, but then also publish these thoughts. Blogs are often used to flesh out ideas and gauge reader response. With this new outlet it is easier to write a book and the publishing business is flooded with people trying to share their ideas. This creates huge competition in traditional publishing. For those who are truly dedicated to getting their ideas read, self-publishing is an obvious choice, but starting with no experience can be difficult. This event provides a tremendous opportunity for upcoming writers to talk to local authors who have experience in self-publishing.

Twenty authors will participate in this event, all of whom answered the library’s call for local authors by filling out applications in April. These authors are all local and self-published.

“This event gives the public the opportunity to meet and learn more about the areas home-grown authors and hear first had from local authors who publish books. It is a great opportunity not only to browse the books of local authors but also learn the ins and outs of self-publishing,” Susan Parrish, the public information coordinator of the Cumberland County Public Library and Information System, explained.

The library often gets inquiries on how to self-publish, and this event provides the public an opportunity to freely speak and discuss tips of the trade as well as basic steps that need to be taken with authors who have done just that, some of them multiple times.

Parrish further explains how the event will be run. “Each author will have their own table, and it’s a drop-in event. It’s not a program that’s presented on stage, so you can walk up and speak to the author yourself one-on-one,” she said.

“This allows people to talk about specific personal problems and goals they may have about writing or publishing and removes the pressure of presenting a question before an entire audience,” she continued.

The local authors showcase will be held on June 22 in the Pate Room of Headquarters Library at 300 Maiden Lane from 7-8:45 p.m. in conjunction with 4th Friday. For more information, call 483-7727 or visit the website at www.cumberland.lib.nc.us.

Photo: On June 22, Headquarters library will showcase local authors.

TheFresh Music Festival will bring a celebration of the best in R&B and Hip-Hop to the stage, June 23 at 8 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum. Reminisce with the R&B classics from your favorite artists and enjoy the new sounds of today.

“This year’s festival features an outstanding lineup of R&B artists,” Marshall Perry, director of marketing and sales for the Crown Colisuem said. “This is a big show and we are excited to host the event.”

The list of performers includes: Keith Sweat, Doug E. Fresh, K-Ci & JoJo, Guy and SWV. On this national tour, the artists perform in more than 40 cities. R&B fans have raved posting praise on websites everywhere. The concert brings all the most-loved R&B songs back and these performers don’t disappoint.

“This was the best concert that I have seen in a very long time. Everything was fantastic. The stage, lighting, sound and the music. I give it ‘two thumbs up!’ Real music lovers have got to see this show. If you love R&B, you will love this concert,” posted a fan online after seeing the show earlier this month in Connecticut.

Fresh is the first human beatbox and remains one on the biggest names in rap music. His first single, “The Show/La Di Da Di” quickly became a Hip-Hop classic. Fresh entertains audiences with his note-perfect imitations of drum machines, effects and samples of other classics.

Platinum R&B artist, Keith Sweat filled the Top 20 Billboard with hits such as “I Want Her” which made it to the number one spot on the R&B chart and number five on the pop charts. “I’ll Give All My Love To You” was number three on the Billboard 200 chart, and “Keep It Comin’” debuted in the top 20. Now Sweat is busy with his nationally syndicated radio show.

K-Ci & JoJo have sold millions of records and are still considered one of the hottest singing duos in R&B. Songs such as, “You Bring Me Up,” “Last Night’s Letter” and “It’s Real” caught the attention of mainstream music fans. However, “All My Life,” which spent three weeks as the number one song on the Hot 100 list, launched K-Ci & JoJo into fame and is considered one of the greatest pop/jazz melodies of all time.

Guy became a household name because of hits such as “Groove Me,” “I Like” “Piece of My Love,” “Let’s Chill” and “Do Me Right.” Guy also collaborated on the Boomerang sound track in 1992. Recently, Guy united and is changing it up with the New Jack sound.

The world’s top selling female R&B group, SWV will also perform at the Fresh Music Festival. With a long list of top 10 hits such as “I’m So Into You,” “Right Here,” “Downtown,” “Weak,” “Anything” and “Your Always on My Mind,” SWV was a force to be reckoned with in the ‘90s.

Perry said tickets sales are growing steadily and the Crown is expecting a big turnout. Ticket prices range from $50-$80 and can be purchased online. Visit www.freshmusicfestival.com to get more information on the Fresh Music Festival and order tickets. Buy tickets now and be ready to enjoy the best R&B has to offer.

