Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity is reaching out to the local community, calling for volunteers to join hands in their upcoming Veterans Build event.

The opening ceremony is set to take place on Nov. 3rd at 9 a.m. at 607 Link Street, and the organization is inviting residents to actively participate in this noble cause.

Veterans Build is more than just constructing houses; it’s about building bridges, creating opportunities, and showing gratitude to the brave men and women who have served our country.

By volunteering for this event, community members can contribute directly to providing affordable and comfortable housing solutions for our deserving veterans.

“We believe in the power of community. When we come together, amazing things can happen,” said Rick Callaway, veteran and chief operating officer of Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity.

“We are inviting the community to join us in this meaningful initiative. Your time and effort can make a significant impact on the lives of our veterans.”

Volunteer opportunities are available from Nov. 3rd through the 9th. No prior experience is necessary, as training and guidance will be provided on-site.

This is an excellent opportunity for individuals and groups to give back to the community, learn new skills, and forge connections with fellow volunteers who share a passion for making a difference.

The opening ceremony on Nov. 3rd will not only be a celebration of the progress made but also a launch pad for future endeavors. Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity encourages everyone, regardless of their background or expertise, to join the cause and be part of this transformative experience.

To volunteer for the Veterans Build event or to learn more about how you can get involved, please contact Kelly Rodriguez, Faith and Community Relations Director, Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity, at fcr@fayettevillenchabitat.org or by calling 910- 483 – 0952.

I always tell clients it doesn’t matter how good your insurance is on paper if you can’t use it.

In July, I attended a meeting at Cape Fear Valley Hospital where CEO Mike Nagowski and Vice President of Managed Care Bart Fiser announced that due to critical grievances in service, CFV was terminating the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage network at the hospitals and in 2024, all their other providers as well.

Hospitals often have these disputes with insurance carriers. Last year, Duke Wake Med terminated their relationship with UHC for about six months.

This past February, Charlotte Ears, Nose and Throat also announced that they would be terminating UHC unless negotiations were made.

There are plenty of examples in North Carolina alone, but the situation at Cape Fear Valley has one major difference from what is typical in these situations: it isn’t about money.

Mr. Fiser painted a grim scene of doctor frustration and administrative nightmares, and he claimed that Cape Fear Valley patients were receiving around a 30 percent decline rate of services with UHC Medicare Advantage plans, including things like pacemakers.

Furthermore, prior approval was being downgraded months later. A diagnosis of sepsis being downgraded to pneumonia because it didn’t meet the carrier definition was an example I was provided with.

Mr. Fiser also explained that transmitting medical records to UHC was particularly vexing because the online portals often won’t accept files as large as necessary to transmit data.
Oftentimes, CFV must mail paper copies costing as much as $800 and increasing the turnaround time on decisions.

These high declination rates, administrative difficulties, and reneging on prior approval have been so detrimental to patient care that the executive team felt forced to cut ties.

“I didn’t ask for a single penny. We get higher rates with UHC. We were in partnership with them on shared savings. Denials just got so crazy.” said Fiser.

On October 5th, I met with Mr. Fiser again to see if there were updates that would provide me with insights I could use to better serve my clients. One of my questions centered around PPOs. I had spoken with agents and people in the community who had voiced that if they switched to a UHC PPO plan, they would be fine.

Mr. Fiser stated they “absolutely would not be fine.” While the hospital would accept the PPO plans, they would only do so at an out-of-network rate.

I inquired if any headway had been made to repair the relationship and was told there had been none but that “we would certainly listen if they addressed the issues because we want what’s best for the community.”

I point-blank asked Mr. Fiser if there was a carrier they did not have issues with, and he replied, “we don’t have issues with Blue Cross Blue Shield.” No others were specifically mentioned.

During this annual enrollment period, make an informed decision on your plan for 2024 because, to quote Mr. Fiser, “people don’t want to drive 75 miles for service.”

Honor is important in this military community that has trained and supported thousands of military personnel and their families for more than a century.

It is more than an intellectual concept. It is a living, breathing feature of everyday life here, shaping the conduct of our individual lives, how we treat each other, and how we raise our children. That is why what has happened to former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, is so stunning, so sad, and so terrifying.

Milley retired voluntarily last month after a 44-year career that included command of the 82nd Airborne at what was then Fort Bragg. He ultimately held command and staff positions in 8 divisions and special forces.

His record of dedicated and stellar service to our nation led former President Donald Trump to appoint him to the highest-ranking and most senior position in the United States Armed Services. Milley served in that position for four years.

But Milley angered his boss, not because of his job performance, but because his honor required him to defend the US Constitution against capricious and vindictive rule by a strongman government.

Because Milley supports the rule of law over the rule of an individual, he has said he expects to be thrown into prison along with other like-minded Americans if the United States elects a would-be dictator.

It is worth reading Milley’s own words about the rule of law in our nation for almost 250 years. In his farewell address less than a month ago, Milley said this.

“Today is not about anyone up on this stage…. It’s about something much larger than all of us. It’s about our democracy. It’s about our republic…. It’s about the ideas and values that make up this great experiment in liberty.

“Those values and ideas are contained within the Constitution of the United States of America, which is the moral North Star of all of us who have the privilege of wearing the cloth of our nation….

“You see, we in uniform are unique…among the world’s armies. We are unique among the world’s militaries. We don’t take an oath to a country. We don’t take an oath to a king or a queen or a tyrant or a dictator. We don’t take an oath to an individual. We take an oath to the Constitution, and we take an oath to the idea that is America, and we’re willing to die to protect it.”

Earlier during his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs but after he apparently offended the then-President, Milley sounded the same theme in a message to the Joint Forces, reminding members of their oaths to the Constitution.

“This document is founded on the essential principle that all men and women are born free and equal and should be treated with respect and dignity.”

“It also gives Americans the rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly….As members of the Joint Force — comprised of all races, colors, and creeds — you embody the ideals of our Constitution.”

“We all committed our lives to the idea that is America. We all stay true to that oath and the American people.”

As the federal, state, and local elections of 2024 loom, we would all do well to remember Milley’s words born from long experience both in the Army and in life.

Last month, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a $30 billion state budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Gov. Roy Cooper, disappointed with many provisions but keen on the bill's expansion of Medicaid, allowed the $30 billion budget to become law without his signature.

That's how the event was widely described last month, not only by media outlets and affected institutions but also by many legislators. Alas, my initial paragraph contains a significant factual error.

The 2023-24 state budget spends way, way more than $30 billion.
For starters, this commonly reported number refers only to the appropriation of General Fund revenues, primarily income and sales taxes.

When the legislature enacts a budget, it doesn't just spend General Fund taxes and other revenues. It also spends federal grants, such as for Medicaid and public schools, and receipts from program beneficiaries, such as university students paying tuition.

Total spending on General Fund programs, from all revenue sources, will be $66 billion this year, not $30 billion. And if we add all transportation spending, regardless of source, the 2023-24 budget grows to more than $71 billion.

To describe only the net General Fund appropriation from state dollars as "the budget" is a standard convention — one that I've complained about ever since I began writing about the state legislature in the 1980s.

North Carolinians certainly deserve to know how much of the state taxes they pay are expended every year. But they also deserve to know how much their state government will spend in total. Otherwise, they have a distorted view of the size and scope of their budget — and of the extent to which their state government has become dependent on the fiscal irresponsibility of their federal government.

So far, I've discussed the ways in which the standard story of this year's state budget has been misreported within normal parameters. The problem can be rectified by encouraging lawmakers, other public officials, journalists, and interest groups to read and summarize the budget bill itself, which contains all the numbers I've mentioned, rather than just the committee report on the General Fund.

