Christian singer Zach Williams will bring his Revival Nights Tour to the Crown Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 3, with Cochren & Co. and opening artist Christian Hohn. Music begins at 7 p.m., following the opening of general admission doors at 6 p.m.
The concert will feature songs that blend Southern rock and country influences with themes of faith, hardship and renewal. Williams is known for recordings including “Chain Breaker” and “Rescue Story,” which reflect experiences that shaped his move from rock music into the Christian music industry.
Before his solo career, Williams performed with the Southern rock band Zach Williams & the Reformation. Years on the road and struggles with drug and alcohol use became part of the story he later shared through his music. His first solo album, “Chain Breaker,” earned a Grammy Award and established the sound that has defined much of his work since. His 2019 album, “Rescue Story,” continued to explore recovery and faith.
Williams brings those themes to the Revival Nights Tour. His gravelly vocals and guitar driven arrangements draw from rock and country as well as contemporary Christian music. The tour pairs his established songs with performances by artists whose music also addresses hope and redemption.
Cochren & Co. will join Williams in Fayetteville. Led by singer and pianist Michael Cochren, the group made its label debut in 2018 with “Church (Take Me Back).” Its first full length album, “Don’t Lose Hope,” arrived in 2021 and included “One Day” and “Who Can.” The group followed it with “Running Home” in 2023.
Cochren & Co. combines piano, pop and soul influences in songs about hope and belonging. Along with “Church (Take Me Back),” the group is expected to bring favorites such as “Running Home” to the Fayetteville show.
Hohn, a singer, songwriter and worship pastor from Pleasant Garden, North Carolina, will open the concert. His music draws on small town life and his Christian faith. The tour gives the North Carolina artist an opportunity to introduce his songs to a Fayetteville audience before Cochren & Co. and Williams take the stage.
A limited number of VIP packages include premium seating, early merchandise shopping and a photo opportunity with Williams. VIP doors open at 5 p.m. Guests participating in the photo opportunity must arrive by that time. The concert lineup is subject to change.
The Oct. 3 stop offers local listeners a chance to hear songs spanning Williams’ solo career, along with Cochren & Co.’s radio favorites and new music from Hohn. Concertgoers should purchase tickets through the venue’s official ticketing partner to avoid unauthorized resellers.

Lasst uns feiern! The cooler weather has finally arrived with perfect timing for the Dogwood Foundation’s Dogwood Nights Series, Oktoberfest edition on Saturday, October 10th. Festivities start at 6 p.m. and wrap up promptly at 9 p.m.. This month’s Dogwood Nights is transforming Downtown Fayetteville into a little slice of Germany, with polka, Oktoberfest-themed brews, dancing and a pretzel-eating contest. That’s right, a champion of salted carbs will be crowned at Gaston Brewing Restaurant at 124 Hay Street. The Little German Band, a Raleigh-Durham-based polka band and dance troupe, will be providing the live entertainment for the evening, an immersive, authentic Polka experience. Downtown businesses that include bars, restaurants, and shops will be open and ready to serve attendees.
Dogwood Nights is a new event series presented by the Dogwood Foundation and its community partner, Brightspeed Fiber.
On the second Saturday of the month, the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival board members and volunteers close down Hay Street and throw a big street party, highlighting the businesses of downtown, select local vendors, and live entertainment and performances. The series was created to enhance the Downtown Fayetteville experience with curated live entertainment. The goal is not only to bring people downtown but for them to discover a new favorite place while they are there.
“Dogwood Nights has grown into more than we ever could have hoped for, and we are incredibly excited about what’s still to come!” said Kaylynn Suarez, Executive Director of Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. “The success of this series would not be possible without the partnerships that continue to invest in our mission and our community. A special thank you to Brightspeed Fiber, our presenting sponsor of Dogwood Nights, for believing in this series and helping us create more opportunities for our community to come together, connect, and enjoy downtown Fayetteville. We are grateful for their continued support and excited to keep building something special together. The best is still ahead.”
