If you are looking for a powerhouse of an organization that packs a lot of punch for Fayetteville area kids — and their families — check out the YMCA.

Their motto is building strong kids, strong families and strong communities. They are committed to putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Locally, the YMCA has two sites, one on Fort Bragg Road and one on Ellison Street in Hope Mills.

By providing reasonable membership rates that start at $12 a month for youth and go up to $90 per month for a family of four, the YMCA looks to make healthy living affordable.

Swimming lessons are available at the Rae O Hope pool on Hope Mills Road as well as the Fort Bragg Road indoor pool. The Rae O Hope outdoor pool also offers seasonal membership as well.

With school out for the summer, the YMCA is adding day camps to their repertoire. Through Aug.13 preschool discovery camp is offered for children between the ages of three and fi ve who have not yet attended kindergarten. According to the website “The curriculum is an enhanced version of our P.R.E.P. (Preschool Recreation and Education Program) which runs during the regular school year with additional fi eld trips and activities such a swimming and nature hikes.” This camp is offered at the Hope Mills location.

The Summer Blockbuster camp is offered at both locations. It runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is a new theme every week that includes special guests and field trips. Kids have to be between the ages of five and 12 to attend.

“Summer camp programs go on one fi eld trip at least once a week, they go swimming, and we do arts and crafts,” said Audraw Williams, YMCA site director. “The theme this year is blockbuster. We take little movies and show it to the parents at the end of each week. Basically we pick a movie and we make arts and crafts related to that movie.”

There is a sports program that accommodates kids from three to nine years old. The goal here is to help children learn/ develop basic skills and rules, teamwork and confidence. Leagues offered are basketball, soccer, flag football and baseball.

“We offer cheerleding and gymnastics in September too,” said Williams. “We have a school of dance that is called Angelic Arts. Our swim team is a year-round program that serves ages 5 and up.”

Times are tough all over and nonprofi ts are no exception, but the local YMCA continues to serve the community, and do their best to reach as many people as possible.

“We are a nonprofit and it is all about community,” said Williams. “To make it affordable for everybody to use is one of our missions. We don’t turn anybody away. We try to get everybody into the facility.”

For more information visit www.fayettevilleymca. org or call 323-0800.

School will be starting soon and the Cumberland County School System wants to make sure that students are prepared by having the “Help Stuff the Bus” initiative on Tax Free Friday, Aug. 6 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. at all Wal-Mart locations.

The collection sites are on Raeford Road, Skibo Road, Ramsey Street, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. Cumberland County School employees will be at each Wal- Mart location collecting donations of school supplies from sun up to sun down.

“This is the third year we have had this school-supply drive,” said Pamela Story, Cumberland County Schools’ social work coordinator. “We are partnering with Operation Home Front and will distribute the donations to the homeless and less fortunate students in the Cumberland County and Fort Bragg School Systems.

Story added that last school year more than 400 backpacks were given to Cumberland County School students and this year’s goal is to stuff 600 backpacks. More than 600 homeless students have been identifi ed in Cumberland County Schools for the 2010-2011 school year.

The items most needed include backpacks, three-ring binders, pocket folders, loose leaf paper, mechanical and colored pencils, school uniforms, hand sanitizer, marble composition books, and other items.

“The donations we collect reduces the amount we must spend from our McKinney Vento Homeless Education Grant that assists students in homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and transitional housing,” said Story.

“The items will be distributed after August 18,” she noted, adding that families in need of school supplies should contact the school social worker at their child’s school.

“We are proud to add the Spring Lake Wal-Mart as a collection site this year,” said Story. “We are overwhelmed by the number of volunteers who have agreed to help out such as athletes, school clubs, sororities, the police department, school social workers, banks, concerned citizens, and we hope to see everyone at one of the area Wal-Mart locations.”

Donations are also being accepted at the CCS Social Work offi ce located at 2465 Gillespie St. between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For more information call 678-2419 or 678-7014.

With a history that spans hundreds of years and a following that numbers in the hundreds of thousands at least, pool is a game for everyone. In fact the American Pool players Association (APA) boasts a membership of more than 265,000 and more than 250 franchises. Fayetteville’s APA league has more than 1,600 members according to League Operator Tom Dosier.

As the league operator, Dosier considers it his responsibility to keep the local billiards subculture fun and interesting. One of the ways he does that is by bringing in national talent a few times a year.

On Friday, July 23 Dominic “The Drill Instructor” Esposito will be running boot camp at Corner Pockets at 3116 Bragg Blvd., from noon to 6 p.m.

Esposito’s love of the game and impressive skills have resulted in him being ranked in the the top 20 world class instructors by Pool & Billiard magazine. He is the head instructor of Pro Skills Drills Boot Camp, a staff writer for Pool & Billiard Magazine, Author of Pro Skill Drills, inventor of The Jest “Aiming “ jump cue and two time BCA 10 Ball Champion, Orlando, Fla.

“Well, what he does is he shows you different ways to improve your game no matter what skill level you are at,” said Dosier. He teaches different techniques and drills that you can practice to improve where you are in your game — and it is a six-hour block of instruction. It will be a fun time for everybody whether they just come out to watch or come out and participate.”

It costs $50 to reserve your slot (there is limited enrollment so don’t wait) and another $25 at the door. So for $75 attendees can look forward to handson instruction, one on one evaluations, and improvement in your game regardless of skill level, free lunch and hourly prize drawings.

If you can’t make the boot camp or it just isn’t your style there will be some entertainment later in the weekend that you won’t want to miss. “On Saturday night he will be putting on a show,” said Dosier. “It is a three-hour show that starts at 8 p.m. at Corner Pockets. It is just entertaining for the people in the league. We are doing this just to promote the game.”

For more information or to register give Tom Dosier a call at 868-8514.

Tina Johnson with APA President Renee’ Lyle. 

The Last Airbender (Rated PG)  3 stars

I admit I did not watch the original series. After watching M. Night Shyamalan’s lackluster (and more than a little racist) version, I wish I had. Shyamalan’s career started off strong, but quickly degenerated into a series of farcical box office flops too dependent on his signature “twist” to sustain creditability. The Happening offered the promise of better things to come, but The Last Airbender (103 minutes) fails to deliver on that promise.

The world created by DiMartino and Konietzko is distinctly Asian and references authentic cultural practices, celebrating diversity. The world created by Shyamalan relegates Asian actors to background roles and villainy while the heroes are all obviously caucasian. This is even more inexplicable considering the caucasian heroes live in the middle of villages filled with Asian characters.

This is not to imply that there are not Asian actors in primary roles. Adding insult to injury, consider the main villain, Prince Zuko (Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire), alongside a number of other villains primarily played predominately by Asian actors. Central casting can hide behind choosing actors over ethnicities, but there are so many prominent/qualified Asian actors it is especially offensive to think that Hollywood values them so little. Did anybody even call Kal Penn? What about John Cho? What about Michelle Yeoh? What about that chick from Glee? The list goes on.

The myth behind the show involves element-based tribes, the Airbenders, the Waterbenders, the Earthbenders and the Firebenders. The Firebenders are the film’s antagonists, and this tribe seeks to dominate the rest of the world. They began taking control with the disappearance of an Avatar capable of controlling all four basic elements approximately 100 years prior to the film’s opening.

In the present, the Avatar Aang (Noah Ringer) is rediscovered and immediately begins to suck screen time while running around with a cheap version of Falcor the Luck Dragon from The Neverending Story. He begins hanging out with the wonder twins Katara (Nicola Peltz) and Sokka (Jackson Rathbone). Between the three of them, they have the acting ability of one child star, so in any given scene only one of them is really selling the story while the other two look on blankly.

The three begin a pilgrimage to various ruins on the way to the big waterbender city while dodging several factions of the Fire Nation. Their most persistent pursuers include Prince Zuko and Admiral Zhao (Aasif Mandvi) who are unable to play nicely together.

The acting grows increasingly worse, the plot grows more and more complicated, new characters are introduced, but nobody in the audience cares. The reason nobody really cares is because the real stars of the film are the elements, twisted into new life by skillfully applied CGI. The FX guys and gals are the saving grace of an otherwise poorly realized vision, giving us something to look at instead of the dead eyes of the leads. Though enjoyable on a basic level, the film fails to achieve the bright contrasting tones of other visually arresting action movies (Curse of the Golden Flower; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).

Lovell Pulley is the local artist being exhibited in the McLeod Gallery at Up & Coming Weekly. Pulley opens in the small local gallery during the same time as the regional artist, Judy Jones, is hosted in the Gallery 208. Both artists were selected for their choice of a limited color palette, a minimalist approach to image making, and both artists are examining something about nature.

Pulley is a local artist who uses the computer to generate works of art with a twist about human nature. States of being, status quo, in contemporary culture is the artist’s content; yet his content iscloaked in humor. From his skin chart to the violence in America, Pulley reduces his images to simple scenarios of a story or symbols of American culture gone awry. Double meaning is always present; in every work there is a message to examine or refl ect on.

A minimalist artist in design or composition, Pulley reduces his images to a series of black, white and grey with a pop of color somewhere in the image for a focal point. Representing youth culture, his images are messages in a stylized fl attened format. Unlike many contemporary artists who embed meaning, Pulley approaches meaning from a direct approach.

There nothing subtle about Pulley’s approach to content and message, instead he holds a contemporary mirror up to the viewer in every work. In all his work the artist is asking: What do you think about this?

Pulley’s works will be unveiled on Thursday, July 22 at an exhibit opening at the offices of Up & Coming Weekly. The event kicks-off at 5:30 p.m., and features great art, artist’s talks from Jones and Pulley, as well as food and drink. The event is free and open to the public.

The summer is hot, and it’s going to get a lot hotter when Summer Jam, an annual Fort Bragg event, returns this month. Only this time, the event, which is usually held on the hot pavement of the Fort Bragg Fairgrounds will chill a little, as it makes the Crown Coliseum its new home. Summer Jam XXIV is slated for July 24, and while the venue may be different the same phenomenal talent and fun that has made it such a successful event has not changed.

Admittedly, there are some pros and cons to the new location.

“We don’t have to worry about things like parking and heat-related illness,” said Rhett Stroupe, special events coordinator at Fort Bragg Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR). “Although the seating capacity is 8,200 at the Crown, at the fair grounds it is 12,000, and usually that is fi lled up.”

Sponsored by Fort Bragg MWR and local radio station Foxy 99, the entertainment is scheduled to include Ludacris, Monica, Rick Ross, Lyfe Jennings, Gyptian, J Cole, Cali Swag District, Party Boyz and Danny Bee.