Photo: The Crown hosts The Fresh Music Festival featuring R&B performers, on June 23.

Drayton Road is a new rock group in town who are set on making their mark here in Fayetteville and hope make a name for themselves and their city. The four-piece band is more than familiar with the local music scene. Brent Underwood once fronted Nephilym, which was in the past, Fayetteville’s super-group. Taking on the other half of the vocal and guitar duties is Jacob Smotherman who formerly fronted The Evan City Saints. They then recruited Harry Godwin and Nick Peeler to handle the rhythm section. Since then they have recorded a five-song self-titled demo.

At first Drayton Road might confuse their listeners by their song titles compared to their sound. Four out of the five songs have ridiculous titles aimed to show they have some humor and a carefree side. The actual music speaks volumes, showing they are serious about their business and have what it takes to make it out there in the music world.

For the band, Fayetteville seems like a great place to start because they believe they can mix in and match the skills of many of the artists performing locally today. Songs like “Coconut Doughnut” and “The Curse of Bob Barker” could easily be a radio single, and that is what the band hopes will happen in the near future. The songs showcase the band’s melodic rock side and carry an upbeat anthem feeling.

“Coconut Doughnut” has a Sevendust feel to it when the band taps into the more upbeat melodic side. Then Drayton Road gets a little nasty on us with the tracks “Rise of Master Splinter” and “Cleveland Steamer.” These are the heavier songs on the demo. “Cleveland Steamer” has a heavy southern sound and the lyrics on this song could actually make you chuckle some with the band, not at them. “The Curse of Master Splinter” has a heavy Godsmack vibe to the music, but thankfully Underwood’s vocals take them in a different direction and distinguish the piece as an original Drayton Road song.

“September Skies” is the only song here that is 100 percent serious and rightfully so. It’s a tribute to our fallen heroes and family members, which can be easily relatable here in Fayetteville with Fort Bragg as our neighbor. This is the ballad on the album and a fitting commemoration to those who gave their all for us.

If you love listening to bands like Staind, Chevelle, and Theory of a Deadman, then this will be right up your ally. You might even hear them on the radio one day.

The demo can be downloaded for free at http://soundcloud.com/draytonroad. If you like with the demo, you can also vote for the band to win Carolina Music’s rock band of the year award at http://carolinamusicawards.com/cma/vote/.

You thought this could never happen: You or a senior loved one has been the victim of a scam.

You need to get help now, before another dollar trickles away and your credit score takes a big hit.

Here are some key steps, according to legal experts:

• Contact the police. File a report with the police department in area where the crime was committed.

• Get a copy of the police report. If you are unable to obtain a copy of the police report, be sure to get the report number.

• Close your accounts. If you notice any accounts under your name that have been tampered with or opened without your consent, close them immediately. Call each bank or company and then follow up in writing. If there are fraudulent charges or debts on your account or if a new account has been opened, you should immediately file a fraud report with your bank’s fraud department. If you close an existing bank account and open a new one, be sure to create new PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) and passwords.

• Eliminate fraudulent new accounts. If a new account has been opened without your knowledge and consent, ask that company if it has a fraud department. If it does, file a fraud report with that department. If not, ask if the company will accept an ID Theft Affidavit from the Federal Trade Commission. You can print out an http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/resources/forms/affidavit.pdf [ID Theft Affidavit]. The FTC also provides http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/02/idtheft.shtm [more information on fraud].

• File a federal complaint. The Federal Trade Commission is the federal consumer protection agency. The FTC, in conjunction with the FBI, maintains an Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse. The FTC aids identity theft investigations by collecting complaints from victims and sharing the information with law enforcement agencies, credit bureaus, companies where the fraud took place, and other government agencies. File at www.consumer.gov/idtheft [FTC complaint] or call 877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338).

• Initiate a fraud alert. Place a fraud alert on your credit file as well as review your credit report. This will prevent a thief from opening any more accounts in your name. You should contact the three major credit bureaus. Credit bureau contact information: Equifax, 800-525-6285; Experian, 888-397-3742; Transunion, 800-680-7289

• Follow-up. After you have a fraud alert included in your credit history, you are entitled to receive a free copy of your credit report from each of the credit bureaus. Request a copy and review your report for accounts you did not open, debts on your account that you did not know about, inquiries from companies you don’t know and inaccurate information.