Unfortunately, in recent years lawmakers have increasingly moved major expenditures of public funds "off budget," to reserves that aren't always accounted for in the same way that General Fund appropriations are.

My John Locke Foundation colleague, Brian Balfour, has pointed out some $7.2 billion in such spending in the 2023-24 budget.

His figure includes items such as $2.4 billion for the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund (SCIF), $1 billion for clean-water projects, $1.25 billion for regional economic development, $450 million for information technology investment, and $250 million for a private entity, NCInnovation, that seeks to commercialize research conducted within public colleges and universities.

There's nothing wrong with setting money aside in reserves. In fact, there's much right with the practice! I've praised the SCIF in the past, for example, as a mechanism for guaranteeing a steady, reliable flow of funds to build and maintain public assets.

The problem is that, for at least some of these accounts, neither the transfer of revenues nor the subsequent expenditure of funds is accounted for as part of General Fund appropriations. That has the effect of understating how much money our state government is spending.

Opinions may differ about the wisdom of these expenditures. Moreover, while conservatives have long advocated a fixed cap on annual spending increases — a combination of inflation and population growth is the most common version — critics say North Carolina should not follow so formulaic a rule.

What we should all agree on, however, is that every dollar spent by our state government should be clearly reported. In the case of reserves, if revenue transfers into them aren't going to be counted as spending, then the money should be counted as part of the General Fund appropriation in whatever year it is withdrawn and spent.

I don't think that's too much to ask. Do you?

Editor's Note: John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His latest books, Mountain Folk and Forest Folk, combine epic fantasy with early American history (FolkloreCycle.com)

The Remember My Name domestic violence vigil will be held Oct. 12 at 5:30 p.m. on the steps of Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse in downtown Fayetteville to raise awareness of domestic violence.

The keynote speaker will be Charnessa L. Ridley, who is the deputy director of the Council for Women and Youth Involvement.

Retired Chief District Court Judge Beth Keever will read aloud the names of the people who died as a result of domestic violence in North Carolina over the past year.

Other Remember My Name ceremony participants scheduled to appear include Chief District Court Judge Toni S. King, Fort Liberty Garrison Commander U.S. Army Col. John Wilcox and the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus.

Remember My Name is organized by the Cumberland County District Court, the CARE Center Family Violence Program, Cumberland County Department of Social Services, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department, Hope Mills Police Department, Army Community Services, Legal Aid of North Carolina and the Phoenix Center.

The vigil will also serve to highlight community resources for domestic violence victims, such as:

 • Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office: non-emergency 910-323-1500; Victim Assistance 910-677-5454 or ccsonc.org.

• Fayetteville Police Department: 910-433-1529; Victim Assistance 910-433-1849 or bethebadge.com

• Hope Mills Police 910-425-4103

• Spring Lake Police 910-436-0350

• Cumberland County Family Court: 910-475-3015 or nccourts.gov/locations/cumberland-county/family-court-administration.

• Clerk of Superior Court Lisa Scales, Safe-Link Domestic Violence Assistance Program 910-475-3000, Cumberland County Courthouse, Room 340

• Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office: 910-475-3010

• The CARE Center Family Violence Program: Crisis Line 910-677-2532 or office 910-677-2528

• Army Community Services: 910-396-8262 or myarmybenefits.us.army.mil.

• Legal Aid of North Carolina Fayetteville Chapter: 910-483-0400 or www.legalaidnc.org

• The Phoenix Center hotline: 910-485-7273

• U.S. Army Family Advocacy Program: 910-322-3148 or hotline 910-584-4267

For more information about Remember My Name, contact Court Manager Sanya Eller at 910-475-3222 or Sanya.T.Eller@nccourts.org.

“Hallowe’en Revels: Moonlight Mischief at the 1897 Poe House” spotlights live theater with a historical Halloween twist.

Hosted in partnership with the Gilbert Theater, the show runs Oct. 19 through the 21 and the 26 through the 27 from 6 to 10 p.m.

Proceeds from ticket sales directly fund this event and other programs at the 1897 Poe House.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Eventbrite https://MoonlightMischief2023.eventbrite.com.
Come join the Museum of the Cape Fear for a spirited visit to the 1897 Poe House and witness spooky vignettes complete with a few ghosts.

This is not your traditional Poe House tour. Guests will be transported back in time, witnessing a series of short vignettes while becoming immersed in early 20th century cultural norms, music, and poetry through this scripted short play.

This is a unique opportunity to experience historical theater in an actual historic home. For a more detailed look at the Poe House and family history, attend a tour during regular museum hours.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and are only good for the time slot purchased. Ticket holders should arrive at least 15 minutes before show time; late arrivals cannot be admitted once the group enters the 1897 Poe House.

Due to tight space inside the house, shows are limited to 15 people per group. Ticket holders should be able to walk, stand, and navigate stairs for the duration of the 30 minute show. This is not a seated performance.

Trick or Treat at the Poe House

“Trick or Treat at the Poe House” will be held Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features Halloween fun for kids 12 and under.

Over the past several years, attendance for the Trick or Treat program has annually increased, reaching more than 1,000 guests and cementing it as a family favorite Halloween event.

Children attending this event explore Victorian Halloween in the Poe House, play vintage carnival games, enjoy a Halloween dance party with a local DJ, and witness balloon twisting and magic tricks with Joy the Clown. Hayrides in Arsenal Park will round out the fun. Don’t forget the costumes.
Concessions include funnel cakes, hot dogs and more. This event is free, and each child takes home a Trick or Treat goody bag.

This project is supported by the Arts Council in part by contributions from businesses and individuals and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Cultural Resources.

Matching funds are being provided by the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex Foundation, Inc.

Project Support Grants increase opportunities for access to arts, science, cultural and historical programming in Cumberland County. The grants are awarded to nonprofit agencies, universities, and government agencies in Cumberland County that demonstrate financial and administrative stability.

“I am not a dancer,” Marc De La Concha laughs.

He bends forward and throws his hands on his legs. His face, which is usually clean shaven, is adorned with a mustache.

It will go perfectly with a black pinstripe suit and a slick comb over. In just a week, he’ll be stepping on the stage as the passionate husband and father Gomez Addams.

“It’s a lot of tango stuff,” he says.

A few of the other actors sitting by him compliment him on his moves, and he lets out another laugh. De la Concha smirks.

“I’m a strong mover.”

De La Concha and the others are in Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s upcoming production of The Addams Family. At the table near De La Concha sits Tyce Diorio, the choreographer, Samantha Parada, who plays Morticia, and Alessandra Antonelli, who plays Wednesday.

In this production, Wednesday meets a young man and brings him home. She asks Gomez to keep the secret.

“He has never kept a secret from his wife ever,” De La Concha sweeps his hand in front of his face and laughs. “Chaos ensues.”

Parada and De La Concha are locals to the area. Antonelli lives in New York and requested to audition for the darkly braided teen. She says she is excited to play Wednesday and be here “in real life.”

Like De La Concha hinted at, the show will have a lot of musical numbers and dancing.

“This is such an ensemble show,” Parada says. “We will see an awesome, huge ensemble of creepy, kooky dancing. It’s a fun show for the Halloween season.”

The actors are currently rehearsing daily at the theatre, with each character bringing in their own quirky musical styles for the characters they are portraying.

The show’s director, Mary Katherine Burke, says while all The Addams Family plays are so different, the fact that each character has their own musical style is truly unique to this production.

She and the others are trying to find a balance between all the versions of The Addams Family, from the Wednesday series to all the movies, but still giving the production and the characters their all. One thing they can all agree on is that there’s a lot of fun in figuring this out.

“I am a huge fan of this show,” says Tyce Diorio. “I love the weirdness and the oddness. I can find my inner quirk and kookiness. And they are absorbing it so well. It’s a treat.”