“Our line up is very good this year,” said Stroupe. “It is probably one of the best that we’ve had as far as artists go, and last week we added Fantasia to the list as well. I think the word is out among the artists that this is a very good show and it is also an opportunity to entertain our soldiers.”

The pre-party starts at noon in the lower parking lot of the Crown Center. Doors for the concert open at 4 p.m. and the concert starts at 5:30 p.m. The concert is open to the public. While Summer Jam is a popular event that the soldiers and community look forward to every year, Stroupe sees this as more than just at show.

“This is an opportunity to provide quality entertainment for our soldiers and the local community and to provide them an escape from the stressors of every day life,” he said.

In addition to putting on a top notch event, the organizers have added a new twist this year for certain audience members.

“One thing we are doing different this year is that active-duty military are eligible for one free ticket. They have to go to the Tickets and Tours offi ce here on post to get it, and the deadline is close of business Wednesday, July 21,” he said.

A valid military ID card must be presented in order to receive a free ticket. Please note that ID cards will be checked at the venue as well. Stroupe recommends that soldiers picking up a free ticket who are planning to attend the event with friends and family should consider purchasing tickets when they pick up theirs to be sure that seats will be together. Tickets range in price from $20 to $40, and they can be purchased through the Crown Coliseum box offi ce, Tickets and Tours on Fort Bragg, Ticketmaster or Foxy99 Ticket Stops. All sales are fi nal and tickets are nonrefundable.

For more information, visit the Website at www.fortbraggmwr.com or call 396-9126.

For the past two months there has been a new component to 4th Friday. While the monthly events that we’ve come to know and love downtown — the music, dancing, speakers, exhibits, vendors and more — still grace Hay Street and the surrounding area, Arts Alive has been added to the monthly event to share the world of art with the community in a new and refreshing way.

Artists spend three hours, from 6-9 p.m. on the fourth Friday of the month making their art in the studios, in the galleries and even in the streets along Maxwell and Franklin Streets.

“Arts Alive is really a way for us to accomplish two goals,” said Chris Kastner, executive director of Cape Fear Studios, one of the Arts Alive participating galleries. “It gives local artists a chance to exhibit their work and share their knowledge of their craft, and it educates the public about art which is part of our mission statement.”

This format is designed to bring a richer experience to the folks who take the time to come downtown and enjoy the monthly festivities. Coming to Arts Alive is the difference between seeing a pretty painting hanging on a wall and talking with the painter about their work and their technique as they mix shades of vibrant colors on the palette, layer them on the canvas and assemble an image, right before your eyes.

It is the difference between seeing a shiny, multicolored raku pot on a gallery shelf and watching the potter apply the fi nish, pull the pot from the fl aming kiln and scrub away the ashes to reveal a one of a kind vessel, explaining the process, entertaining questions and engaging the crowd the entire time. And on and on it goes. The woodcarver — why does he use that particular wood, is it native or exoti, and why that particular chisel or lathe? Where does the photographer fi nd her subjects, her inspiration? Why did the basket weaver choose the reed she did and why did she make the Nantucket basket instead of the Iroquois water basket?

These are questions that can only be answered by watching artists as they work, by asking questions and engaging in the process. The jeweler, the glassblower, the classical guitarist, the poet, the songwriter — who knows which one you will fi nd at Arts Alive and what secrets they will share with you … what lessons, artistic treasures and memories you will take home?

As the Arts Council reaches out to local artists and invites them to submit their works for jurying into Arts Alive, look for 4th Friday and Arts Alive to continue to grow and to offer new experiences. In fact, this month, on July 23, there will be a new exhibit space along Maxwell Street. Just across from the Arts Council Building parking lot. Look for a window display featuring the works of Arts Alive participants. As the number of artist participants grows each month, the window display will refl ect their contributions.

“This is really an attempt to reach out to local artists and give them another place to exhibit their work,” said Mary Kinny, marketing manager of the Arts Council of the new window exhibit. “While there are other exhibiting spaces in town, this is a way to tie those windows to our Arts Alive event. It is a way of having Arts Alive all month long and it gives a sense of the divesity of art that we have here.”

For more information about becoming involved in Arts Alive contact Ashley Hunt, Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County special events coordinator at 323-1776.

Greg Hathaway, a local artists paints on maxwell Street, while a musician performs.

When Nicole Overteem heard Ryan Kishbaugh’s story, she felt an immediate connection, and she knew that there had to be a way to help others facing similar struggles.

Ryan Kishbaugh was a stellar student and athlete attending Fayetteville Academy when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma during the fall of 2002 —his senior year.

Kishbaugh’s future had seemed solid. He had been accepted to Princeton and the world was just beginning to open up for him. He died in 2003 following complications from a bone marrow transplant. Kishbaugh’s father, Dr. David Kishbaugh, started the Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Golf Invitational as a way to honor his son. It has grown over time and is now an event that the community looks forward to every summer. This year, the tournament will be held July 24, at Cypress Lakes Golf Course, a poignant date for Ryan’s friends and family because it is just two days before his 25th birthday.

When Overteem heard the Kishbaugh story, it really hit home with her.

“I approached Dr. Kishbaugh about this idea. I had to do something for young adults who who have a chronic illness and want to be collegiate athletes,” said Overteem. “I was very lucky that with my chronic illness, I was able to compete at the collegiate level in swimming. I’ve had some up and downs and I was lucky that I never lost my scholarship — so I wanted to pay it forward and give other young adults the same opportunity that I received.”

It only seemed natural, considering Ryan Kishbaugh’s love of sports that his legacy be a part of her plan.

While the tournament will be run exactly the same way, according to Overteem, it will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Courage, Confidence, Wisdom and Strength (CCWS) Foundation, which Overteem started with Dr. Kishbaugh. These are virtues that are required of every athlete, but are especially relevant to those battling chronic illness.

“The scholarships won’t all stay local,” said Overteem. “We will send out our packet of info to case workers and case workers will distribute the information to young adults who have chronic illnesses that they know can benefi t from this. The case workers will be in large hospitals around the nation.”

With more than 60 golfers already registered and corporate sponsorships from the RPK Center, Carpe Diem, Valley Regional Imaging, Cross Creek Imaging and Family Foods, Overteem is anticipating that the event will be a success. The Fayetteville Academy is sponsoring the hole-in-one prize — $40,000 in cash or four years tuition at Fayetteville Academy.

Registration starts at 7 a.m., and there will be a shot gun start at 8:30 a.m. Visit the CCWS Foundation Facebook page or the Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Memorial Golf Tournament Facebook page for more information or to make a donation.

 (Pictured top left): Ryan Kishbaugh (Bottom right): Participants in last year's golf tournament.

Fayetteville residents are blessed with a vibrant and changing arts scene. Nowhere is that better seen than the performing arts, particularly in the area of dramatic arts. This year local residents have not one, not two, but three great theatrical seasons to look forward to, with great seasons planned by the Gilbert Theater, the Givens Performing Arts Center and the Cape Fear Regional Theatre.

Gilbert Theater

We all know the history behind the Gilbert. Started in the basement of founder Lyn Pryer’s home, the Gilbert has grown into a successful venue that offers the traditional (A Christmas Carol), alongside the not so traditional (The Rocky Horror Show.) With a shorter season than its counterparts, the Gilbert is a grass roots, community-focused and operated theater. Its performers, by-in-large, come from within the community, and many of its productions are original works. The same can be said of the upcoming season.

The Gilbert kicks-off its season with the quirky musical The Rocky Horror Show. The much beloved musical will open on Sept. 23 and run through Oct. 10. It’s a story that is wellknown by a certain generation. It’s a tale of love, lust and biological advancement all carried out in a crumbling castle. It’s a story that will make you laugh, and get on your feet and dance.

The second show of the season is the highly anticipated annual telling of the story of Scrooge. A Christmas Carol is one of the theater’s mainstays, and is looked forward to each year by the community. It is an adaptation by Kent Smith and Marcela Casals, and will run from Nov. 26 through Dec. 12.

An original production, Dateline Greensboro, written by John Merritt tells the story of the 1960 Greensboro lunch counter sit-in. It is slated for Feb. 3-20.

One of America’s favorite playwrites, Eugene O’Neill, wrote A Long Day’s Journey into Nightabout his family and their home on the Connecticut coast. It is scheduled to run March 31-April 17.

The final show of the season is Headsets, written by William Missour Down. The play is a comedy that tells the story of a falling-down theater on closing night of a very bad production of Hamlet.

The Gilbert is located at 116 Green St. in downtown Fayetteville For more information about the Gilbert and the upcoming season, check out the Web site at www.gilberttheater.com or call 678-7186.

Givens Performing Arts Center

Located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, the Givens Performing Arts Center brings a wide variety of professional performances to the surrounding the community.

The arts center hosts not only the Broadway and More Series, but also a children’s series, a distinguished speakers series and a nostalgia series. Each event is designed to entertain and educate the audience. The shows,which are available at a per ticket price, which ranges from $20 to $40 per ticket, can also be purchased at a subscription rate for the entire season.

This year, the excitement is quickly building over the Broadway and More Series, which will bring not only great theatrical works, but also musical performances from around the world. The season begins in October with a performance of Oklahoma! and ends in April with a performance of Romeo and Juliet by the Russian National Ballet.

Oklahoma! will be on stage on Friday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, two Academy Awards, a Grammy and a special Tony Award, Oklahoma! is the classic American musical that launched the remarkable songwriting collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. Set in turn of the century Oklahoma, against a backdrop of the high-spirited rivalry between local farmers and cowboys, Oklahoma! is the cherished love story of Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl. Featuring such favorite numbers as “People Will Say We’re In Love,” “Oh What A Beautiful Mornin’,“ and “Surrey With A Fringe On Top,” this landmark musical is a true treasure that can be enjoyed over and over again!

Legally Blond is slated for Monday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. The hilarious MGM fi lm is Broadway’s new smash hit musical. Legally Blonde follows sorority star Elle Woods, an underestimated blonde who doesn’t take “no” for an answer. When her boyfriend dumps her for someone more “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 Color Purple is on stage on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. The play is a soul-stirring musical based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the moving film by Steven Spielberg. It is the unforgettable and inspiring story of a woman named Celie, who fi nds her unique voice in the world.

The National Philharmonic of Poland will perform on Friday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. The history of the Opole, Philharmonic of Poland can be traced back to the years immediately following World War II. One of Poland’s leading Orchestra’s, the Opole, Philharmonic of Poland was founded in 1947 and became the resident Orchestra of Opole. In 1952, a major Performing Arts Center was built in the city of Opole as permanent home to the Opole, Philharmonic of Poland. In June of 1969, the Orchestra was awarded by the Ministry of Culture of Poland the State Award for Arts Excellence in honor of the great Polish Composer Jósef Elsner.