The important thing to remember is that you’re not alone. It’s unfortunate, but scamming has become commonplace, and there’s no reason to be embarrassed. Acting quickly may prevent someone from going through the same thing. Law enforcement officials are experienced in handling cases such as yours, and they are sympathetic to your plight. A

Home Instead CAREGiverSM can help, too, by serving as a second set of eyes and ears in a senior’s home. CAREGivers can be on the lookout for suspicious activity and assist seniors by sorting through junk mail, throwing out unwanted credit card offers and reminding older adults about other material that needs to be shredded before discarding. Contact your Home Instead Senior Care® office at 910-484-7200 or visit www.homeinstead.com/647.

For more information, visit: www.ago.ne.gov/resources/dyn/files/392571za5a5011a/_fn/AGO_IDTheftBroch_122910.pdf.

Photo: Scammers are equal opportunity crooks. Protect yourself.

Snow White and the Huntsman(Rated PG-13) 4 STARS

There are several minor problems and one major flaw with Snow White and the Huntsman (127 minutes). First, the romantic subplot falls flat. There is an attempt to introduce a love triangle but it isn’t well done and none of the lead actors had any chemistry. Second, the backstory of the evil queen isn’t as fleshed out as it needed to be. Third, it’s way too long. Fourth, did the dwarves need to be a part of the story? And, if they did indeed need to be part of the story, were there no actual little people looking for work? Peter Dinklage is probably a bit busy with Game of Thrones, but I don’t think that Warwick Davis had any post-Harry Potter roles lined up. Last but not least, in a scene that comes off as just a wee bit forced, the heroes travel to freaking fairyland.

Finally, in a major misstep, the filmmakers try to sell the audience on the idea that Kristen Stewart is fairer than Charlize Theron. In what twisted fairytale version of reality are you operating that you look at those two women and Kristen Stewart comes out ahead in any way? Inconceivable. Well, at least it was more watchable than Mirror, Mirror. Be warned though … that was a pretty easy contest to win.

Chris Hemsworth starts us off with a voiceover narration of the story of Snow White. The not-evil Queen has her spawn and then dies in the name of plot convenience. The King (Noah Huntley) is a bit upset, but he gets over his loss quickly enough when he sees Ravenna (Theron). Things go pear-shaped on their wedding night and the new Queen takes over and imprisons the princess.

After years of Ravenna’s rule, the realm descends into a major economic depression caused by a sharp decrease in arable land and a consequent reduction in agricultural production. As boring as that last sentence was, it still does not demonstrate how bored I was during the early part of this film. Things pick up a bit once the now-grown Snow White (Stewart) decides to let the birds lead her in a daring escape. Yes, the birds. All the little forest creatures just love Snow White, though why they waited eight years or so to get into the act is left a mystery for the audience to ponder.

She flees on a MacGuffin in the shape of a pretty white horse, which she leaves for dead the moment it becomes an inconvenience. While running in the Dark Forest she is exposed to some psychedelic mushrooms and she passes out just inside the forest in the midst of a bad trip. Meanwhile, her pursuers, failing to realize she is literally a few steps inside the forest, get all freaked out and head back to the castle. There, the Queen demands they find someone to guide them through the forest.

Finally, the Huntsman (Hemsworth) appears. His poorly explained backstory allows the Queen to manipulate him into going after her escaped prisoner in the company of the Queen’s brother (Sam Spruell). Of course, he switches sides and leads the princess deeper into the forest where they encounter some adventures, finally meeting the eight dwarves. Hmm … eight Dwarves? But doesn’t the Disney version mention only seven? I wonder if something will happen to one of those dwarves?

Anyway, even though the dwarves are totally played by awesome actors shrunk down Lord of the Rings Hobbit-style, I could have done without. And honestly, there was something distasteful about the fact that the dwarves weren’t played by actual little people, as well as the way the characters were used primarily for comic relief. Overall, the film is more or less family friendly and seems to have wide appeal, it just didn’t appeal to me.

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

On the night of June 22 a man will die by the hand of one of your fellow diners … location — the hilltop house, motive — there are millions, all green with the face of past presidents. The name of the game is murder mystery complete with death, intrigue, suspicion and great food — without the spoiler of jail and police inquiry at the end — all of which the Hilltop House has to offer with their Murder of a Millionaire mystery dinner.