A few of the actors give Diorio and his team compliments on how good they’ve been during rehearsals thus far and the way he makes moves “make sense” for them.

The Addams Family will start Oct. 19th and run through Nov. 5th. The theatre will host both a military and a teacher appreciation night, as well as a popcorn party on three other showings.

Tickets range between $19 to $37. The show is rated PG. When asked about the rating, Burke just said there’s some adult humor in the show and, of course, a hand that moves on its own.

“You should make your own decisions,” she says. “There’s dead people dancing. For everybody it’s different about what’s good … It is a dark musical comedy.”

For more information, visit www.cfrt.org.

Get ready for a mesmerizing blend of classical music and silent cinema as the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra presents a free symphony movie night featuring the iconic German silent film “Nosferatu” (1922).

This eerily captivating and enthralling experience is set to take place on Friday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Iron Mike Conference Center on Fort Liberty and Saturday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. at Dirt Bag Ales.
Nosferatu, a masterpiece of silent cinema directed by F. W. Murnau, first graced the silver screen on June 3, 1929. This seminal horror film was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s iconic novel, Dracula.

Despite facing legal battles and attempts to erase it from history, Nosferatu has stood the test of time and is now revered as a classic in the horror genre.

In this unique event, attendees will have the chance to witness the spine-chilling tale of Count Orlok, the monstrous vampire, as the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra performs a live musical arrangement arranged by the talented Peter B. Kay.

The orchestra’s enchanting melodies and evocative harmonies will heighten the suspense and drama of the film, providing a heightened sensory experience for the audience.

Both locations will transform into a cinematic and musical haven, where the flickering images of Nosferatu will come to life on the big screen. The venue will be adorned with an eerie ambiance, adding to the overall allure of the film and the live orchestral performance.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure their seats for this exceptional fusion of culture and entertainment.

The event promises an unforgettable night of chilling visuals, captivating music, and a shared experience that will stay with the audience long after the curtains close.

Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the convergence of history, art and music as Nosferatu graces Fayetteville with its timeless tale, enhanced by the evocative sounds of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Get ready for a symphonic journey into the heart of darkness.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956 in Fayetteville and is a professional regional orchestra whose mission is to educate, entertain, and inspire the citizens of the Fayetteville region as the leading musical resource.

For more information about upcoming events, visit their website at https://www.fayettevillesymphony.orgFC6jFoYm3xs?si=vkSu8v6PuSCJVLaE.

Halloween is celebrated in various countries.

Halloween can trace its origins to Ireland and is based on the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, during which people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off spirits.
Halloween has since become a day to play pranks and don costumes while going door-to-door seeking treats from neighbors.

Each year, the National Retail Federation tracks Halloween trends. The figures and statistics shared by the NRF and other organizations paint a picture of just how popular Halloween can be.
Consumers will spend an estimated $9 billion on Halloween. The average American will spend $86.79 on the festivities, according to the NRF.

The U.S. Census Bureau indicates that there are 41.1 million potential trick-or-treaters aged 5 to 14.
Ninety-five percent of people surveyed by the NRF planned to purchase candy for Halloween. The next most popular purchase is decorations (74 percent).

Forty-five percent of respondents planned to carve a pumpkin for Halloween, says the NRF.
In Canada, there are 2,569 farms with pumpkin patches, according to the 2016 Census of Agriculture.

The top-ranked costumes for children in 2018 were princess and superhero. Adults planning to dress up were more likely to go as a witch or a vampire.

Data from domestic box office earnings of horror movies in 2018 totaled $752.2 million. This accounts for movie earnings in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Guam. “A Quiet Place” and “Halloween” were the top-grossing horror flicks of the year.

The ubiquitous “pumpkin spice” starts to turn up in various products as soon as there are hints of autumn. Nielsen says $6.9 million was spent on pumpkin spice products in 2018.

Candy corn is either loved or loathed. According to the National Confectioners Association, 42.7 percent of people who enjoy candy corn say they eat the narrow white part of the candy corn first.

The NRF states that, when looking for their ideal costumes, 33 percent of consumers will check online first, followed closely by 29 percent in stores.

Pet costumes remain incredibly popular. Prosper Insights, a marketing and analytics company states that 31.2 million Americans plan to dress up their pets, with millennials being the largest demographic to do so.

There are potentially 120 million stops for trick-or-treaters to visit in the United States, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Manufacturing and Wholesale Trade Division in Canada says that there were 158 businesses engaged in formal wear and costume rentals in Canada in 2017.

Halloween is frighteningly popular, with scores of people taking part in the spending and antics of this entertaining day.

Approximately ten million Americans have osteoporosis, and another forty-four million have low bone density.

It is a primary public concern for women who are fifty or older. It is less prevalent in men, about five percent in those fifty and older. It is the most common bone disease caused by the weakening of bone structure and strength.

It is often located at the femur neck, lumbar spine, or both. It causes the bones to become weak and brittle; sometimes, people may be unaware that they have it until they fall. Fractures can also occur in the hip and wrist.

Bone is a living tissue that is continually being replaced, and osteoporosis occurs when the replacement of new bone is not able to keep up with the loss of old bone.

When we are young, our bodies make new bone faster than it decreases. Most people reach their peak bone mass by age thirty. It can affect men and women of all ages and races, but the primary population at risk are white and Asian women past menopause.

The chance of developing osteoporosis is influenced by how much bone mass was attained in youth, with genetics and race also being a factor. The higher your obtained peak mass during youth offers a better foundation for bone strength as you age.

A small body frame puts an individual at greater risk because there is less reserve of bone mass as we age. Dietary factors can also have an influence on bone loss, which include low calcium intake, restricting food intake with the avoidance of a balanced diet, and being underweight.

Lifestyle choices can also increase the risk factors for osteoporosis, which includes a sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption.

Typically, there are not any symptoms in the early stages of bone loss, but once the bones become weakened, back pain can occur from a fractured or collapsed vertebra, loss of height and stooped posture.

It is also a bone condition commonly known as the term “hunchback.”

The medical term for “hunchback” is Kyphosis. Kyphosis is a forward rounding of the back and becomes exaggerated as the shoulders and back begin to round forward. The result of the rounding is a weakness in the spinal bones.

There are three types of Kyphosis: congenital (at birth), postural (beginning in childhood), and Scheuermann’s (when the spinal bones grow in an abnormal wedged fashion).

Good nutrition and regular exercise are essential for healthy bones in all stages of life.

Men and women between the ages of eighteen and fifty need one thousand milligrams of calcium per day and should increase to an intake of approximately twelve hundred milligrams per day when women turn fifty, and men turn seventy.

Good sources of calcium include low-fat dairy products, dark green leafy vegetables, canned salmon, soy products, and orange juice. Calcium supplements can also be an additive to your diet; however, too much calcium intake may increase the risk of heart disease.

Vitamin D is also beneficial to the body’s ability to absorb calcium and improves bone health in many ways, with sunshine being a source, as well as many types of milk and cereal fortified with vitamin D.

Exercise is good for your bones, especially weight-bearing exercises. The combination of strength training in conjunction with balance exercises helps to strengthen the muscles and bones in your legs, core, upper body, and spine. Other exercises include walking and stair climbing.

If you feel that you may be at risk, it is advisable to meet with your physician for treatment, medication, supplements and exercise.

Live, love, life, and movement.

The Cumberland County Golf Championship is the oldest and continuously operating golf tournament in North Carolina. The guiding principles of the CCGC are heritage, legacy and youth development.

In 1974, former Fayetteville resident and professional golfer Chip Beck began his amateur career playing and winning the Cumberland County Golf Championship.

As a professional golfer, Beck has had four major victories on the PGA Tour and was runner-up in two U.S. Open Championships and the Masters in 1993.