Tango Buenos Aires will dance into your heart on Tuesday, March 1 at 8 p.m. Tango Buenos Aires has become one of Argentina’s great cultural exports, known throughout the Americas, Europe and the Far East as the most authentic and uncompromising representative of the Tango.

Tango Buenos Aires was created for the “Jazmines” festival at the famous Buenos Aires cabaret “Michelangelo” by renowned composer and tango director Osvaldo Requena. The company met with tremendous success and was immediately added to the season of the General San Martin Municipal Theatre.

The Russian National Ballet’s performance of Romeo & Juliet will end the season on Thursday, April 14 at 8 p.m.The Russian National Ballet Theatre was founded in Moscow during the transitional period of Perestroika in the late 1980s, when many of the great dancers and choreographers of the Soviet Union’s ballet institutions were exercising their new-found creative freedom by starting new, vibrant companies dedicated not only to the timeless tradition of classical Russian Ballet but to invigorate this tradition as the Russians began to accept new developments in the dance from around the world. Today, the Russian National Ballet Theatre is its own institution, with over 50 dancers of singular instruction and vast experience, many of whom have been with the company since its inception.

To order tickets for any of the shows or to buy a season subscription, contact the box offi ce at 910-521-6361 or 1-800-367-0778 or visit the Web site at www.uncp.edu/gpac.

The Cape Fear Regional Theatre

Bo Thorp, the leading lady of local theatre, has spent a lot of time thinking about the upcoming season at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre. This season is a prelude to the celebration of the theatre’s 50th anniversary, and Thorp and company are looking to pull out all of the stops.

“Trying to choose the plays for the season is hard. It’s awful because there are so many to choose from,” explained Thorp. “What we look for fi rst is what the audience will like the most, and then what they want to see, and what will enrich their lives.”

Thorp said that the local audience isn’t really keyed into titles, so the theatre staff has to work hard to sell the audience on plays they might not recognize. “We know what they would like to see, but sometimes we have to convince them they want to see it,” she laughingly said.

The first show of the season, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, falls into that category. Thorp said the show is great fun, and becomes even more so for audience members who have a chance to participate. Each evening, four members of the audience will join the cast in the production. The show is scheduled for Sept. 23 to Oct. 10

That musical production will be followed by A View from the Bridge, Nov. 4-21. The Arthur Miller drama is fi ercely compelling and tells a story of love, belonging and betrayal.

Over Christmas, theatre’s much beloved production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will run from Dec. 9-19, and delight the community. Thorp said this production has done so much over the years to build confi dence in children and to introduce them to, and bring them into, the theatre family.

The over-the-top musical Hairspray will usher in 2011 as the cast shakes and shimmies its way onto the stage Jan. 21-Feb. 13. Thorp said the show is well known and will bring a wide audience to the theatre.

Rumors, by Neil Simon, will be on stage April 1-17. Rumors tells the story of four couples who gather to celebrate a 10th wedding anniversary of their best friend only to discover a series of events that will leave you laughing until you cry.

I love you, you’re perfect, now change will be on stage in June. It is a celebration of the mating game, and takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum know as “the relationship.”

There will be three special performances this year. In March, the theatre family will tackle Lunch at the Piccadilly again, which will be fi lmed by UNC-TV for broadcast.

The Classic Theatre Series will also present Our Town in March, and the season will wind up with the 27th Annual River Show, which will pay tribute to Hank Williams: Lost Highway running May 13-29.

“We hope our audience is going to love this season, our 49th season,” said Thorp. “This is our run-up to the 50th season, and it’s the start of our celebration.” For more information, visit the theatre’s Web site at www.cfrt.org.

Bill Bowman, publisher of Up and Coming Weekly, has afforded me his Publisher’s Pen space in this issue to announce the latest information on Moses Mathis, more commonly known as the Bicycle Man, and his work for underprivileged children.

Last Friday’s issue of the Fayetteville Observer included an op-ed written by me that described the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee’s latest offer to Cumberland County regarding the Washington Drive property (a.k.a. the Blue Street property) which is owned by the committee. The offer of conveyance made this past April by the committee has not been acted on by the commissioners.

On or about July 9, Attorney Ronnie Mitchell, legal counsel to the MLK Committee, advised me in conversation that the committee had met earlier that week and had developed an alternative offer to the county which could facilitate the Bicycle Man’s occupancy of the Blue Street building in an expedient manner. The offer is a license agreement that the county could accept from the committee which would, in turn, allow the county to re-license the property to Mathis without actually owning it.

The details of the offer, as described to me by Mr. Mitchell, included a fi ve-day window for the county to act after receipt of his letter describing details of the offer. While Mr. Mitchell’s decision to delay the actual mailing of the letter was well intentioned and helpful, it clearly indicated that he and I did not adequately communicate regarding the planned mailing date. As it has turned out, the letter was not mailed until July 19. On July 16 county attornies received e-mail copies of the letter to provide them with extra time to consider the legalities of the offer and to advise county management and the county commissioners.

The county commissioners will have the full week of July 19 to either accept or reject the committee’s latest and most likely last effort to help Mr. Mathis. Acceptance of the license agreement will also keep the offer of property conveyance alive until Dec. 31. The next and most obvious question is: Will the commissioners act favorably on this matter or simply let the opportunity die?

Efforts by two commissioners, Chairman Billy R. King and member Ed Melvin, to bring the matter to a discussion level have been squashed by the board majority. My conversations with both King and Melvin regarding this situation have convinced me that they are sincere in their efforts to have the county step up to its responsibilities to Mr. Mathis and his program.

Cumberland County originally conveyed the property to the MLK Committee years ago. The conveyance was completed in good faith by both parties, no doubt, but the situation has changed. The property has no actual value, in fact, it is a liability, due to the soil contamination that exists. Ultimately the county must take back that which has become a “white elephant” to the MLK Committee.

If the county does accept the property back it will be at once required to address a litany of building-code violations associated with the dilapidated buildings. The metal building Mathis has occupied and wishes to reoccupy is not in code violation. The City of Fayetteville has been sitting out in the weeds in this matter, seeing no dog in the fi ght for them. It would be helpful if the city would take some steps to allay the county’s concerns over this aspect of this now rather complex issue.

Commissioners King and Melvin must garner support from at least two other commissioners so that this matter can be put to rest, at least temporarily. In the time remaining this year, Mr. Mathis can prepare his bicycles while others seek out a more permanent home for his program.

Readers interested in seeing the Bicycle Man’s program endure should call, email or write commissioners and express your concerns and preferences about this situation. But do so quickly. Time is running out.

(Photo top left) David G. Wilson

With record-breaking scorching temperatures, thick humidity and heat indexes over 100 degrees, many are staying inside to avoid the hot weather. But for those who want to get out and enjoy the summer, what’s the best way to stay safe?

Drink It In

It is often hard to tell just by looking at someone whether or not they are dehydrated. People may not know what signs to look for in others or themselves if they are dehydrated.

Some of the first signs of dehydration are heat cramps in the legs or abdomen, due to a drop in electrolytes after long exposure to the sun, sweating, and feeling tired or excessively hot. How much water people drink after going to the bathroom can also affect hydration. When people sweat or use the bathroom, fluids are essentially leaving the body. If people do not re-hydrate with water, they may feel cool, moist to the touch, pale or dizzy and could potentially pass out.

In severe cases, a heat or sun stroke may occur. If someone has hot, red skin that feels dry or moist, are vomiting or have a high body temperature they are at risk for a heat stroke. Immediately call 911 then apply ice packs, wrapped in a cloth or other material, to the person’s armpits, groin, wrists, neck and ankles to help cool them.

In order to avoid dehydration it is best to never be outside between 11 am and 2 p.m., when the temperature is the hottest, don’t eat heavy meals, be aware of the heat index and humidity, wear light weight and loose clothing, take frequent breaks when doing yard work or working outside, avoid alcohol, soft drinks and otherdrinks with caffeine and drink plenty of water.

“There is a disagreement on drinking eight glasses of water a day,” said Mary Lou Powers of the Highland’s Chapter of the American Red Cross. “Eight glasses should be a minimum because everyone knows their own body.”

Powers also pointed out the importance of never leaving children sitting inside cars, regardless of the time of year, and checking on people who live alone and especially on those who live without air conditioning.

“A lot of people who don’t have a cool place will go somewhere with air conditioning like a mall or library,” said Powers.

The easiest way to stay safe and hydrated is to always use the “buddy system.” Having a buddy with you while playing or working outside will help keep you hydrated by checking up on one another and will help prevent the negative effects of dehydration.

Powers further suggested that people should wear hats when they are outside and should wear sunscreen, reapplying it every 45 minutes even if the label says it is waterproof. She stressed that it is very important to read the labels on sunscreens and to be very careful with babies outside because their skin is very sensitive to sunlight.

With pet friends we want to remember to provide clean water for them at all times and give them breaks every 10 to 15 minutes to drink water when playing with them. Try not to play with them during the hottest hours of the day. For cool refreshments to keep pets well-hydrated, freeze water with flavored biscuits or treats inside, or freeze a little vegetable broth inside their water. For further information, call your local veterinarian.

Heat It Up

Summer is here and people are pulling out their grills for picnics, cookouts and outdoor fun. When preparing for a grill-out, one of the most important things to remember is grilling safety. Roger Sullivan, Captain and Public Educator for the Fayetteville Fire and Emergency Management department offered these safety tips:

• For first time use on a cast iron grate or griddle, wash it thoroughly with a mild dishwashing liquid to remove the protective wax coating that is applied to the grill for shipping. Rinse with hot water and dry completely with a soft cloth or paper towel. Do not allow the griddle to drain dry and do not wash in a dishwasher. Then season the grates or griddle, to prevent rusting and sticking, by spreading a thin coat of solid vegetable shortening over the entire surface of the grill with a paper towel. Do not use butter or margarine for seasoning.

• Remember propane and charcoal grills should only be used outside, a good distance away from the home itself, deck railings, out from under roof overhangs and tree branches.

• Indoor use of propane or charcoal grills may result in death by fire or CO poisoning.

• Always keep children and pets away from the grilling area. -Set up a three foot “kid-free zone” around the grilling area in order to prevent accidents. -Keep grills away from any lawn games, play areas or foot traffic.

• Grill chefs should use long handled grilling tools in order to ensure safety from heat and flames.

• Never leave your grill unattended.

• Keep your grill clean by removing grease and fat build-up on the grill itself and trays underneath.

• Consult your grill manual for proper detergents and devices to clean the grill after its first use.