For $50 a person the Hilltop House will treat guests to a five-course meal held to their award-winning standards. “The meal always starts out with an appetizer, usually a soup or salad course, two entrees and a desert. The courses flow along as the meal progresses,” explained Beth Shearin-Smith, executive chef and Hilltop House owner. Rather than having diners sit and watch as actors portray the grisly death, the diners themselves are the characters who murder, suspect and are suspected, creating an experience as close to an actual mystery as most people wish to get.

The Hilltop House has hosted several other mystery dinners in the past few years, all of which were met with great success. The experience offered to diners is different from the traditional dinner and entertainment usually found in Fayetteville. Instead of sitting quietly watching actors solve a scripted mystery, the diners become part of the mystery and build a new experience for themselves. “It’s extremely interactive. The guests come dressed as the characters we email them. They all have little scripts they can read that give them little clues as to what they need to say to a particular other person, and added information that if they want to say they can, but they can keep it to themselves at the same time,” Shearin-Smith further elaborates. This allows guests to actually affect the way the mystery is solved. This is not a solitary experience however. Even if someone comes alone, people interact and talk as the characters they’ve been assigned. “Throughout the courses they’re getting up from their seats, moving about the room and mingling with the other guests,” Shearin-Smith said.

“One of the owners wanted to do something different,” Shearin-Smith explained regarding the inspiration for the mystery dinners. Expounding on the originality, Shearin-Smith says, “Coming to one (of the murder mystery dinners) is kind of like stepping out of the box and doing something different in a town where everybody goes out to eat and everybody goes and sees movies. It gives you something different to go out and experience.”

The Hilltop House is located at 1240 Fort Bragg Rd. The staff can be contacted for reservations or more information at 484-6699 or emailed at info@hilltophousenc.com. The dinner will be held on June 22 at 7 p.m., and costs $50 per person.

Photo: Murder and mayhem come to the Hilltop House — and dinner is included.

Whether you have attended Fayetteville State University, have a child enrolled in one of the surrounding schools or has needed a helping hand by an organization in Fayetteville, Dr. Teresa Pickney has affected your life. Pickney has worked more than 16 years in the nonprofi t sector in Fayetteville. The long list of organizations she is involved with include organizations like Fayetteville Urban Ministries, Fayetteville-N.C. Business Chamber, N.C. Center for Nonprofi ts, Fayetteville Young Professionals and Boy and Girls Club of America, as well as national organizations.

Pickney moved to Fayetteville more than 16 years ago with her husband, who is in the military. Recently, he retired from the military. However, for Pickney and her family, Fayetteville is home and they aren’t planning to go anywhere.

Pickney is the Director of the Office of College Access Programs at Fayetteville State University as well as President and Executive Consultant of T. Pinckney & Associates.

She has raised more than $7.8 million in-kind contributions for education and the needs of the community. Pickney has always been involved in the community no matter where she lived, however her passion for education came while she was in college studying criminal justice.

“While studying criminal justice and researching statistics I realized education is the key out of poverty. What I learned from the criminal justice system is to make an impact you must start with kids,” Pickney explained.

She has had the opportunity to encourage low income and first generation college students since 1994. “My greatest joy is seeing my students and them telling me they have graduated college and are productive citizens,” Pickney said.

Pickney still remembers the first person she helped get into college. Years later she still has the letter that student sent thanking her. Now, Pickney has helped a thousand kids get into college with the same excitment.

“I think it’s important to empower students with the knowledge to make the decision to go to college. It’s about opportunity.” Pickney said.

Being a supervisor and consultant to many programs, Pickney is involved in giving many students the opportunity to go to college. It’s heart-warming for her to be able to reach out and help so my people.

“My reach is very broad, seeing my impact is much bigger then I think it is,” Pickney said.

However, Pickney not only aids in the development of educational outreach, she supports many nonprofit organizations though strategic planning and evaluation at little or no cost to the organization.

“To continue to do the great work these organizations do in the community, strategic planning ensures success by allowing the organization to function effectively,” Pickney said.

One of the ways Pickney has chosen to give back to the community is by founding the 2nd Annual Back-to-School Teen Explosion Conference for students ages 13-18. The event will be held on July 27, at Westover Recreation Center and provides critical skills for teens about education, career options and individual empowerment.

“It’s an exciting day to motivate students,” Pickney said. “I think it’s important we empower students and give them the knowledge and the opportunity to go and be successful in college.”

Pinkney often tells her two children, “knowledge is power, if you know something that can never be taken away.”

For more information about the conference or to register visit www.teenexplosionconference.com or check out the event on Facebook.