Beck undoubtedly has inspired thousands of Cumberland County golfers who have competed in the CCGC over the last fifty-five years.

Billy West and Gary Robinson are two talented and notable Cumberland County golfers who have served as mentors and role models for young people and adults spanning nearly three decades.
These two talented and competitive golfers have seventeen CCGC titles between them. Together, they have set local Cumberland County golfing records that will very likely never be broken. Gary Robinson won the CCGC eight times, and Billy West, the 2022 defending champion, has nine.
Undoubtedly, there will be plenty of excitement and competition.

Golf as West vies for his 10th CCGC win on Oct. 13.

West serves as Cumberland County’s district attorney and is the National District Attorney Association president. He has competed in the Cumberland County Golf Championship for over 25 years.

Gates Four Country Club will host this year’s tournament from Oct. 13 through the 15th. The event will open with a welcoming Champion’s Reception on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m., hosted by the CCGC’s premier sponsors, The Richardson Law Firm, Transworld Business Advisors, Healy Wholesale, and Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper.

Bill Bowman, U&CW publisher and owner and CCGC tournament director since 2016, is proud to work with Gates Four General Manager Kevin Lavertu to keep this Fayetteville and Cumberland County golfing tradition alive.

The CCGC is proudly the longest continuous golf tournament in North Carolina.
Bowman has expanded the tournament in the last couple of years by adding a Women’s and Youth Division.

This year, Fayetteville’s local utility, PWC, became a Youth Division sponsor, encouraging young middle and high school golfers to compete in the tournament, knowing these are the champions of tomorrow.

In addition to the Gross Score winner, there will be a Net Score winner in each division, another innovative change to the 2023 tournament. The CCGC is traditionally a Gross Score event played per USGA rules.

The lowest Gross Score determines the Cumberland County Champion. By allowing golfers with established handicaps to compete for the Net Score title, he wants to encourage more golfers to experience the fun, excitement, and enjoyment of this high level of competition.

Bowman assumed the Tournament Directorship of the Cumberland County Golf Championship 2016.

However, he insists the success of the CCGC rests on the support of its dedicated local sponsors: Healy Wholesale, The Richardson Law Firm, Transworld Business Advisors, and Gates Four Country Club, to name a few.

Bowman is also the publisher of the Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper.
The Cumberland County Golf Championship supports the Kidsville News Literacy & Education Foundation, donating thousands of dollars to the KVN mission in prior years.

KVN is a nonprofit 501-c3 organization that provides reading, literacy and educational resources free to young children in Cumberland County.

Spectators are welcome all three days. The 55th Annual Cumberland County Golf Tournament at Gates Four Country Club is Oct. 13 through 15th, located at 6775 Irongate Dr. Fayetteville.
For more information, contact Bill Bowman, Tournament Director, at bbowman@upandcomingweekly.com or call 910-391-3859 or Kevin Lavertu, general manager, Gates Four Country Club, at 910-425-6667.

Autumn has arrived, bringing with it the arrival of the spooky season. It’s the perfect time to discover the happenings in and around Fayetteville.

Fall & Halloween Events That Will Thrill the Whole Family

Looking for ways to entertain the entire family? Look no further. These Fall and Halloween activities are guaranteed to be a hit with both kids and adults alike.

Oct. 13 through Oct. 28: Zombie Hayride and Haunted House
Defend your vehicle from waves of zombies by blasting them with glowing ammo from your mounted turret! Black Ops Paintball.
https://bit.ly/3timDqV

Oct. 14: Fall Festival at
LaFayette Ford
There will be plenty of fun for the whole family with vendors, games, prizes, and lots of trucks on display! Free event at LaFayette Ford.
https://bit.ly/48yRHCJ

Oct. 14: Halloween Bazaar
50+ vendors, food trucks, music, and kid activities; come dressed up and do trick or treating at the booths! Free fall photos with a backdrop! Free event at East Hoke Middle School Field.
https://bit.ly/3tiD0nl

Oct. 19 through 21 & 26 through 27: Halloween Revels “Moonlight Mischief” at the 1897 Poe House
“Hallowe’en Revels: Moonlight Mischief” spotlights historic Halloween fun in an actual historic home. Not your traditional haunted house! $8 for tickets at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex.
https://bit.ly/3LKj6b2

Oct. 26 through 29: Halloween at the BOO-tanical Garden 2023
It’s a Monster Bash Dance Party at the 2023 Halloween at the Boo-tanical Garden, presented by Cape Fear Valley Health! $7 to $12 at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.
https://bit.ly/3ZBKZYJ

Oct. 28: Harleyween at Fort Bragg Harley
Free food, vendors, trunk or treat, bounce house, & much more! Free at the Fort Bragg Harley-Davidson.
https://bit.ly/3tc2hzj

Oct. 28: Special Olympics Cumberland County Fall Festival
A day of fun with Local Vendors, Games, Community Resources, and so much more!! Open to the public, with all proceeds going to support our Local Special Olympics Athletes. Free event at 352 Devers St, Fayetteville.
https://bit.ly/48wdRpn

Oct. 29: Halloween Extravaganza
This year’s Halloween Extravaganza offers something for every age. Proceeds will support our Food Pantry that serves Cumberland County. $5 to $20 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
https://bit.ly/3ZHY4zS

Oct. 31: Fall Festival
Enjoy a parking lot full of festive trunks, carnival games, bounce houses, food and tons of candy. Free event at Village Baptist Church.
https://bit.ly/46f6KzX

Oct. 31: Trick-or-Treat Downtown
Join local businesses, merchants, and retailers in Downtown Fayetteville as they pass out candy to Trick-or-Treaters of all ages. Free throughout Downtown Fayetteville.
https://bit.ly/48Fx7Rs

Oct. 22: Halloween Golf
Tournament
Grab your clubs, grab a costume, and get a team together for the first Halloween golf tournament at Gates Four Country Club.

Unleash Your Inner Ghoul at These Adults-Only Events. Embrace the darkness and eerie ambiance at these exhilarating events tailored specifically for grown-ups.

Oct. 14: Spooky Sip & Paint
Girl’s Night spooky edition! Come out for a night of fun with art, music, food, and much more! Don’t forget to come dressed for the contest! $48 to $100 on Hay Street, Fayetteville.
https://bit.ly/3PEmXb0

Oct. 14: Cookie Crime Class: Halloween Themed
This is for those ladies who desperately need an evening out to unwind, take a mommy break, or hang with their girlfriends. $60 at Dirty Whiskey Craft Cocktail Bar.
https://bit.ly/45hna9V

Oct. 21: 2023 Pinwheel Masquerade Ball & Auction
Enjoy captivating dancing, exquisite cuisine, and exciting surprises. The event will include a DJ, dance demos, photo booth, auction, and mask contest. $75 at Cape Fear Botanical Garden.
https://bit.ly/45eeVLE

Oct. 26: Fang Tastic Feast Charcuterie Workshop
This board will be perfect to take home and share for a spooky movie night that weekend! $80 at The Downtown Market.
https://bit.ly/3rGrEZF

Oct. 26: The Stolen Recipe (Mystery Dinner)
Join us for an unforgettable evening of mystery, food, and fun. Free at Cooking4Fitness, LLC.
https://bit.ly/3F1IfdF

Oct. 28: HALO-Ween Party
The biggest party of the year! Cash & prizes to the best Halloween costume. Event at Club Halo.
https://bit.ly/3F2Sf6g

Oct. 28: Halloween Adult Costume Contest
Put on your best costume for a chance to win amazing cash prizes.
Event at Wana Navu Kava Bar.
https://bit.ly/3F2qta2

Oct. 28: Full Moon Meditate & Paint Class
The Full Moon is a time of culmination and the promise of fulfillment of that which was started at the New Moon. $45 at Prima Elements Holistic Wellness Center.
https://bit.ly/3PIE1g0

Spend the night filled with horror and excitement; experience the thrills and chills at these haunted attractions!