Charcoal Grills

For charcoal grills, a charcoal chimney starter will allow a grill to be started using newspaper as a fuel. A chimney starter is a metal cylinder with a charcoal grate mounted inside. The unlit charcoal is placed in the top of the cylinder then the newspaper is placed into the bottom underneath the grate and when lit, it burns and lights the charcoal. Chimney starters can be purchased at most hardware stores.

Only use charcoal starter fluid on charcoal grills and do not add any starter fluid or other flammable liquids to the grill fire once it has started. Remember to always keep charcoal starter fluid out of children’s reach and away from all other sources of heat.

Electric charcoal starters can also be used as an alternative to starter fluid, matches or gas lighters. An electric charcoal starter is a simple device with a handle on one end and a loop of metal on the other, which serves as the heating element.

When finished grilling, coals should be completely cool before they are disposed of in a metal container.

Propane Grills

Before using a propane tank each year the gas tank hose should be checked for leaks by adding a light soap and water mix to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles. If the grill has a propane gas leak, determined by the smell or soapy bubble test, turn off the gas tank and grill if there is no flame. If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the leak does not stop call the fire department immediately. If you smell gas while grilling, get away from the grill immediately and call the fire department, but do not attempt to move the grill. Always remember to never store propane gas tanks in buildings or garages and if storing a gas grill inside during the winter, disconnect the cylinder and leave it outside.

Always use only equipment with a recognized testing laboratory on it and follow manufacturer’s instructions on how to set up a grill and maintain it.

In a three year period, U.S. fire departments responded to 7,900 home fires involving grills. Leaks or breaks is the leading contributor to gas grill fires.

Get Wet, But Not Wild

by DR. SHANESSA FENNER

Summer is here and it is time to relax and have some fun. Following these safety tips for swimming and boating activities can ensure that a fun time is also a safe time.

Tips for safe swimming

• Don’t run around the pool.

• Learn how to swim. • Swim at a depth that is safe for you.

• Don’t dive into unknown waters. Enter the water feet first.

• Make sure the water is clean from leaves, dirt, and other debris.

• Stay away from drains and filters. Hair or clothing can become tangled in these structures that could trap you under the water.

• Keep TVs and radios a safe distance from the water.

• Drink plenty of water to avoid heatstroke and dehydration.

• Keep an eye on your kids at all times.

• Swim near a lifeguard.

• Take frequent breaks.

• Never swim alone 

• Learn to perform CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation).

• Use plenty of sunscreen. Tips for safe boating

• Do not drink alcohol while boating.

• Wear a PFD (personal flotation device) at all times. It keeps you floating if you are too tired to swim or hit your head and lose consciousness.

• Tell someone where you are going and when you will return.

• Do not allow passengers to ride on gunwales, seat backs, or outside of protective railings.

• Bring a weather radio to update you on the weather.

• Keep emergency supplies on board such as floating devices, maps, flares, a fire extinguisher, and a first aid kit.

• Test the boat lights and anchor before you leave the dock.

• Operate the boat at a safe speed.

• Have a designated lookout for swimmers, other boaters, and objects.

• Make sure you have enough fuel and oil for the entire trip.

Pants All Around

by ERINN CRIDER

Summer should be a time fun in the sun and lazy pool days with your fuzzy friend. Most people are well aware of the dangers of heat for the elderly and infirm, but it is also a serious threat for animals and needs to be taken seriously.

Heat stroke is a serious problem when it comes to pets. Pet experts from the Today Show say that the basic rule of thumb is if it’s too hot for you it’s too hot for your pet, especially since they have a less efficient cooling system. It is also more dangerous for dogs with short muzzles, elderly pooches, those with dark hair or a tendency to over exert themselves. Also, it can help to adjust your pets exercise regimen. For example move play time to the morning or evening after the weather cools off, and don’t be afraid to cut walks short if it is hot.

Knowledge is power, so knowing the signs of heatstroke can help you save your best furry friend. Danger signs include: excessive panting, rapid breathing, excessive drooling, dark or bright red gums or tongue, staggering, temperature above 104, bloody diarrhea or vomiting.

If you suspect that your animal is suffering from heatstroke immediately call your vet. To help cool your puppy down you can offer it ice cubes to lick, apply rubbing alcohol to its paws or give it Pedialyte to restore electrolytes. Water should be cool but not cold, to avoid shock.

“A lot of people try to cool the pet too much at home, but sometimes you get into a hypothermia situation. Douse it with cool water, have a fan blowing on the dog, but don’t immerse it in an ice bath. Get it to an animal hospital fast. A dog’s normal temperature is 102º — heat stroke is around 106º and up. But when their temp gets back down to 103, stop cooling them so you don’t risk rebound hypothermia,” explains local veterinarian Dr. Lisa Jonas of Cape Fear Animal Hospital.

Heatstroke can really mess up your summer, but there are definitely some other dangers to look out for during the warmer months, such as the sun. Many people think that because of their fur pets are not susceptible to sunburn, but that is completely untrue. Your pet is even more prone to sunburn if it has light hair or pink skin. You should consult your vet about what kind of sunscreen is good for your pet.

“Many people get their long-haired dogs clipped in the summer, which really isn’t necessary unless it’s a heavily matted coat. Their natural hair cover helps keep them cool and protects them from sun damage,” said Jonas.

Water safety is also something of which to be aware. A pet should never be left unsupervised in a pool because it can drown if it can’t figure out how to get out of the pool and becomes too exhausted. It’s a good idea to teach your pet the way out of the pool or consider using a pet ramp or pet life vest.

Many people go to the beach in the summer and may bring along their pets. It’s important to remember that not all dogs are great swimmers, and even if they are, they can be caught by the undertow or rip current. If the sand is too hot for your feet it’s also too hot for your pet’s delicate paws. (That goes for asphalt, too.) The best vacation for your dog may be to leave them at home.

“They do not enjoy being on the hot beach while you suntan. If they get in the water and drink the salt water, then they are going to have diarrhea,” adds Jonas. And that won’t be fun for either of you.

Finally some tips to keep your buddy cool during the hot summer days: make sure that your pet has access to fresh water at all times, adjust workout routines to the cooler part of the day, and if your pet is outside make sure it has shade and maybe even a kiddy pool to cool off in, and do not leave your pet in the car even with the windows down even “for just a second” it’s just not safe.

“There is no safe time frame, or amount of open windows — it’s an absolute rule — don’t leave them in the car. And if pets have to be outside, make sure they have shade and fresh water,” says Jonas. And remember, these tips are for cats, too!

Also be sure to protect your pets from heartworms (transmitted by mosquitoes) with a monthly preventative medication. Stay safe, and keep your best fuzzy friend safe this summer too.

 

Let’s just be honest here, Fayetteville is known for a lot of things — being a top notch tourist destination isprobably not one of them though. There are plenty of people working hard to change that, and Curator of Education at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex Leisa Greathouse is one of them. She is a Fayetteville native, a team player with a drive to showcase the best that the area has to offer, a staunch supporter of the art, culture and history that abounds here, and a valuable asset to the community. Her hard work and contributions have not gone unnoticed.

Greathouse was recently awarded the first national Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) of the Year Star Award for her tireless work on Fayetteville area history, tourism, marketing and visitor service.

“I was just giddy inside when I found out,” said Greathouse. “I was tickled, and I won’t make any bones about it. It has been rejuvenating. Professionally, it is probably the top thing I’ve ever achieved and it solidifies my more than 20 years of service to the state of North Carolina. It really meant a lot.”

The CTA program is fairly new to Fayetteville — Greathouse is a member of the first local graduating class. The program aims to increase tourism by inspiring front line hospitality workers to work together to make every visitor encounter a pleasant one. According to www.tourismambassadorinstitute. com. The premise is simple: If front-line employees and volunteers (those who come into immediate contact with the visitor) provide quality service to visitors (convention attendees, visitors, business travelers, etc.), the visitor is more likely to have a positive experience. Visitors who have a positive experience are more likely to return at some point in the future. They will share their perceptions with their friends. Everyone benefits – the tourist, the hospitality industry, the local economy and, most importantly, the frontline ambassador.

For Greathouse this program has been a long time coming.

“In one sense we’ve been waiting for something like this to come to the community,” said Greathouse. “I think it will unite us. The tourism industry is made up of so many organizations — businesses, nonprofits, cultural organizations — it was really hard otherwise to get all these groups together and that was a real problem in our community for a long time. The CTA program brings us all together and helps us learn about each other and the result is better service to our visitors and our customers.”

So we don’t have a leaning tower, a sandy shore, an uber-large canyon or a snowy mountain peak to draw visitors this way. We’ve got our history, heroes and a hometown feeling going for us, and a growing number of tourism ambassadors who are looking to impress, befriend and inform visitors as they pass through, and hopefully inspire them to return and even spread the word about the great folks that live here, the interesting events and things to do in the area and the hospitality of the folks that make this such a unique community.

To find out more or become a Certified Tourism Ambassador visit http://www.visitfayettevillenc.com/ or call the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at 888-98-HEROES.

Judy Jones, a printmaker and entrepreneur, from Raleigh, North Carolina, is an artist who has remained true to her art form; at the same time she has developed a successful business that supports herself as an artist and other artists.

The Visual Arts Alliance is pleased to have the opportunity to introduce the original prints of Jones to the Fayetteville area in Gallery 208 during the exhibit Cause and Effect: The Prints of Judy Jones, July 22 – September 16, 2010.

Visitors to Cause and Effect will be pleasantly surprised by mixed media works which are unlike anything being produced in the region. A subtle color palette is used to create pictorial tension between object and abstraction, patterns and drawing, mixing the organic with the man made.

Her approach is to work in distinct themes and is presenting works from two themes she has undertaken in the last several years — Random Events (Cruciferae Series) and the Parrot Plant Series. Both exude the artist’s sensitivity to material and intent — materials can include chine collé, graphite or white charcoal in combination with traditional woodcut and contemporary printmaking techniques.

Jones’s artistic complexity is veiled in the minimalist art style. Viewer’s won’t see-hear the loud clanging of a fire alarm, instead they witness a smoldering fire. The design in the Cruciferae Series, at first, seems straightforward, a decorative intent. It is not until the viewer takes some time to unravel the implied intricate complexity of the design that they understand Jones is telling a story.

For Jones, being an artist is a lifestyle. She also has an extensive education in the arts. She earned a B.A. in Studio Art at UNC Pembroke in 1989 and in 1992, an M.A.Ed. degree at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. Her education includes an Art Therapy degree from Buffalo State University of New York.

Her work experience is varied and includes, but has not been limited to, being an instructor at The Print Studio in Naples, Florida. She has been the coordinator for the Youth Program of ArtsCool Summer Arts Program for Kids in Naples, Florida, and an adjunct Professor at the Edison Community College in Naples.