The Chernobyl Diaries (Rated R)  4 STARS

While not filmed entirely in shaky cam, The Chernobyl Diaries (86 minutes) still owes a fair bit to films such as The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, no surprise considering its pedigree. Oren Peli produced, and he is the guy who started the resurgence of the low-budget shaky cam film with Paranormal Activity, for which I both love and loathe him. On the one hand, that film was both original and scary. On the other hand, shaky cam, much like 3D is utterly migraine inducing. The concept behind the Chernobyl Diaries is pretty good, but repeated viewings are not worth the headache.

In what is obviously a new trend, some American tourists go to Russia and their trip gets messed up (see The Darkest Hour). Chris (a Beiber-esque Jesse McCartney) and his girlfriend Natalie (Olivia Dudley) travel around Europe with apparently limitless funds. The film begins with the two taking Natalie’s friend Amanda (Devin Kelley) to visit Chris’s brother Paul (Jonathan Sadowski) in Russia. While it is never explained how Paul and Chris manage their amazing lifestyle in today’s tough economic times, I like to think that one or both of them was brain damaged at some point and are now living off the funds of their successful lawsuit because I would hate to think that the youth of America is this needlessly stupid without some sort of traumatic brain injury.

Paul comes up with the brilliant idea of visiting the remains of the factory town Prypiat that was evacuated following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Speaking as a child of the 80s, (a) Chernobyl was scary and (b) I feel really old knowing that Chernobyl was scary since the filmmakers apparently decided their nice youthful audience would need that explained. Naturally, they all disregard the complete idiocy of treating a fully irradiated town as a vacation spot and agree that traveling two hours into the middle of nowhere in a van with a shady Russian ex-milita type (Dimitri Diatchenko) is a fabulous way to spend the day. And when said ex-militia type is turned back at a checkpoint they think it is an even better idea to sneak in the back way, despite the lovely Kalashnikovs carried by the checkpoint guards.

You know what? If these were all real people we could definitely start handing out Darwin Awards at this point in the film. The group, which includes a couple of vaguely European backpackers (Ingrid Bolso Berdal and Nathan Phillips), finally makes it into the abandoned town where they sing and dance on the grave of this once thriving area. As you do when walking through the lost hopes and dreams of a few thousand people, they take lots of pictures.

The tourists finally get ready to leave, only to find out that important engine parts are not working. They spend quite a bit of time arguing about whose fault that is, then start hearing things. Uri, in a brilliant bit of strategy, grabs a gun and heads out into the dark in search of the source of the ruckus despite knowing that wild animals frequent the town by night. Chris decides to tag along and make a lot of noise. When that plan does not work out in his favor, most of the group decides to hike out and bring back help. They even promise to be right back!

The main cast is slowly whittled down, a process made faster by the number of times they decide to go looking for people who disappear as well as their habit of screaming the names of the missing people loudly and repeatedly. But who is behind the mysterious goings on? While some questions are eventually answered, nothing is too well explained. That is not necessarily a bad thing, since you don’t want to mess up a perfectly good horror movie by weighing it down with lengthy exposition. Overall, this is definitely worth a look-and-see, provided you have plenty of Tylenol.
Now showing at Wynnsong 7, Carmike 12 and Carmike Market Fair 15.
 

Fans of Ralphie May are in for a treat. On June 17, the funny man is scheduled to perform at Sports U.S.A. The audience can let off some steam and watch him do what he loves best. “My favorite thing in the world is making people laugh,” said May. “To get on stage and tell a joke and then see the audience laughing and smiling is awesome.”

A strong supporter of the military, May performs for the troops whenever he gets a chance. “It is a big thing for me to perform for the troops,” said May. “I benefit from having freedom of speech and it is an honor to entertain the people who give that gift to me.”

The entertainer is great at cracking jokes, but he is serious about his dedication to military members and their families. May’s father was a sniper in Korea and his grandfather died in France in WWI.

“When soldiers volunteer to serve they volunteer their famlies too, and these people didn’t sign up,” said May. “But they have to endure an empty chair at the table on Thanksgiving, an empty place in the bed for months at a time and the sad faces of their kids when mom or dad misses a birthday or school award ceremony.”

Like other families who face separation, May does his best to squeeze in family time when he can. “Its tough when I am away from my family, my favorite thing in the world is just getting back to see them — or bringing them to see me. It’s hard being away from them.”