Backwoods Terror Ranch
Experience the horrifying experiments of Dr. Surgeon through 3 Terrifying Haunted attractions.
Sweet Valley Ranch, 2990 Sunnyside School Road, Fayetteville
https://bit.ly/46f0xnN

Aberdeen Fear Factory
The dead are walking the grounds of Aberdeen Fear Factory, and they need to be put down. It’s up to you to make sure the zombies don’t break through the containment area.
10570 NC-211, Aberdeen
https://bit.ly/3RFwAbR

Hollerin Haunts Hayride
Featuring SIX thrilling attractions in one place, it’s the go-to destination for a spooktacular good time for family and friends! 2914 Bud Johnson Rd, Clinton
https://bit.ly/45gvUwI

Trunk-or-Treat Here! Here are a few of the local trunk-or-treat events taking place. It’s a great alternative to traditional trick-or-treating.

Oct. 13: 6 to 8 p.m. Exit Realty (250 Lindsay Rd, Raeford Location)
Oct. 15- 3 to 5 p.m. Haymount United Methodist Church
Oct. 20: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Crossroads Church
Oct. 21- 4 to 8 p.m. Legacy Athletics
Oct. 20: noon to 2 p.m. Stoney Point Fire Department
Oct. 25: 4 to 7 p.m. Harmony at Hope Mills
Oct. 26: 4 to 7 p.m. Fit 4 Life Health Club (210 Owen Drive Location)
Oct. 27: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Town of Hope Mills, 5763 Rockfish Rd, Hope Mills
Oct. 27: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Hall Park
Oct. 28: 6 to 9 p.m. Fort Liberty Soldier Support Center
Oct. 28: 3 to 9 p.m. Seth’s Wish
Oct. 28: 2 to 5 p.m. On-After Pub & Grub
Oct. 28: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tabernacle Baptist Church of Rockfish
Oct. 29: 3 to 5 p.m. Fayetteville Christian Church
Oct. 29: 4 to 6 p.m. Northwood Temple Church, Pope AFB
Oct. 29: Dirtbag Farmers Market
Oct. 31: 4 p.m. Patriot K-Nine Training & Behavior
Oct. 31: 6 to 8 p.m. East Hoke Middle School

A fall fest with a truly remarkable cause, the Fayetteville Foster Care Fall Fest will take place on Oct. 21st at the Kiwanis Recreation Center located at 352 Devers Street from 2 to 5 p.m. This event is free, open to the public, and an opportunity for community members interested in becoming foster parents to learn about the process and provide support for those who are currently fostering.

The schedule of events includes a chili cookoff starting at 2 p.m., trick or treating and a kids’ costume contest from 3 to 5:30 p.m. All chili aficionados should try their skills for a chance to win an apron and trophy and sign up for the cookoff. There are plenty of spots open. Anyone interested in signing up can email Stephanie Miles, clinical supervisor for the LifeSet program at Youth Villages, at stephanie.colgrove@youthvillages.org.

“Personally, I do what I do because I want to be the help and change I needed when I was younger. I want to make a difference in a positive way to others and my community,” she said.

Entertainment will be provided by For You Sounds D.J. Entertainment. Attendees will also be able to enjoy games and vendors while learning more about the foster care program from local organizations that include Family Services of America, Cumberland County DSS, Fayetteville Urban Ministries and Carolina Treatment Center.

Vendor spots are available for local businesses and organizations. All those interested should email Miles as soon as possible.

Not only will this event be packed full of fun and food, but with a purpose. Stephanie Miles says, “Foster Care Fall Fest is intended to bring together the community to raise awareness and provide resources to and about foster care individuals and agencies,” said Miles.

“Its purpose is to provide information about available resources that can help the foster care community. This is foster youth, foster parents, group homes, adoptive parents and anyone that feels like they want to help and learn more.”

Youth Villages is hosting this year’s event.

“[The organization] is a force for families, nonprofit organization. Our mission is to help children and families live successfully. We value providing a safe space and always strive to achieve positive and long-lasting results,” said Miles.

“We are also an organization that’s committed to its staff, and we create new programs to meet the needs of children, families, and the community. We are currently in 26 states and Washington D.C. and have three programs here in Fayetteville. Intercept is our intensive in-home service with a well-supported ranking from the Family First Clearinghouse, LifeSet is our service that helps young adults who are aging out of foster care develop independent living skills, and the Hi-Fidelity Wraparound program.”

Events like these rely heavily on community support.

“Their hard work and collaboration are what makes this event happen. And I would like to thank my supervisor, Kyle Coleman, for the support and guidance with this event,” said Miles.

This year’s event is sponsored by Living Water Church, Fayetteville Cumberland County Parks and Recreation in conjunction with Kiwanis Rec Center, Falcon Children’s Home and the Home Study Services of N.C.

Come out and support the foster community, have some fun and eat some chili.

It’s spooky season and there will be no shortage of free, family-friendly events in Fayetteville this October. LaFayette Ford is hosting their annual Fall Festival on Oct. 14th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the dealership located at 5202 Raeford Road.

This year’s event is focused on the community and families and will be collecting canned food for Second Harvest Food Bank, an organization dedicated to eradicating hunger in Cumberland County and beyond.

Families are encouraged to come out in costume and enjoy all the fun activities planned for the afternoon. There will be kids’ games, face painting, and of course, a Trunk or Treat hosted by the staff.

Attendees will be placed in raffles for a chance to win prizes during the event. The Fall Festival will host tons of local vendors and food trucks. Some of the vendors include Simply Made by Scottie, My Southern Charm, Cool Spring Downtown, Handmade Soaps by Melanie Gill, Sister to Sister Sugar Scrubs, NC Navigator Consortium Project and Team Rubicon, to name a few.

New cars will not be the only thing on the dealership lot that day. Little ones will be able to check out vehicles from the City of Fayetteville and first responder organizations. The Fayetteville Woodpeckers mascot, Bunker, will be on-site to take pictures and help keep the energy going.

“The goal of our event is to give back to our community and provide an opportunity for community members to come out and have a fun day with their families. Everything about our event is focused on that goal,” said Addison Fisher Cummings, social media manager for LaFayette Ford.

“We’ll have Q98 out broadcasting the day of the event and the Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center is bringing out their Blood Mobile for a blood drive. We’ll be hosting a food drive for the Second Harvest Food Bank and the first 250 guests to bring a canned food donation will receive lunch on us from one of our onsite food trucks — Chrison’s Cuisine, Allisons Fast Food, and Some Ting’s Cookin’.”

The Fall Festival at LaFayette Ford is not the first event of its kind for the local business.

“This will be our 3rd year hosting the event,” said Fisher Cummings. “Supporting our community has always been an integral part of who we are as a company. In 2020 when many community events were postponed, we missed getting to interact with and give back to our community. In the fall of 2021, we wanted to find a way to support our community and the organizations we partner with regularly, as well as offer a way to bring people together to have fun with their families. That year, we hosted our first Truck Day and since then it has grown and evolved into our annual Fall Festival.”

For those interested, there are vendor spots available, but they are limited. Interested parties are asked to contact LaFayette Ford as soon as possible to secure a spot. For more information on this event, visit the dealership’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/lafayettefordfayetteville/

The Child Advocacy Center presents the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction to Unmask Child Abuse on Saturday, Oct. 21st, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

The event will include an auction, a DJ, dance demos, exquisite cuisine, a photo booth, a mask contest and more. The dress code is semi-formal attire, black tie optional, with an elegant mask, according to the Child Advocacy Center.

All net proceeds will help fund the center’s various child abuse prevention and intervention programs.