After leaving Florida, Jones relocated back to North Carolina. Her teaching efforts resumed in her small printmaking studio at Artspace in Raleigh, North Carolina. Since then Jones has been dedicated to being an art advocate for the printmaking medium and was one of the key organizers of PoNC (The Printmakers of North Carolina) in 2006. As stated on their website: “PoNC is a collective of artists determined to create traditional and non-traditional, hand-pulled prints, and to promote the education and the exploration of the print medium.”

PoNC is now housed at 311 West Martin Galleries and Studios in Raleigh, North Carolina. 311 West Martin Galleries is owned by Jones and her husband; the business is located in the Warehouse District of downtown historic Raleigh, N.C. There are currently 14 tenant artists working and showing in the studios and galleries of 311. Their exhibition space features the work of tenant artists and alternately, that of emerging artists as well as some of Raleigh’s favorite established artists.

It’s still a difficult economic time for artists and galleries, but as you can see, Judy Jones has made it work. In the 311 space is where you will find Jones’s printmaking studio; she shares the space during workshops. She remains a committed artist and entrepreneur, a prolific producing artist who continues to promote the arts in the greater Raleigh area.

For artists and art patrons interested in seeing Cause and Effector hearing Jones talk about her work, you will want to be at the artist’s reception on Thursday, July 22, 2010, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., at Gallery 208. Gallery 208 is located in the offices of Up & Coming Weekly at 208 Rowan St. As always, the public is welcome to attend!

Fridays are magical. They signify the end of the week and the beginning of the weekend, but the fourth Friday of every month is even better. It means that a new month with fresh possibilities is on its way, and more importantly that the streets of downtown Fayetteville are about to come alive with local art.

On July 23, downtown will be crawling with the creative and the inspired demonstrating for the casual passerby. Everyone from puppeteers, poets and painters to the wandering musician will be out on the streets performing.

This month, the Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County has partnered with the Home Builders Association of Fayetteville to bring a new kind of exhibit to the community — A Parade of Homes.

“Last year was the fi rst year that we did a contest for our Parade of Homes marketing piece,” said Natalie Woodbury, executive offi cer of the Homebuilders Association of Fayetteville. “The winner that is chosen will be on all of the marketing materials for the parade of homes to include the cover of the tour guide magazines, all the billboards etcetera.”

The exhibit will open at 7 p.m. during 4th Friday festivities.

“The partnership between the Home Builders Association and Arts council is a really unique partnership,” said Woodbury. “We are both very proud of bringing the two industries together.”

Art is usually presented as a fi nished product, but with the new Arts Alive aspect of 4th Friday, we common folk will be blessed enough to witness the dramatic transformation from thought to reality at this family friendly event.

Along Maxwell street there will be different artists that, in the past, have included painting, glass work and jewelry making. Keep an eye out for Curtis Barnes to be among the artists. He is a wood worker who will be demonstrating on a small wood lathe. Expect to see him on Maxwell Street near Cape Fear Studios. While you are there, pop in and see the opening of the Cape Fear Studios 2010 Photography Exhibition.

Roaming Hay and Person Streets, there will also be musicians, vendors and the regular Fourth Friday entertainment that we all look forward to each month. In several of the buildings along these streets and others downtown, such as Horne’s Cafe and Cumberland County Headquarters Library, there will be stationary bands performing, as well.

Of course one could make an evening of just visiting the Art Center and touring Maxwell Street, but there will be exhibits all over downtown to check out. Fascinate-U Children’s Museum, Fayetteville Art Guild, Market House and Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum are just a few of the other places to check out. 4th
Friday takes place from 7 - 9 P.m. Find out more at www.theartscouncil.com

The film starts off with one of the most artistically challenging Pixar shorts to date, Night and Day. The idea is that the anthropomorphized “Day” meets the anthropomorphized “Night” and beautifully scored brilliantly animated hijinks ensue. With that taken care of, feel free to skip the next four paragraphs, since I am about to indulge in a rant.

I don’t know how to react to Toy Story 3 (103 minutes) with the childlike wonder that everyone else in America seems to reserve for movies that remind them of lollipops and teddy bears. Ok, the second and third films in the trilogy worked on adding some adventurous and determined female characters (even while subtly undercutting their agency by pairing them with romantic interests). Progress, not perfection, I suppose.

However, while everyone else is worshipping at the altar of Pixar, I am wondering why all the characters are white. I also can’t help but wonder why the toys all paid so much hostile attention to the Ken doll (Michael Keaton). It is repeatedly emphasized in the film that as a girl’s toy the Ken doll possesses many feminine qualities. Not only are these qualities emphasized and mocked, Ken is never shown affirming his right to behave as he wants. In fact, his behavior (enjoying clothes, being romantic, writing in the color purple) is played for laughs throughout the film, the implication being that since he is a so-called girl’s toy he is not “masculine” enough. This begs the question; do presumably neutered toys care about your gender?

But the most egregious –ism is in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene towards the end of the film. It happened so quick I can’t be sure I heard what I think I heard and a number of web searches failed to turn up any solid evidence. Never one for spreading rumors, I want to throw this out to see if anyone else noticed: a toy refers to the character of Big Baby as “mongo.”

It is one thing for a movie like Shrek to use the term when referring to the giant gingerbread man. Not okay, but contextualized as part of a film in which boundary pushing was the name of the game. On the other hand, in a film such as Toy Story 3 rated G and marketed to children should the slur “mongo” be an acceptable way for one toy to refer to another? But this might be a tempest in a teapot. I heard the word, but I haven’t been able to get independent verification. End rant.

All possible racism, sexism, heterosexism and other forms of prejudice aside, on the surface Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the gang are in fine form. Andy (John Morris) is packing for college and clearing out his room. Inevitably he is forced to decide what to do with his beloved toys. After a mix-up his toys end up at Sunnyside Day Care under the seemingly benign Lotso (Ned Beatty). Life for the toys heads rapidly downhill as they discover the TERRIBLE SECRET haunting the seeming paradise of endlessly rotating children to play with. Of course, the whole plot is a kind of tribute to Orwell’s famous Animal Farm, where all toys are created equal but some toys are more equal than others.

Honestly, 90 percent of viewers can just go to the theater with their kids and enjoy a nice afternoon without worrying about all the subtext. But for those of you bored with a conventional understanding, feel free to take your sociology textbooks along.

For the second time in the last five years, the Fayetteville SwampDogs will play host to the nation’s collegiate baseball team, Team USA. On July 13 at “The Swamp,” fans will have the chance to watch their beloved SwampDogs in action against the premier collegiate players in the nation. The Fayetteville-Team USA contest will be presented by Family Foods Taco Bell and first pitch is at 7:05 for what guarantees to be an exciting night of baseball.

“The SwampDogs have always been great hosts for our National teams and our International opponents,” said Team USA General Manager Eric Campbell. “We are excited about coming back to Fayetteville, as we know there will be a good buzz in the stadium and, as always, a competitive opponent on the field. Fayetteville is a good baseball town with passionate, supportive and educated fans.”

The talent that has donned the red and white USA jerseys over the years has been impressive. Among the current Major Leaguers that played for the Team USA collegiate team are Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard, New York Yankee Mark Teixeira, Colorado Rockies veteran Todd Helton and Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg played for the Team USA Collegiate team in 2008, along with Mike Leake, who currently pitches for the Cincinnati Reds. USA Baseball had 195 of their former players on MLB Opening Day rosters in 2010.

USA Baseball invited 38 college players to the 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate national team trials, which are being held right now. A selection committee is formed to select players for the trials. The 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate national team manager, Bill Kinneberg (Utah), and his three coaches, Dave Serrano (Cal-State Fullerton), Ed Blankmeyer (St. John’s) and Nino Giarratano (San Francisco) along with a former athlete from the national team program form the committee. The list of roster-invitees for Team USA in 2010 includes players from college baseball powerhouses South Carolina, Clemson, TCU, UCLA, Cal-State Fullerton, LSU and Rice.

The SwampDogs are one of two Coastal Plain League teams that will square off against Team USA. On July 12, Team USA will be taking on the Gastonia Grizzlies in Gastonia, N.C., at Sims Legion Park. Team USA’s stop in Fayetteville on July 13 is game two on their schedule leading up to the World Baseball Championships on July 30.

“We are extremely excited about this great opportunity,” said SwampDogs head coach/Director of Operations Darrell Handelsman. “Our players get to take on the best in the nation at the collegiate level and our fans get to see future major leaguers in action. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

The matchup will mark the second time in the last five years the two teams have played each other. The SwampDogs also took on Team Japan three years ago.

For tickets, call the SwampDogs front office at (910) 426-5900.

As a teenager with absolutely no musical ability (seriously, the only thing I play is my ipod), I’ll be the first to say that young performersare pretty cool. And I don’t mean school band/orchestra performers (though they deserve their due) I mean kids out there doing their own music and with no grades involved — they do it for the love of music. There are plenty of teens like this out there, but very few are fortunate enough to be able to really pursue their dream, so having both the love and the opportunity is amazing.

Lakota John is one such lucky kid. He started performing at a mere eight years old on the harmonica, his mother Tonia Locklear explained. Then when he was 10 he played the acoustic bottleneck slide. He is now 13 and plays the blues — and is pretty darn successful at it too.

“I just listened to my dad’s music growing up, and I just started playing at places like at church — and I just like the blues.” Lakota John explained.

The teenage years are all about learning. Learning how to deal with society, your place within, and how to be a grown up, but fun should never be far behind because until you turn like 30, depending on the person, you’re still a kid whether the law agrees or not. In what I consider to be the true teenage spirit Lakota John simply said, “I just like getting up and playing the blues on stage, and I like entertaining the crowd.”

Well Bravo! I say. Music played for the sake of music is the best of all!

Lakota John is pretty well known, and to some is considered a blues prodigy, but he owes part of his success to Claudia Schwartz who often invites him to play with her band Blues Enigma. Some credit is also due to Professor Mario Paparozzi who got him his first large show in Wilmington and taught him his first three chords. Also George Johnson who has been very supportive in welcoming him into the musical community, and introducing him to Schwartz and other artists, should be acknowledged and all should be given credit where credit is due.

When asked what his favorite part of performing was Lakota John again answered simply and truthfully, “Just getting gigs and stuff.”

Lakota John cites several different artists for inspiration such as Jimmy Hendrix, Duane Allman and several other notable musicians, but he doesn’t want to BE a musician. He wants to be an architect who performs music on the side.

Being thirteen and a performer is impressive, and doing it just for the love of music is even more so, but having that chance to share it with other people who appreciate your work is extraordinary!

(PHOTO) Local teen Lakota John loves to jam and play the blues.