Born in Chattanooga, Tenn., and raised in Clarksville, Ark., May is about as far away from the “you might be a redneck,” humor that people associate with the south as you can get. In fact, he started his professional career at the age of 17, opening for Sam Kinison. Encouraged by Kinison, May packed up and moved to Houston, Texas. May’s next stop was Los Angeles, Calif., where he scored a spot in Last Comic Standing as the show premiered. He finished in second place, and then moved on to shows like The Wayne Brady Show and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

May’s current tour is titled Too Big to Ignore. He pulls no punches as he highlights society’s hypocrisies. May covers a lot of ground in Too Big to Ignore … The children’s show Dora the Explorer, Chaz Bono and bongs are a few of the things May finds to poke fun at.

Tickets are available at Sports U.S.A. and Leisure Travel Services. The show is for those 18 and older. Tickets cost $25 if purchased in advance and $35 at the door.

Photo: Ralphie May is set to perform at Sports U.S.A on June 17.

Entering their 12th season, the Fayetteville SwampDogs have cemented themselves into the cultural identity of the greater Fayetteville area. Consistently at the top of the Coastal Plain League both on and off the field, the Dogs have set a new standard in collegiate summer baseball. This season, the bar is set even higher, with Fayetteville coming off its second CPL Organization of the Year award in the last six campaigns. The All American Summer of Fun began on May 30th, and will continue into August.

All home games offer a unique dosage of fun and excitement, with various promotions and events scheduled for each of the team’s 31 contests at “The Swamp.” Perhaps one stretch of home games, however, trumps all others with its unrelenting commitment to fun.

The All American Weekend of Fun kicks off on Thursday, June 14th, the start of a four-game home stand at “The Swamp.” The weekend kicks off with 80’s Night, presented by Healy Wholesale. Fans have a chance to relive a decade of great music and good times while sporting their favorite 80’s garb to “The Swamp.” The first 500 fans 21 and older receive a retro trucker hat courtesy of Healy Wholesale and Coors. It’s also Home-Based Business Night, where fans can meet friends and neighbors while finding ways to make life easier and fancier.

Friday, June 15th is Military Appreciation Night. The SwampDogs appreciate the military every day, but this night will be extra special. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative gift courtesy of Rick Hendrick Toyota.

The city of Fayetteville will sponsor the game on Saturday, June 16th, with the first 500 fans receiving a gift to compliment the spectacular fireworks extravaganza that follows the game.

Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 17th, with that night’s game serving as a perfect conclusion to both the day and the All American Weekend of Fun. Bring the whole family to spend a game with Dad at “The Swamp.” Don’t forget to bring Dad’s best friend, too, as it is Dog Day at the ballpark. Fans can bring their dogs to take in the game action.

It is the only span over the course of the season that includes more than two consecutive calendar days with home games.

Other noteworthy contests worth circling on any calendar include the June 25th affair with Team USA, presented by Family Foods and Taco Bell, as well as the July 3rd game that features the greatest fireworks extravaganza of the summer, courtesy of Hendrick Chrysler Jeep and Disaster One.

As is the case with all games at “The Swamp,” tickets are selling quickly for the greatest home stand of 2012. To purchase tickets, visit or call the business office at (910)-426-5900, and for all information regarding the team, visit www.goswampdogs.com.

Things have been busy at Cape Fear Botanical Garden the past year or so. Along with the opening of the Wyatt Visitors Pavilion Complex, the nationally renowned Big Bugs exhibit by artist David Rogers and the first annual Holiday Lights in the Garden, the garden has stepped up its programming, giving people even more reasons to come and enjoy what the garden has to offer.

Spring is a beautiful time in the garden, and a concert just adds to the ambience. The inaugural Spring Concert Series in the Garden has been a big hit with catering provided by Elliott’s on Linden in Pinehurst, and a variety of music genres. “We’ve had wonderful turn out and the weather has cooperated,” said Director of Development and Marketing, Iris Goode. “We actually had people dancing at the last concert — kids and grown-ups alike. I’m sure we will be doing something similar next year.”

On June 22, the concert series at the garden winds down, drawing the first seasonal concert series to a close. So far, the playlist included tropical and classic rock, jazz, blue grass and country music. The program ends with this final concert, a big band performance by The Casa Blanca Orchestra.

The Casa Blanca Orchestra is composed of a piano, drums, bass, guitar, trumpets, trombones, saxophones and the vocal talent of Debbie Bennett. The band has a repertoire of more than 300 songs that include swing, Latin, jazz and blues hits spanning the 1940s to the 1990s.