Tickets cost $100 for an individual, $175 for a couple and a VIP table for $1200. To purchase tickets visit https://www.cacfaync.org/how-to-help/pinwheel-masquerade-ball.html and scroll to the yellow button that says “Get your tickets now.”

For more information on various ways to sponsor this event and how to donate items for the auction please visit https://www.cacfaync.org/how-to-help/pinwheel-masquerade-ball.html, or call the Child Advocacy Center at 910-486-9700.

The Child Advocacy Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and was founded in 1993 by a group of concerned and proactive people who wanted to coordinate services provided to victims of child abuse and their families.

The CAC received referrals for 959 reported cases of child abuse in fiscal year 2021.

Their mission is to help victims of child abuse and prevent it. The center coordinates with various agencies, law enforcement, social workers, child protective services and more.

By coordinating with multiple agencies, the CAC reduces the number of interviews victims of child abuse must endure by providing specially trained professionals to conduct a forensic interview in a centralized location.

The funding from various organizations, grants, event sponsorships and donations make it possible for the CAC to help child abuse victims and their families.

One of the CAC’s programs, Darkness to Light, D2L, Stewards of Children, a child sexual abuse prevention class, uses a research and evidence-based program to prevent child sexual abuse. D2L teaches adults to recognize, prevent, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.

North Carolina is one of the top ten states in human trafficking, according to the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission. Cumberland County’s distance to I-95 is a contributing factor because the highway makes it easier for criminals to transport child abuse victims and evade authorities.

Further, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Children’s Bureau’s “Child Maltreatment 2021” report, North Carolina had over 20,000 child abuse cases. Child maltreatment covers four types of maltreatment: physical, neglect, emotional, and sexual abuse.

These alarming numbers demonstrate why CAC, an organization dedicated to helping child abuse victims and preventing child abuse, is an indispensable part of our community.

These numbers highlight the urgent need for support systems that can intervene, protect and help child abuse victims and their families.

The CAC does just that. Donating to the CAC or sponsoring their events help those already affected and helps their mission to prevent and eliminate child abuse in our community.

To donate to CAC or help out in another way, visit their how-to-help page, https://www.cacfaync.org/how-to-help/.

The Clayton Piano Festival returns this year for season 12, which will run from Oct. 14th through Dec. 16th. As in previous years, there will be multiple venues and themes featuring international touring artists.
First up is “Pictures from an Exhibition” featuring Asiya Korepanova on Oct. 14th at 7:30 p.m. This special evening, where audiences will hear her perform some of her own transcriptions of beloved classical works, will take place in the newly renovated Paul A. Johnston Auditorium.

Korepanova is an internationally renowned pianist and visual artist; the concert will feature visual projections of her artwork to go along with certain pieces.
“I’m excited about our collaboration with JCC to present our opening concert at the newly renovated Paul A. Johnston Auditorium. This is a place where I experienced so many inspiring events growing up in Johnston County, and the new theater and staff are outstanding,” stated Jonathan Levin, Clayton Piano Festival Director.

On Oct. 26th, the festival returns to the beautiful Twin Oaks Barn with “The Transcendental Piano,” a unique concert with pianist and composer Jeremy Jordan.
Jordan’s skills for complicated musical settings border on the miraculous.

Equally adept in classical and jazz styles, he will present his own transcriptions and interpretations of everything from classical opera to jazz standards.

“In November, we return to present one of our ‘CPF Live Sessions’ concerts at Hopper Piano Company in Raleigh,” says Levin, speaking of the unique virtual events the festival began offering during COVID.
On November 11th, pianist and author Matthew Harrison will headline an intimate and fun, podcast-style concert, “Rachmaninoff @ 150,” celebrating what would have been the composer’s 150th birthday.
Rachmaninoff was one of the most prodigious pianists and composers of the 20th Century.

The event will take audiences behind the scenes of this live filming, with candid conversations about the music and an audience Q&A.

To close out the season, the Clayton Piano Festival’s annual Holiday Gala Concert will be held at the beautiful Twin Oaks Barn. The Dec. 16th event will feature multiple genres and instrumental and vocal acts, including international touring vocalist Tyrone Chambers, in addition to other special guests who will be announced later in Oct.

Levin says the holiday gala is always a favorite among festival attendees.

“We’ll be presenting some of your favorite holiday music, followed by a festive reception,” he said.

To purchase tickets and for more information about Clayton Piano Festival, go to claytonpianofestival.org/season12.

As the opportunity for outdoor activities dwindles while the weather gets cooler, concert-goers in Fayetteville have one last chance to rock during the final concert in the Rock N’ On The River Concert Series.

The final concert on Friday, Oct. 20, will begin at 6 p.m. behind Deep Creek Outfitters off Person Street and feature opening band Möstley Crüe, a Mötley Crüe tribute band, followed by Shoot to Thrill, an all-girls ACDC tribute group.

“Just come out and bring your chairs and have a fun time,” said Wendy Brancaccio of Shoot to Thrill.
Both bands combine the fun of rock and roll with a family-friendly atmosphere, Brancaccio said, adding that the members of Shoot to Thrill and Möstley Crüe have been friends for years and even share equipment with one another.

“They (both bands) kind of root for each other; they dig each other, so, and there’s a lot of energy from the stage,” said event organizer Greg Adair.

Adair said the two bands rounding out the concert series are a great way to end this year’s event with a bang.

“We’ve been really fortunate this year because everybody that we brought into the Rock N’ On The River has been just dynamite,” Adair said.

Each concert in the series this year has drawn crowds ranging in size from 300 to 500 people, but Adair said he’s hoping for a larger crowd for the final night.

The concert series happens monthly throughout the summer each year. He said it’s a great chance for the community to come together and enjoy life.

Admission, which is free, begins at 5 p.m. with the opening band beginning at 6 p.m. and the headlining band starting at 8 p.m. and playing until around 10 p.m. Parking costs $10. Security will be present to maintain safety.

The event will offer concert-goers fresh food and soft drinks from Deep Creek Grill as well as water, beer and wine from sponsor Healy Wholesale, Adair said.

Brancaccio said she and her group enjoy playing ACDC songs because the music appeals to so many people across generations.

“I think it’s nice to have people of all ages there just having fun,” Brancaccio said.
Shoot to Thrill loves to get the audience involved in their performances, Brancaccio said, and described the band as “Five girls just having fun.”

“We have a lot of fun onstage and offstage together,” she said.

Gabriel Pettit of Möstley Crüe said this will be his band’s fourth performance in the series, and they always look forward to and consider it a joy to share the stage with Shoot to Thrill.

Pettit said his favorite part about performing is the audience.

“There’s no other reason to do what we do,” he said. “Obviously, playing is fun, but seeing people get a thrill out of what you do and enjoying themselves, there’s no better rush.”

Like Brancaccio, Pettit also enjoys seeing various age groups represented in the audience enjoying his group’s music.

“If you’re looking for a really good time with a band that sounds like the record, we’re the ones to come see,” Pettit said.

Partners for the event include Healy Wholesale, Up & Coming Weekly, 96.5 Bob FM, Sandy’s Automotive, Darling Ingredients, Boose and Stewart Law Offices, Cumberland Insulation and Karen Chandler Trust.

For more information, visit Rock N’ On The River’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/people/Rockn-On-The-River/100049990406810/.

Birth is the culmination of months of balancing life while making sure to take care of oneself and the baby for women around the world. What is supposed to be a beautiful day, ending with a new member of the family, is producing a vastly different outcome for black and indigenous people of color and their families.

The Doula Fair, presented by Black Birth Rising Inc. and Divine Doula Goddess, is set for Oct. 14 at Divine Doula Goddess, 1047 Murchison Road, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Doula Fair was the brainchild of Shatara Het-Heru Bey, a local “spiritual doula,” and owner of a spiritual shop and birthing education center, Divine Doula Goddess.