As a child of the the 90s I missed out on the whole 80s scene, but I love music as much as anyone, and the 80s has some of my favorites. I can honestly say I have never worn parachute pants or leg warmers, and I’m not really sure why Members Only jackets were widely available or why gloves were fi ngerless (doesn’t that defeat the purpose?) — but I acknowledge that some of today’s trends are equally as questionable. Music however, transcends the decades.

That is why I think Suicide Blonde, which is an 80s cover band based out of Raleigh, is not just for the nostalgic, but for anyone who likes music. They relive the 80s by performing notable songs from universally known bands such as AC/ DC, Def Leppard and Men With Out Hats. It’s like watching Vh1’s Best of the 80s live!

The band consists of fi ve members. There is Dave Adams the front man and a keyboardist; Dustis Askew the guitarist; Lane Moss, the drummer; Warren Sumner the bassist; and keyboardist Greg Uselman, who is also the newest member. Each of the musicians has a unique background in music, but they are united with their intense love of music, and specifi cally the 80s era.

“Suicide Blond can help bring back memories of movies like Pretty in Pink and St. Elmo’s Fire, what it was like to wear a mullet, hop in the Trans-AM and drive to the blaring sounds of AC-DC, INXS, David Bowie or The Cure,” says Meredith Stiehl, the president of the Fayetteville Museum of Art, which sponsors the event.

For those who have never been to a Fayetteville After Five, Stiehl says that there are a few things that you should know. First, to get in is free, but you might want to consider bringing some extra pocket change for beverages and snacks, and bring a chair or a blanket to comfortably sit back relax, and “take in the free entertainment.”

Each Fayetteville After Five is different because of the bands, but Stiehl says it is, “always family friendly with plenty of room to lay out, throw a frisbee or for the kids to run around.”

This month, July 15 is the big day for Fayetteville After Five, as part of the free concert series presented by the Fayetteville Museum of Art. The event will be held in Festival Park, at the corner of Ray Avenue and Rowan Street. The gates open at 5 p.m. and the performances start between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Suicide Blond will start between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. So at about fi ve, “head down to the park and forget the work day,” advises Stiehl.

The event ends at 10 p.m., and as a reminder — no outside beverages, food or dogs are allowed in the park, but don’t worry, you won’t go hungry as there will be vendors present.

It’s Vegas, baby! I recently went on a fact finding trip not sponsored by the U.S. State Department to fi nd facts in Las Vegas. I didn’t fi nd any facts but I did manage to learn some stuff. For instance, there is not a lot of difference between a dry heat in Vegas at 106 degrees and a wet heat in North Carolina at 117 degrees on the old heat index. Both are reasonably miserable. An acetylene torch is also a dry heat.

The trip out was fun. Our plane was diverted from Dallas due to thunderstorms. We got to land to refuel in wonderful Waco, Texas. Waco was once home to David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. I expected to see a plaque on the wall of the Waco airport commemorating Koresh or at least Janet Reno but all they had was the Waco Chamber of Commerce motto which is an upbeat, “Waco, We Do!”

We were in Vegas for a brief trip so I remained on eastern daylight time while I was there. This meant I woke up about 5:00 a.m. Vegas time. Nothing is more uplifting than going down stairs and seeing people who have been up all night gambling still going strong at 5:00 a.m. My favorites are the morning gamblers on oxygen holding a cigarette in one hand and pulling the slot machine with the other. Vegas is fun for the whole family, particularly if you are the Manson Family. We stayed at the Bellagio, which I recommend if you enjoy paying $7.50 for a glass of orange juice with breakfast.

In order to become one with the Vegas strip, I walked every morning before the sun got to its full broil setting. One morning I culture trekked from the Bellagio up to Fremont Street which is about six miles. Street people on Las Vegas Boulevard early on a Saturday morning are pretty colorful. I saw a couple of older ladies in motorized scooters buzzing down the side walk. One lady was on oxygen and I overheard them discussing where to have breakfast. It was inspirational, they weren’t as mobile as they used to be, but they were still out having fun in Sin City. As Teddy Roosevelt would say, “Bully for them!”

I walked past the Circus Circus Casino and saw a sign for the “All You Can Stomach” breakfast buffet for only $9.99. The Circus Circus is up at the funky end of the strip and features a giant looming clown sign holding a hypnotic sucker to lure in hungry tourists. Anyone who has coulrophobia or clown fear, like I do, should stay away from the Circus Circus. That is one big angry clown they have up in the sky. He looks hungry. Another casino lured in hungry and insane tourists proclaiming, “With one pound of bacon, our BLT is heart stopping, nurses standing by.” You gotta love Vegas food, particularly if you are a cardiologist.

Once past the Stratosphere, the Strip turns into a No Man’s land of wedding chapels, tattoo parlors, bail bondsmen and homeless gamblers. One chapel boasted that Joan Collins and Michael Jordan had been married there, though apparently not to each other. I walked past the world famous Drive In Wedding Chapel where you can get married in a pink Elvis-style Caddy in a driveway. It was next to the sleaziest and emptiest dust covered adobe style motel that exists in the western hemisphere. Pure Vegas.

When I finally got to Fremont Street I was ready for a 99 cent shrimp cocktail. Unfortunately the BP Oil spill seems to have wiped out the cheap shrimp. I settled for a bagel and coffee. Fremont Street is old Vegas featuring very tired original casinos. At night it has a delightful light show under a several block long canopy of lights. Fremont Street in daylight is not so delightful. It looks like a hung over rentable lady of the evening without her make up or false teeth on a Monday morning. Even Vegas Vic looked carcinogenic in the dawn’s early light. It was pretty spooky.

The World Cup was on in casinos all over town. I actually watched a soccer game and got caught up in America’s ancient soccer rivalry with Ghana. The crowd went nuts when we tied the Ghana team on a penalty kick. Americans actually cheering for soccer. As the King of Siam would say, “Is a puzzlement.” My wife Lani pulled for the Ghanians because “they have so little and we have so much.”

Nothing is strange in Vegas, because everything is strange there.

OK, Fayetteville. It is that time of year again when we ask our Up & Coming Weekly readers to share with us their opinions about local venues, people, businesses and organizations that, in some positive way have made an impact on our community during the last 12 months. For 11 years, this has been our way of monitoring our community’s growth, development and quality-of-life index while allowing us to acknowledge and congratulate publicly those who have worked hard to leave their mark on this community.

If you are a regular reader of Up & Coming Weekly you know we take the Best of Fayetteville survey very seriously. Ourstaff goes to great lengths to discover and salute the “Best of the Best.”

For those not familiar with this process we encourage you to participate and fi ll out the ballot found on page 27 and 28 and submit it to us before the deadline. Most importantly, make sure you follow these important instructions:

1. Complete at least 15 categories.

2. Include your name and address.

3. Send in only one entry per person.

4. Mail only one entry per envelope.

5. And, the most important thing, DON’T CHEAT! Not that you would, of course, but tell your friends it will do them no good to “stuff” the ballot box or “single shot”.

Like I said, we take this survey very seriously and unlike other local ballots or newspaper reader’s choice surveys all of Up & Coming Weekly’s “Best of Fayetteville” ballots are mailed directly to a local CPA’s offi ce where they are counted, audited and verified. It is during this process that incomplete, duplicated, falsified, doctored and suspicious ballots are revealed and disallowed. As you can imagine this is a costly and time consuming process but one that has an 11-year track record of success and has proven to be quite effective. As a result, the “Best of Fayetteville” readers survey and recognition has been able to maintain its high level of dignity, honor and pride. Each winner is recognized with a plaque or certifi cate provided by Up & Coming Weekly and The Trophy House.

So, please, fi ll out and submit a ballot. Tell us like it is! Curious minds want to know: Who is the “Best of Fayetteville?” You may even win $100.

This year you can also enter online. Visit our e-edition and go straight to the online survey. Include your e-mail address on the ballot and we will subscribe you to our “free” VIP Early Bird Online Edition. Remember, stuffi ng the ballot box will not help. To really promote your cause, business or organization just tell your friends to pick up a copy of Up & Coming Weekly, follow the instructions and VOTE.

If you do not have access to the Up & Coming Weekly newspaper at your business or organization call us and we will make sure you are directed to the closest available outlet. Above all else, have fun with it! Call me anytime and thanks for reading. I enjoy your questions and comments. I can be reached at 484-6200 or by e-mail at bbowman@ upandcomingweekly.com.

Being a kid can be a really tough job, even in the best of circumstances, nevermind the heart break and tragedy that so many of them live with every day. When kids are neglected, abused and hurting they don’t have the tools they need or access to the information that can change their lives. That is why it is so important that there are places they can turn to for help and people looking out for their best interests. In this fi rst part of a continuing series, we explore some of our community organizations that are making a difference in children’s lives in Cumberland County. The exploration will continue in our

July 21 issue. The Child Advocacy Center deals in some pretty grim situations. In fact, according to their Web site:

• Child abuse is a community health epidemic with long-term consequences for the child, the family, the community, and society.

• Every 35 seconds a child in America is confirmed as abused or neglected.

• Every six hours a child in America is killed by abuse or neglect.

• One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.

• Cumberland County has the third highest number of child abuse cases reported (4,923 in FY 04-05), the second highest number of cases substantiated (1,512 in FY 04-05) and the highest number of homicides from child abuse in NC (5 in 2004).

• There are 386 sex offenders in Cumberland County registered with the NC Sex Offender Registry. (Actual number of sex offenders is generally thought to be 3 times higher than registered numbers).

While these numbers are discouraging and even daunting, make no mistake, the Child Advocacy Center is there fi ghting for kids and working to protect them when it is hard for the youngsters to understand or even talk about what they have been through — much less defend themselves — and they are just one of many organizations that seek to better the lives of children.

“Children that come through here have a pretty good safety net that is put in place for them,” said Roberta Humphries, executive director of the Child Advocacy Center in Fayetteville. “We help to facilitate the beginning stages of healing for that child. We have a forensic interviewer who is trained to conduct those interviews with children in a noninvasive non-threatenting and non-suggestive manner. That makes a big difference for the child.”

The Child Advocacy Center, by their own defi nition, “is a child-friendly place where a multidisciplinary team of community professionals join hands to care for abused children. They aim to decrease the overall impact of abuse by reducing further victimization to abused children; by increasing the number of successful prosecutions of perpetrators; by encouraging parents and caregivers to stop abusive and neglectful behaviors; by reducing the long-term costs to society; and by decreasing the number of child abuse victims through awareness and prevention education.”