Sweet Tea Shakespeare Company presents Much Ado About Nothing June 27 through July 1. A comedy about two young soldiers returning from war and adjusting to civilian life, the women they love and the misunderstandings they endure, Much Ado About Nothing offers an opportunity to enjoy a laughter-filled evening in the garden.

“We are looking foreward to having Shakespeare in the garden,” said Goode. “I think it will be well received and something that people will enjoy.” 

Assistant Professor of Theatre at Fayetteville State University Jeremy Fiebig is heading up the Sweet Tea Shakespeare Company project sponsored by Fayetteville State University’s Fine Art Department and supported by Gilbert Theater, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and Methodist University.

“I’ve been in Fayetteville for almost two years now and the first time I went to the Botanical Garden, I though ‘Oh wow, there needs to be a performance here,” said Fiebig, who is also the Sweet Tea Shakespeare artistic director and project coordinator. “I am interested in all the theater organizations in Fayetteville being supportive of each other, so for this to be successful we needed to be certain we weren’t going up against each other. We are trying to do this in a window where there is not a lot of competition between the theaters, so that we are not competing with each other.”

You don’t have to be a Shakespeare fan to appreciate Shakespeare in the Garden. The entire experience is laid back. Snacks and beverages will be available and the cozy atmosphere and the informal seating are all built in to the experience to help the audience enjoy the show.

Fiebig thinks that the audience will enjoy seeing familiar faces, as well as a few new personalities in the local theater scene. He is enjoying the mix of personalities and experience levels and thinks the audience will too.

Much Ado About Nothingwas an obvious choice for Fiebig when it came time to choose the opening production. “The way to we are doing this is going to appeal to everyone, whether they get or like Shakespeare or not,” said Fiebig. “Much Ado About Nothing is a funny play. It has a lot of humor that would play to a modern audience just as readily as it did audiences in Shakespeare’s day. It is a unique choice for Fayetteville audiences because the main story has to do with soldiers coming back from campaigning and struggling with the transition from military life to civilian life. It has something specific to say to the local community, that I think everyone will enjoy.”

Fiebig is planning a second Shakespeare in the Garden in July with the production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

Say good-bye to summer with the Fall Concert Series scheduled to take place each Thursday in September. Unlike the spring series, which offered many different types of music, the fall series explores the orchestra. At each concert, the performance will focus on an instrument family in the orchestra. It’s a great opportunity to not only enjoy a concert, but to learn something as well. The concerts are on Sept. 6, 13, 20 and 27 and will explore the jazz combo, brass string and woodwind instruments.

After Big Bugs was such a hit, the door was opened for another garden-related critter to make an appearance. Ribbit the Exhibit runs September through November and features 10 of Andy Cobb’s copper frogs.

A North Carolina native, Cobb sculpts five and six-foot frogs from copper. His first frog was inspired by Old Toad, from the book The Wind in the Willows. Cobb also sculpts birds, fish and other animals. His work is friendly, spirited and whimsical — a perfect match for the garden.

This particular exhibit will benefit local students as well as the public. “We do educational events, we have school tours, and public workshops for adults and children,” said Goode. “We felt that we needed something to follow Big Bugs, and the curriculum in the schools will be on amphibians this year, so we went looking frogs. Last year the curriculm was bugs and we just fell in to that. Once we found out that the children will be studying amphibians this year we met with the schools system and did some coordinating. We will have activities that are student related, we will have an adult workshop on frogs and toads and we will have crafts at selected times when they can come in and make their own crafts. I think it is going to be fun and a good educational opportunity”

Find out more about what the garden has to offer at www.capefearbg.org.

Although vision is one of our greatest senses, a loss of vision can open up a heightened awareness in all the other senses. Many notable musicians such as Andrea Bocelli, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles are visually impaired. These individuals, along with many others, have reached beyond their sight to embrace the world around them.

On Friday, June 22, the Vision Resource Center of Fayetteville will host its 1st Annual Out of Sightdining event. The event will take place from 7-11 p.m. at the Highland Country Club and is sure to be an eye educational experience for all the guests.

Attendees will get to be a part of “blindfold” dining where they will have the chance to experience what it is like to be visually impaired. Following dining will be dancing to the sounds of the Essential Elements Smooth Jazz Band. The night will also feature special music by 13-year-old Michael Macias, who has been blind since he was four months old. Come and let your ears embrace the sounds as he graces the keys of the piano, playing various pieces — to include his original composition “Listening Walk.” A silent auction will also be held.