With BIPOC maternal and infant deaths on the rise, Het-Heru Bey and her co-organizers, Black Birth Rising, want this event to be an educational one, not only about maternal rights but the benefits of having a doula on a birthing team. There will be a prenatal meditation session led by Het-Heru Bey herself, an ask-a-doula breakout session and self-advocacy training. Het-Heru Bey hopes the event will clear up a few things and educate moms and dads alike.

“There are so many misconceptions about what we do. A lot of people think that doulas are just for home births,” she said. “Some people think doulas are just to deliver the baby, some people think that doulas mean you want a natural birth… also for people to know that they have access to black doulas in the community, there are many black doulas.”

Het-Heru Bey has been a professional doula since 2018.

“I trained back in 2018 here in Fayetteville, I had a lot of different people tell me I needed to become a doula. I didn’t know what a doula was,” said Het-Heru Bey. “I was already advocating, and I was used to advocating for us, melanated bodies, indigenous bodies, as far as our rights in the hospital, immunizations and just awareness. Our babies, our bodies.”

In the midst of the pandemic, Het-Heru Bey felt the calling and acted on it by opening up her brick-and-mortar in 2020.

“We don’t do anything clinical, we don’t have that clinical feel; everything about me is ancestral energy, our culture, our traditions, our way of life, way of living, so that’s the energy I usually come with,” she said.

After experiencing the loss of her third child, Nolen, to SIDS soon after her induction, Het-Heru Bey became an avid advocate for women’s bodies and those of their babies.

“At first it seemed normal, but then the more research I did, I realized that babies don’t just suddenly die. And in also here in the United States, a lot of our babies, black babies, are dying,” said Het-Heru Bey. “I then started diving in and doing my own research on black women, statistics, what happens medically with us, what happens when it comes to our babies and I was like, ok, this is not normal.”

Her focus now is to make sure moms here in Fayetteville are safe, whether they are delivering in the hospital or at home, and to educate a new generation of doulas.

Het-Heru Bey offers a doula certification program that includes mentorship.
Information about booking doula services and/or becoming a doula can be found on her website, divinedoulagoddess.com.

Halloween is often just what the doctor ordered. Nestled between the start of a new school year and the arrival of the holiday season, Halloween is an opportunity for children and adults alike to have fun as they dress up in costumes and indulge in sweet treats.

Even though Halloween is designed to be an entertaining day, it’s not without its risks. The Child Safety Network says, on average, two times as many child pedestrians die on Halloween compared to other days.

Costume safety and food allergies are additional hazards to contend with on Halloween. Parents can work together to help reduce the safety risks associated with Halloween.

Light it up

Lack of visibility and dim lighting at night increases the risk of pedestrians being struck by cars on Halloween.

Improving visibility can go a long way toward reducing accidents and related deaths.

Homeowners can keep the lights turned on and perhaps illuminate neighborhoods even more by temporarily installing strands of Christmas or bistro style lights.

Reflective tape placed on candy bags or somewhere on costumes can also help.

Set up safe trick-or-treat zones.

The popularity of trunk-or-treat events that emerged several years ago took some of the risk out of Halloween by containing trick-or-treating to a parking lot at a school or church.

Neighbors can establish something similar close to home by petitioning the town for permits to close a specific road or roads to vehicular traffic for a “block party” of sorts.

Residents in the area can trick-or-treat and party in the street without risk of injury from cars.
Check candy

There is a risk of eating candy without thought, but that risk is now primarily related to food allergies. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that, each year in the U.S., allergic reactions to food result in 30,000 emergency room visits, 2,000 hospitalizations, and 150 deaths.

Common allergens include peanuts, nuts, eggs, and dairy.

Others may be intolerant to ingredients like gluten or soy. Inspecting candy nutrition information can help weed out candy that may cause a reaction for those with food allergies or other concerns.

Prepare homes

Adults and parents can take additional steps to prepare their homes for Halloween.
Keep the porch and front yard clear of tripping hazards, such as garden hoses, decorations and toys.

Sweep away leaves and branches to prevent tripping or slipping.

Restrain pets so they do not jump on trick-or-treaters. Offer a variety of treats for kids of all ages so trick-or-treaters get age-appropriate items.

Halloween fun and safety can go hand-in-hand this October.

School children in Cumberland County are invited to enter the Cumberland County Board of Elections’ inaugural “I Voted” sticker design contest.

The winning sticker design will be used during the 2024 General Election in the County.

The contest is open to students in Cumberland County in grades 6 through 12 enrolled in public, private and charter schools as well as home-schooled students. The Board of Elections is currently accepting sticker designs.

Contestants must have written consent from their parent, guardian or custodian. Each contestant will be allowed to submit one sticker design.

Sticker designs must be a 4-inch circle format capable of being reduced to a 2-inch format. The design must incorporate Cumberland County symbols, landmarks and voting themes. Submissions must be in JPEG, PNG or PDF formats.

The deadline for the Cumberland County Board of Elections to receive sticker contest submissions is Dec. 15, 2023, no later than 5 p.m.

The form may be returned in person, by U.S. Mail, or submitted electronically via the website. Send mailed forms to Cumberland County Board of Elections, 227 Fountainhead Lane, Suite 101, Fayetteville, NC 28301.

To download the submission form and to submit electronically, go to

cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/election-group/elections/sticker-design-contest.

The “I Voted” sticker contest will consist of three rounds of voting to choose a winning design. In the first round, all approved sticker designs will be displayed on the Cumberland County Board of Elections website for 30 days.

Members of the public will vote for 10 sticker designs to advance to round two.
In round two, members of the public will again be able to vote for sticker designs. The top three designs selected during round two will advance to the final round.

The Cumberland County Board of Elections members and the Elections director will vote for one winning “I Voted” sticker design from the three finalists.

The sticker voted by a majority of the Board of Elections members will be declared the contest winner.

The “I Voted” sticker contest is nonpartisan. Submissions with any reference or suggestion to party affiliation or political issues that may have appeared on a ballot will not be accepted.

See the complete contest rules to include policy and acknowledgment forms online at cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/election-group/elections/sticker-design-contest.

The Cumberland County Board of Elections is located in the E. Newton Smith Center at 227 Fountainhead Lane, Fayetteville, N.C.

For more information, call 910-678-7733 or visit cumberlandcountync.gov/elections.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is accepting entries to its 19th annual Wildlife in North Carolina Photo Competition. Entries will be accepted until Jan. 31, 2024.

The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers of all ages, except for employees of the Wildlife Commission and their immediate families.

Adult competition entrants must be current magazine subscribers. Photographers in the two youth categories, 13 to 17 years old and 12 and under, may enter without a subscription.

Only digital entries in JPEG format, no larger than 2 MB, will be considered — no slides, negatives or prints will be accepted. Photographs must have been taken in North Carolina on Sept. 15, 2019 or later.

Entrants may submit a maximum of two photos per category. The competition categories are:

•  Animal Behavior
•  Birds
•  Invertebrates
•  Mammals
•  Outdoor Recreation
•  Reptiles and Amphibians
•  Wild Landscapes
•  Wild Plants and Fungi

Youth photographers, 13 to 17 can enter in any of the above subjects, shot by children ages 13 to 17.

Youth photographers, 12 and under can enter any of the above subjects, shot by children 12 and younger.

Photos of captive native animals are allowed, but photos of animals that are both captive and non-native to North Carolina will not be accepted. No pets or domestic animals will be accepted, except animals participating with people in an outdoor activity, such as hunting dogs or horses with riders.