In order to make interviewing children and information gathering more effi cient in child abuse cases, the Child Advocacy Center “brings together representatives from CC Department of Social Service’s Child Protective Services; CC Sheriff’s Offi ce; Fayetteville Police Department; Hope Mills Police Department; Spring Lake Police Department; the medical community via Southern Regional Area Health Education Center, Cape Fear Valley Health Systems and Womack Army Medical Center; CC District Attorney’s Offi ce; Guardian ad Litem; and Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County.”

Instead of having to retell/relive their experiences over and over and suffering through endless interviews, more information is gathered in fewer sittings, giving children a faster start on the road to healing, and saving both families and organizations precious time in building cases against those who seek to harm the most vulnerable among us.

Helping families and children to deal with abuse is just part of the equation though, education is also key in detecting and preventing abuse in our community. The Child Advocacy Center provides ongoing education to the organizations that partner with them, they review cases weekly, provide Continuing Education opportunities to organizations and professionals in the community and provide child abuse awareness and prevention information to the community.

“Often people don’t know or don’t understand the impact of their actions on children, take shaken baby syndrome for example, some people just don’t understand how much trauma that causes,” said Humphries. “Unfortunately, whenever families face stressors, child abuse numbers go up whether it is a deployment or unemployment or who knows what. A lot of times it is just a matter of educating people and giving them the tools they need — like anger management skills that can make a difference.”

For more information, to make a donation or to volunteer visit www. childadvocacycenter.com or give them a call at 486-9700.

Fayetteville Urban Ministry: Finding Friends

by STEPHANIE CRIDER

Fayetteville Urban Ministry’s whole purpose is to show God’s compassion for its neighbors. They do this through several programs: Emergency Assistance, Adult Literacy, Find a Friend and the Nehemiah Project. 

These are all practical programs that change lives for the better — and whether it is through direct services from Fayetteville Urban Ministry or the trickle down effect, the work that these folks do day in and day out, the dedication they show to their cause through out the year has an impact on young lives.

The adult literacy program teaches basic reading, writing and math skills to adults who read below a sixth grade level. Volunteer tutors work one on one with the students. The facility has a library, computer lab and a learning room for students and tutors to use. While this particular program is for adults, imagine the benefIts that a young child receives in having a literate adult in their lives. Everything from bed time to the kind of job the adult can get changes.

Ah, home sweet home — but how sweet is it really when rain or pine needles are falling through the roof, or the light fixtures are falling out of the ceiling or the floor has rotted away beneath you? Qualified contractors, volunteers and staff with the Nehemiah Project repair homes for moderate to low income home owners. According to www.fayurbmin. org/programs, last year this program performed repairs worth $120,547! Having a safe place to call home can make all the difference in the lives of youngsters and this program provides that.

Food and clothing are pretty basic needs, but sometimes parents are unable to provide this for their families. Fayetteville Urban Ministry provides emergency assistance where clients are able to shop at no cost for things like clothes, linens, and hygiene kits at no cost. Emergency food assistance is also available for families in crisis.

The Find a Friend Program is all about helping kids though. It focuses on pairing up youth with mentors and resources to make smart decisions and set them up for successful lives as adults. By helping youngsters to channel their energy constructively, develop a healthy respect for learning, improving social interaction skills and high self esteem Find a Friend helps the court system keep kids in positive, productive lifestyles.

“We have been in existence since 1982, so we have turned around a lot of lives,” said Shauna Hopkins, Fayetteville Urban Ministry after school coordinator. “We currently have about 120 youth in the program but we serve almost 300 kids a year and our services are free of charge for the youth enrolled in our program.”

According to Hopkins, Find a Friend has four different parts to it. The interpersonal skills part works on things like kids’ social skills, behavioral problems, anger management and peer pressure.

“We also have our Beyond program which is building youth opportunities and destinies,” said Hopkins. “That is focused on gang intervention and gang prevention — we target certain areas in the community to help those kids out to stop them from being in a gang.”

The one on one mentoring component helps any at risk youth get a mentor like a big brother or big sister. There is also a mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents. “All the programs work together hand in hand to provide wrap around services for the youth we serve,” said Hopkins. “We serve the entire Cumberland County area and we serve ages six through 17 so we are pretty strung out most of the time,” she added with a laugh.

Not only does Hopkins get to work for an organization that makes a difference in the community, she builds relationships with the youth that come through the programs — and she loves it.

“The kids are the best part of my day,” said Hopkins. “I do it for them. Every time I see them I am reminded why I go thorough all the paper work and the meetings and all that stuff. I have said for many years that children are our best natural resources and we need to nurture them because they are the future they are going to be running the country one day”

To find out more about Fayetteville Urban Ministry, make a donation or referral, or to volunteer check out www.fayurbmin.org/ or call 483-5944.

Boys & Girls Club: Teaching a Positive Life

by ASHLEY YOUNG

With a mission to inspire all youth to become productive, responsible and caring citizens the Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland County strives to be a place where kids can be themselves, have fun with other kids their age and participate in structured activities, including basketball, softball, fl ag football and a game called “quickball.”

“It’s an after school program for youth ages 5-18 that teaches health and life skills, character and leadership development education and career development, sports, fi tness and recreation and the arts,” said Don Williams, Chief Professional Offi cer for the Cumberland County Boys and Girls Club.

Along with physical activities the club also implements a daily program called “Power Hour” which is a homework and tutorial enterprise to encourage kids to stay focused in school. Other programs include “Passport to Manhood,” for male children 11-14 years old, which encourages them to use responsibility and reinforces positive behavior, and “Street Smarts” which teaches kids to resist gangs and violence and resolve confLict in a peaceful manner.

The Boys and Girls Club was started by two gentlemen in 1968 because of the need for kids to have something positive to do after school, with juvenile crime on the rise. The club has been in service now for more than 42 years and four are open throughout Cumberland County. Their hours are from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday during the school year, and 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. during the summer. Parents can make their children members by fi lling out an application at any Boys and Girls Club.

The Cumberland County Boys and Girls Club welcomes kids of any gender, religion and race to come out and join the club. Scholarships are given to the kids so their membership is free. Many of the kids who spent their early years at the Boys and Girls Club have gone on to achieve academic success and many have joined the military. Donors and volunteers are welcome and with a faculty of one staff member per 20 kids, volunteers are needed.

“I think it’s a great program that really helps kids and the community and there is so much kids can gain by being part of a Boys and Girls Club. I’ve been involved for 21 years,” said Williams.

The Cumberland County Boys and Girls Club is located on 3475 Cumberland Road in Fayetteville and can be reached by phone at (910) 425-3852. For more information please visit ccbgc.org.

Ashton Woods: It Takes a Village 

by ASHLEY YOUNG

Sixteen years ago the Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network recognized the need for temporary housing for homeless families and their children in our community. In 1997, the Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network along with The Women’s Center of Fayetteville and many private citizens created a dream which became the reality of Ashton Woods Transitional Housing Village.

The village is a small community of 20 homes located on the corner of Bragg Boulevard and Old Shaw Road that was created for homeless families who need more time to get back on their feet than traditional shelters allow.

The Women’s Center of Fayetteville led in fundraising efforts and accepted the property deed. Nearly half a million dollars was raised and the property of Ashton Woods was purchased. The Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network helped in funding efforts and secured other grants and donations towards this program.

They also coordinated volunteers, managed the Ashton Woods property and worked with the families in need. Through this they were able to get hundreds of volunteers in the local community to help restore the homes and build a security fence around the village in order to prevent crime. Church youth and adult groups cleaned out and painted homes to prepare them. The City of Fayetteville provided funds to the Fayetteville Urban Ministries to help assist with the electrical, plumbing and HVAC repairs on eight of the houses. Ashton Woods offi cially opened in June of 1998.

Families who live within the Ashton Woods community are provided with a two bedroom home and may live there for two years. The families are responsible for paying utility bills including water and sewer, heating, water heater and electricity bills. Rent of the houses is subsidized during the families’ stay in order for them to work on specific goals to help increase their wage earning potential. These goals include completing GEDs and college, earning certifi cate programs, such as forklift driving, getting certified nursing assistance, etc. Subsidy is provided due to the fact that each family is expected to obtain employment, while accomplishing these goals, however payment for part time jobs is often limited, yielding around $200 per week, which is not enough to pay traditional rent.

Each family that lives within Ashton Woods participates in an intensive care management program which establishes a savings requirement to help prepare them for the move to permanent housing at the end of their stay. A spending budget is established to verify that all household income is being used to pay residents monthly utilities, pay debts that are owed and save remaining income for permanent housing goals.

“Our organization has a professional team which works with each family establishing goals, tracking progress, verifying their fi nancials, bank statements and daily household expenditures,” said Denise Jiles, Project Director of the Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network.

There are also services and support offered to children who have experienced signifi cant trauma due to their family’s housing instability. Also a fully functional library with over 2000 reading and reference resources, computers, tutors, and educational activities are provided so each child has the support necessary to continue their education and establish goals to keep them on the right track.

Another program for the kids is that every 18 months in the Ashton Woods program, kids choose a community project that they work for in order to make a positive difference. Last year they chose the Cumberland Community Foundation where they raised resources for painting the Cumberland Community resource room. The children worked throughout the year to obtain paint supplies and other needed materials.

“I believe this is one of the best programs for families experiencing homelessness in our state. It has been an essential part of recovery in the lives of hundreds of homeless children and their parents. I am proud to be a part of developing self suffi ciency in the lives of so many and hope that the impact we have continues to help our community in reducing dependency on public programs and eliminating homelessness one family at the time,” said Jiles. For more information, visit www.cumberlandihn.org/AshtonWoods.htm.

Branching Out, Making a Difference

by DR. SHANESSA FENNER

Great Oak recognizes and wants to address the socioeconomic issues among inner city male youth in educational achievement, juvenile incarceration, and joblessness and access to opportunities.

“Great Oak held a two-week leadership and development summer camp in June,” said Bobby Washington, executive director of Great Oak Youth Development Centers. “It entailed a theory being taught in the morning followed by a fi eld trip or other community service event in the afternoon.” Washington added that the youth were shown business plans and taken to various businesses that have been planned and executed. The camp also focused on teaching the youth about successful teamwork, respect for themselves and others, and how to bring out a positive self-image. The culminating activity of the camp consisted of the youth creating a business plan and presenting it to others.

Great Oak provides services to students aged 6 to 18. Parents, educators, or community offi cials must refer the students. The mission of Great Oak Youth Development Center is to provide a foundation for achievement and success among male youth within targeted communities by directly providing educational assistance, mentoring, leadership and skills training and cultural awareness activities. The defi cit is more pronounced and alarming for America’s black males.