Through the Out of Sight dining event, the Vision Resource Center desires to raise awareness about the visually impaired as well as raise funds to continue to support the Visually Impaired (VI) community. The center’s purpose is to make people aware of the VI community and the services available to them.

Currently in Cumberland County there are approximately 631 individuals who are registered as VI. “There are so many more out there,” states Terri Thomas, executive Director of the Vision Resource Center (VRC). The VRC wants to reach them. Those listed as visually impaired, have greatly reduced or low vision, or are legally blind or blind. Many of them are unaware of the resources available.

The dining event serves as one of the main fundraisers for the center, and is one way the community can assist the VRC in its efforts. “We can learn so much from them,” states Thomas. This dining experience will allow you to take a moment and step into the world they way the visually impaired experience it everyday.

The VRC offers many services. Currently the staff are working with the Cumberland County School System to reach the student population. Through their combined efforts parents can find out about financial resources available and receive information on how to better advocate for their children.

The children benefit in numerous ways as well, one of them being that “they are able to connect and socialize with other visually impaired children,” says Thomas, giving them a sense of belonging with someone who understands them at their level. The center also has a youth program that reaches out to all kids in the Cumberland County area. Program activities include monthly activities, summer camp and transitions programs to prepare students for work or college. However, the center serves the needs of the blind and visually impaired of all ages. Other programs and services provided by the center include van transportation, healthy living programs, Braille, computer classes and more.

For services or to purchase tickets for the event contact Terri Thomas at the Vision Resource Center at 910-483-2719 or Cory Worrell, Marketing Director/Refractive Coordinator and Cape Fear Eye Associates, PA at 910-672-5017.

Photo: Michael Macias performing with Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra Maestro Fouad Fakhouri.

Nothing says summertime like an outdoor concert. When the Bull City Syndicate and Craig Woolard Band roll into town for Fayetteville After Five on Thursday, June 21, the first full day of summer 2012 will have officially arrived.

As one of the perennial favorites on the Beach Music circuit, the Craig Woolard Band is a seven-member ensemble of life-long musicians. The band consists of former members of The Embers, The Catalinas and The Shakers.

Band front man, Craig Woolard says, “When you come to hear the Craig Woolard Band at an outdoor concert, you are going to hear some beach music, you are going to hear some rock and roll, you’ll hear some party funk and some country. We play each genre as true as possible.”

Playing events like Fayetteville After Five gives the band an opportunity to reach an audience that may not hit the nightclub scene. “We develop good, lifelong fans through the outdoor concerts.”

And the magic of a summer concert isn’t lost on Woolard. “It hits the emotional centers. What we are doing out there is the 21st century version of the John Philip Sousa concerts. It’s just good, clean American fun.”

Woolard was named Male Vocalist of the Year at the Carolina Beach Music Association Awards in 2011. It was his second year in a row winning the award. “I get to do for a living what I’ve always wanted to do. I never wanted to do anything else. I’m a blessed man. If you want to see a guy do what he loves, come out to see The Craig Woolard Band.”

Carrie King, Executive Director of Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, is excited to have two headliners for Fayetteville After Five, a Dogwood Festival sponsored event.

Known for their horn section and vocalist, Charlotte Gregory, Bull City Syndicate is a Durham band that has been playing the Mid-Atlantic region for over 15 years. Their music is a tribute to their influences Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire and Blood, Sweat & Tears, but the Bull City Syndicate makes the music all their own.

“Bull City Syndicate really has a huge following in the Raleigh/Durham area. They are a fun, energetic band and we’re pleased to add them to the line-up,” said King.

“They do a little bit of everything. They’re universal. They are a big band and they have a great horn section. It’s a little more funk.”

Fayetteville After Five is as much of a family event as a concert. In addition to the music, there are cornhole boards, a 50/50 raffle with prizes and giveaways and the Gamin’ Ride.

“It’s an interactive trailer with any and every kind of video game you can think of. It is just awesome. This thing even has Smell-o-Vision that compliments the kid’s games. It’s a unique opportunity for the concert-goers.”

Fayetteville After Five concerts are free to the public with the music starting around 5:30 p.m. For more information, please visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com/fayetteville-after-5.

Photo: The Craig Woolard Band will perform at Fayetteville After Five on June 21.