Entries will be judged by a panel comprising staff from the Wildlife Commission and professional wildlife photographers. The grand prize winner’s photo will be published on the cover of the July/August 2024 issue of Wildlife in North Carolina, and the winner will receive a cash prize of $200. All winning photos will be published in the July/August 2024 issue. Cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50 will be awarded to the first, second and third place photographers, respectively, in each category.

Additional details about the contest and past winning photos are available at ncwildlife.org/contest.

Wildlife in North Carolina is published bimonthly by the Wildlife Commission in both print and electronic formats. Subscribers to the magazine enjoy exceptional color photography and articles on hunting, fishing, natural areas, wildlife research and the state’s environment in every issue. Annual subscriptions to the printed version of the magazine are $12. A digital subscription is $10; a combination digital/print subscription is $15.

About the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

Since 1947, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has been dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of the state’s fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use and public input. The Commission is the state regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws and provides programs and opportunities for wildlife-related educational, recreational and sporting activities.

Get N.C. Wildlife Update — news including season dates, bag limits, legislative updates and more — delivered free to your Inbox from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

All three of the regular readers of this column have probably heard of the internet by now. However, in the interest of hoping for a fourth reader, today’s column will explain how the internet works. As most people know, the internet is a series of wires and tubes hanging in the upper stratosphere suspended by bungee cords from ultra violet rainbows which are invisible to the naked eye.

I know these things about how the internet is arranged because I did my own research on the internet. The rest of this column is based upon things I learned from the internet.

Like Alice’s Restaurant, you can get anything you want on the internet. You can do many things on the internet such as buying items from China, betting on losing football teams, threatening total strangers and assuming the identities of other people.

The first model of the internet was invented in 1943 by Soviet scientists who were looking for an easy way to have bottles of vodka delivered to them during the Second World War.

The Russian internet consisted of a series of empty tin cans tightly tied together by strings. Ivan would yell into one tin can. The vibrations would travel up to 30 feet through the string to cause most words to vibrate in the tin can held by Sergei at the other end.

Astrophysicists later called this concept String Theory. Earth women and men use String Theory to string along second choice romantic partners while hoping for a better offer.
With the advent of communication through tin cans and string, a huge demand for string developed.

The Hunt Brothers were behind 1948’s Great String Shortage when they attempted to corner the string market. They collected their inventory to store in the World’s Second Largest Ball of Twine on the face of the Earth.

This is the very ball of twine that Clark Griswold and his family visited in 1983 while on their vacation trip to Wally World. Unfortunately for the Hunt brothers, the bottom of the string market fell out after Dr. Otto

Frankenstein invented the series of wires and tubes that make up our current internet rendering the old string/can internet system obsolete.

Pro tip: You can still see the world’s second largest ball of string near the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota.

Now that the history of the internet is clear, let us consider what is the highest and best use of the internet. Without a doubt, the Prime Directive of the internet is to argue with friends and total strangers on Social Media.

While sitting in a darkened room, one can change the entire course of human existence by shouting insults at the rest of the world in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, or putting up memes that support your political viewpoint.

No one has the ability to disagree with what you put up on the internet. As the King of Siam once said: “So let it be written. So let it be done.”

If you type it, everyone will follow your directions. The world will change at your whim. Go ahead. Try it.

There are certain code phrases which absolutely will convince any doubters of the correct line of your thought when posted on the internet. Learn the following key phrases to quell any dissent.

If you see something you don’t like, type “Nothing could be further from the truth.” That squelches all debate. If you want to sound profound, type a statement followed by “Let that sink in.”

If you want to catch the attention of the world with some startling new research you found, type “This is jaw dropping information” or “This is a real game changer.” Any meme that you put up will change the thoughts of everyone else on Earth.

A great way to say I told you so is to type “Remember what I wrote 7 years ago.” Everyone will always remember what you wrote back then even if they can’t remember what they had for lunch yesterday. Trust me., the world is hanging on every word you post.

If you don’t like a politician, type “Who thinks Mr. X should be kicked out of Congress?’ or “Mr. X should be in jail.”

Seeking consensus? Type a crazy rant followed by any of these phrases: “Who agrees with me?” “Retweet if you stand with me.” “Let’s see who is brave enough to share this.” “Can’t we all agree that XYX is true?” No one will dare disagree.

All of these statements are guaranteed to bring the entire universe over to your point of view. The more emphatic your statement is, the more people it will convince, particularly if you type it in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.

Subtlety is wasted. Shrieking dogmatic statements are all you need to make your opinion the opinion of all mankind. Don’t believe me? Was Hop Sing the cook at the Ponderosa on Bonanza?
Let a thousand rants bloom.

My, my! Wouldn’t prior generations of North Carolinians be astounded to learn that the Old North State just barely missed legalizing casino gambling in 2023?
Long known as a part of the Bible Belt, even a lesser one, North Carolina has a long heritage of straight-laced legislative actions, even if legislators themselves were really mandating, “do as I say, not as I do.”

Take alcohol policy, for example. While Prohibition was repealed and liquor sales became legal in the 1930s, albeit only in state controlled stores, North Carolina did not allow liquor by the drink in restaurants until 1978.

Even then, a certain amount of food sales were required. And, as we all know, liquor sales to both individuals and businesses remain controlled by the state.

So, it took many Tar Heels, including this one, by surprise when Republican State Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, a staunch conservative if ever there were one, came out in favor of casino gambling.
Berger was so pro gambling, in fact, that he used his iron-fisted power to hold up passage of a much-delayed budget for the entire state!

His determination to allow casino gambling kept teachers and state employees wondering whether they would get raises and kept about 600,000 North Carolinians on pins and needles as to whether they would get Medicaid health insurance.

Berger and his supporters finally caved and abandoned their gambling plans and a potential casino in Berger’s legislative district, only after so many legislators, including Republicans, refused to play along.
The Republican religious right has got to be scratching their heads that one of their own promoted legalizing casino gambling and wondering whether it will rise again in the General Assembly.

Closer to home, Fayetteville City Council puts the brakes on a proposed 11 p.m. curfew for residents under 16 years old put forward by Police Chief Kem Braden. The Chief’s proposal is understandable.

Teenagers are still learning how to interact with others, and their parents are not always aware of what they are up to, even though we might wish they were more present. That said, the curfew notion is not dead.
Council wisely decided to seek more buy-in from other stakeholders, including the school system, social services agencies and others. As parents, including Hillary Clinton, it takes a village to raise a child.

In my younger years, I was thrilled to refer to myself as a “woman,” but now that I really am one, I often use the word “girl’ to describe human beings who really are girls in age as well as my own friends and contemporaries, who are decidedly not girls by age.

If you could see us, you would immediately understand how ridiculous that appellation is. But who knew “girl” has become a loaded word.

Marie Solis wrote an entire column about “Girls” last month in the New York Times, and she makes several fascinating yet different points about the use of “girl.”

Solis did her homework and linguistics professor Nicole Holliday said, “this kind of term is known to rhetoric experts as ‘vocative,’ which is used to call someone in. This seems to be especially true in internet communications.”

Says Solis, “the word ‘girl’ is in diametrical opposition not to ‘boy’ but to ‘woman,’ allowing women to enjoy simple feminine pleasures without the complications associated with womanhood.

She quotes New Orleans resident Hillary Keeney, a fully grown 46, “no one is going to say ‘woman dinner’ or ‘women’s night out.’ That’s too serious.”

“Girl” may be associated with frivolity and fun, but there is a silver lining to that; according to Marlowe Granados, who wrote in The Baffler, such perception is a positive.

“If people underestimate you, there’s actually room to move around, and you can give people a shock when you prove them wrong.”

Millions of women in my generation will testify to that.

Meanwhile, in the summer of 2023, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, and Barbie, girly girls all, are laughing their way to the bank.