The programs offered are Effective Black Parenting, Men and Boys Unity, Mentoring, Leadership Academy, Parental Involvement, Summer Leadership and Entrepreneurs’ Camp, and Reading Buddies. Great Oak was recognized by the governor for North Carolina’s Volunteer Service Medallion Award and recognized by the Fayetteville Business and Professional League as the Social Entrepreneur of the Year.

“It is our goal to expose the boys to education and cultural events,” said Washington. “We always work a college or university fi eld trip in when we take an extended field trip.”

Great Oak is a charitable nonprofi t organization that relies on donations for a substantial portion of funding to run their program. Applications may be requested

Ah, Summer! Nothing says it better than the sounds of beach music, good friends, great dancing and cold drinks. And, if you live in the Fayetteville area, you aren’t going to have to travel far to join in the fun. Shaggers, take out your dancing shoes and get ready for a Summer Workshop Party at the Fayetteville Holiday Inn Bordeaux.

This year’s Summer Workshop Party will be hosted by the Fayetteville Area Shag Association (FASA) July 9-11. This “park and party” workshop will include a hospitality room with refreshments and drinks, shag and dance lessons, entertainment, vendors and door prizes like a watch or television. The Holiday Inn Bordeaux will provide a 2,040 square foot ballroom dance floor for shaggers anytime they want to dance during the workshop. This is the first time that the Summer Workshop Party has been held at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux.

“We call it a workshop, but really it’s a big party with 100 shag clubs,” said Kathi Baloyot, of the Association of Carolina Shag Clubs.

Tickets are $65 for all events and registration can be made at the door or by going online www.shagdance.com/ summerwork.htm. Registration begins at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 9 and at 9 a.m. on July 10. Reservations to stay at the hotel can be made by calling the Holiday Inn Bordeaux, at (910)323-0111, and mentioning the shag workshop. Participants must be 21 years or older to register because alcoholic beverages will be served.

To date, 300 shaggers have already registered and the FASA is hoping for 400 people by the closing day of registration.

This summer workshop is one of five meetings the Association of Carolina Shag Clubs holds annually. More than 100 shag clubs are usually present and attendance by at least two representatives from each club is required. However, all shaggers are invited to come out and have a good time.

Disc jockeys for the event will include Tootie Brown, David Sessions, “Big” Al Pearce, Ricky Price and Murl Augustine.

“FASA was formed in 1984 with the purpose of perpetuating and preserving the Carolina Shag dance, to promote beach music and the atmosphere surrounding the dance, and to create and maintain an environment conducive to the dance,” said Baloyot.

FASA is a part of the Association of Carolina Shag Clubs, which was established in February 1984. The founders did not name the club based on location, but rather the Carolinas’ style of dancing.

The first major event held by the Association of Carolina Shag Clubs was a cruise, with more than 150 shaggers, aboard the S.S. Galileo on March 3, 1984. For more information please visit www.shagdance.com/ home.htm or call Kathi Baloyot at home: (910) 630-1303, or by cell: (910) 818-9521,

On July 3, 1776, in a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams, one of the Committee of Five who worked to create the Declaration of Independence, wrote:

“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

While July 2 was the actual date that Congress approved the resolution of independence, and although most members of Congress did not actually sign it until August 2, Americans celebrate the date displayed on the Declaration of Independence, and each year Fort Bragg offers a July 4th celebration that would make John Adams proud.

Considered one of the Top 20 Events in July by the Southeast Tourism Society, this year’s event at the Main Post Parade Field begins at 3:00 p.m.,culminating in a fireworks display, “Concert in the Sky,” simulcast on 96.5 The Drive radio, that ends at 10 p.m.

“We are celebrating America’s Birthday,” said Rhett Stroupe, business manager, Special Events at Fort Bragg’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR). “It is a privilege and honor to do it at Fort Bragg with America’s finest. It is a fun family day, where people can relax and get away from everyday stresses.”

An estimated 45,000 people attended the celebration in 2009, which is open to the public.

“It’s a very well-received event,” Stroupe said. “We encourage people to come early to beat the traffic.”

Nearly all of the celebratory activities that Adams recommended will be available. At 3 p.m., authorized vendors and Kiddie Land will open. Country music singer Jamie Tate and the 82d Division All-American Chorus take to the stage from 4:30 to 4:55, and up-and-coming country music and hip-hop superstar Colt Ford follows from 5 to 6 p.m. From 6 to 6:30 p.m., the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, will present a freefall parachute demonstration. Chicago-based rock trio Chevelle will perform from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. After remarks from the commanding general, the National Anthem and flag ceremony, the 82d Division All-American Band will feature the “1812 Overture,” leading up to the illumination of the fireworks display.

New to this year’s festivities is the Wife-carrying Championships sponsored by Fort Bragg Sports. Open to military and government ID cardholders 18-years-old and over, the competition takes place from 3-5 p.m. Men carry their wife or female partner or women carry their husband or male partner on their backs or in their arms through an agility course.

“We saw it in Finland on TV and thought it would be interesting and something different,” said Heather Adams, sports specialist with the MWR Sports and Fitness department. “We’ll hold three heats and a final competition with all of the heat winners. We’ll be giving out trophies. Entry is free, and people can sign up on site.”

Also new to the annual celebration is an opportunity for attendees to “go green.”

“We’ll have recycling bins for aluminum and plastic products, and we’re asking folks to please use them,”Stroupe said.

And of course, no Fourth of July party is complete without great American food.

“There will be hot dogs, hamburgers, turkey legs, barbecue, water and sodas,” said Stroupe.

If you plan to attend one of the best birthday parties for America, be sure to leave your pets at home in the air conditioning. Pets and glass bottles are not allowed. Tents and shelters are permitted in the designated area on a first-come, first-served basis.

Let’s see…“Pomp and Parade”? Check. “Shews, Games and Sports”? Check. “Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations”? Check! Don’t miss Fort Bragg’s July 4th Celebration, a birthday party that would make John Adams smile.

For more information, call 396-3919 or visit www.fortbraggmwr.com.

The age of enlightenment was characterized by blasphemy, intellectual rebellion and the desire for truth. Candide, an opera adapted from Voltaire’s novella is a perfect example.

It is full of sarcasm, and a little erratic, but it portrays humanity with disturbing accuracy. It was written in 1759, but like any great classic it still rings true today, and was banned for a time by the church and government, further proving that the story has something to teach us.

When Candidewas first performed it was not very successful, but it is now very popular. It has been adapted many times, but the most successful version was written by Leonard Bernstein, and this summer Fayetteville State University will bring Bernstein’s opera to life July 16-17 at Seabrook Auditorium. This is the fifth year of summer opera at Fayetteville State, and the tradition is to alternate between a classic and a contemporary opera. Candide is considered a contemporary work.

One may ask how a play based on a story from 1759 can be considered contemporary and still apply, but Phoebe Hall, the director of the opera, explained, “I think the play is about two young people who go off and search for the brave new world when really the brave new world is the one you already live.

“It’s just the way you look at it changes,” continued Hall. “It’s still relevant today. People go looking for greener pastures when really the best thing that you could have is right in front of you. It’s just a matter of how you perceive it, and what you do with it.”

“I remember it as being very, very funny,” says Hall, when asked why she chose Candide for this year’s performance. “I wanted something that was fun, and funny, that was by an author that someone could relate to, and everyone knows who Leonard Bernstein is.”

During the age of enlightenment people were trying to break from the molds of society and into truth, and so much of the resulting literature was banned, but Candide by Voltaire survived and was adapted. “Everybody is looking for knowledge, and everyone wants to be aware,” said Hall, noting that the desire for knowledge is one of the reason that the work survived this long, and is still interesting for many people.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for staff, $3 for children, and $2 for students. For information call 672-1006. For reservations contact Antoinette Fairley, the ticket manager at 672-1724. Children are free when accompanied by an adult or at the matinee showing on July 16.

The Cumberland County crackdown on red light and stop sign violators has proven very successful. Congratulations. But why stop now?

Enforcing our laws against this very dangerous and epidemic problem in our community should be the highest priority. Sure, the two week crackdown was successful in terms of netting 262 tickets issued, however, this served to accentuate the seriousness of the problem. Unfortunately, in broadcasting the success of the crackdown we may have also telegraphed (unintentionally) to thousands of irresponsible vehicle operators that we do not intend to pay much attention to these violations in the future.

Matter of fact, the Fayetteville Observer reported in last Saturday’s newspaper, front page below the fold, that Cumberland County spokeswoman Debbie Tanna said, “Hopefully, we can make this an annual campaign.”

What? Hopefully? Annual campaign? Hmmmm? Does this mean we are assuming in Fayetteville and Cumberland County that these violators and perpetrators of death, carnage and property damage will be on holiday during the next 50 weeks?

I hope this doesn’t mean that our law enforcement officials have checked this box off on their annual “to do” list and now are moving on to other tasks. This may not be the intent, however, in tough economic times Cumberland County residents (aka taxpayers) are looking for not only good common sense but good value, as well. Doing anything just “one time” is not going to affect or change any situation or habit. Even a child knows when a parent isn’t serious about a rule or command (i.e., you are 200 miles away from home on vacation with the family when you say: “If you kids don’t behave I’ll turn this car around and we’ll all go home.”).

Go home? Yeah, right! No validity here.

Catching traffic violators for only two weeks during the year will have the same impact. Especially in a diverse and transient community like ours that sees a turnover in our population on a weekly basis.

Our law enforcement officials need to start enforcing these traffic laws on a consistent basis, prosecuting violators and establishing our community as one that puts a high value on human lives and public safety and these laws demand respect and adherence. Enforcement should be our highest priority and can only be accomplished through repetition and consistency. In the long run it would reduce our law-enforcement costs.

Other towns accomplish this.

When traveling to Tampa, Fla., on Hwy. 301 South, east of Jacksonville, Fla., I travel through the small towns of Lawtey, Waldo and Starke before I get to Gainesville, Fla. All have a stellar reputation for being extremely serious about traffic laws and public safety and have zero tolerance for violators. I have never seen an accident in these area, but what I always see is a constant flow of traffic obeying the speed limit and law-enforcement vehicles in strategic and highly visible locations — usually with blue lights flashing.

They are serious about their traffic laws. I have since found out that all three towns have a statewide reputation for compliance. Not a bad thing.

I know there are a lot of important issues we could be writing about in this space. However, in my opinion, none are more important than this issue. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Scary. Violation of red lights and stop signs is epidemic in Cumberland County and it needs to be addressed and it needs to be stopped. I am glad all the major law-enforcement agencies cooperated and participated in this exercise. We can only hope this crackdown becomes routine so we too can begin to develop a reputation for being a community of safe streets and thoroughfares and one that respects the law. Of course, we appreciate the men and women who have dedicated their careers and lives to law enforcement and making our community a safe place to live, work and play.

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.