Community partners are vital to what the Dogwood Foundation does: from local businesses to corporate sponsors, these collaborations make events like Dogwood Nights completely free for the community. For many, Brightspeed Fiber is just the company that provides its Wi-Fi, but the company itself is making big investments behind the scenes into the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community. Their partnership with the Dogwood Foundation has not only meant a lot for the organization, but for Brightspeed as well.
“At Brightspeed, we believe strong communities are built through strong partnerships,” said Sabrina Anderson at Brightspeed. “Supporting the Dogwood Foundation and the Dogwood Nights series is one way we can invest in the people and neighborhoods we serve every day.”
As always on event days, the public is reminded that road closures will begin around 4:30 p.m. the day of the event on Hay Street and side roads. Attendees are encouraged to take advantage of the Franklin Street parking deck for convenience. City Parking is free that day on side streets. All parking lots labeled “Air Lots” are privately owned and are subject to towing. Organizers also ask that the public refrain from bringing electronic scooters or bikes to the event for safety purposes. For more information about Dogwood Nights or the Dogwood Foundation, visit https://www.thedogwoodfestival.com/

It’s a fun run with a purpose. Money Box Academy presents Fun Run Toward Financial Freedom on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Fayetteville Technical Community College. This one-of-a-kind 5K fun run is built with intentionality and community in mind. It’s more than a run; it’s a moment to bring the community together for movement, fun and education. Participants are encouraged to bring the whole family out.
The fun starts at 8 a.m. with runner (and walker) check-in, packet pickup and late registration. Stephanie Kegler with Dancing Without Sin will kick things off with a lively pre-run warm-up dance for everyone in attendance! The fun run is for everyone of every mobility level. The race begins at 9 a.m., with participants starting in waves; runners will go first, joggers second and walkers third.
During the run, the Kids Zone will be open to spectators age 5 and up, featuring bounce houses, face painting and balloon art.
Fun run participants won’t just be moving their bodies; they’ll be working their minds as well. Throughout the 5K course, participants will see markers highlighting financial literacy prompts, connecting the mind and body in a whole new way. Once the race is over, the event shifts into full-fledged community party mode featuring food trucks, DJ Fudgee, a vendor marketplace with local businesses and organizations--the perfect blend of shopping and education. There will be a post-run awards ceremony featuring guest speaker Councilman Malik Davis, hosting sponsor FTCC and run sponsors, Fleet Feet and United Way.
Money Box Academy founder Crystal McLean has been sitting on this idea for a while. She doesn’t do anything without a full plan and vision of execution, so the run was different.
“I kept watching health organizations use 5K races to raise money for their missions and thinking why has nobody done this for financial literacy? Health nonprofits figured out a long time ago that community races are a powerful fundraising tool. They bring people together, they create energy, they make giving feel like a celebration,” she said. “And I thought if we can use that same model to fund free financial education for Cumberland County families, then we have to do it. What sealed it for me was one of our board members who used to participate in the Color Run. She asked why nobody was doing a 5K for financial literacy, and I just said, you know what, let us be the ones who do it. And here we are. Which, by the way, is the first of it's kind in North Carolina!”
Money Box Academy has worked hard to bring this event to fruition with the community in mind.
“You do not need a race bib to belong at this event. The community celebration portion of the morning is completely free and open to everyone. Come hold a sign and cheer on a stranger crossing the finish line. Come enjoy the food trucks and the vendor marketplace. Bring your kids to the Kidz Zone. Dance to the live DJ. We want organizations, companies, sororities, fraternities, churches, and community groups to show up in their colors and represent their mission on that campus," McLean said.
"This is a community day as much as it is a race and the energy is going to be completely different if Fayetteville shows up the way I know it can. I just want Fayetteville to know that this race was built for them. Not for the serious athlete. Not for the person who already has their finances figured out. For the mom who has never run a mile but wants to do something meaningful on a Saturday morning with her kids. For the senior who wants to feel like this community still has a place for her. For the teenager who is just beginning to figure out what financial freedom even means. We built this for all of them. And I want people to know that what we are doing here is historic. This is believed to be North Carolina's first-ever community 5K built around financial literacy and financial freedom. Fayetteville gets to be the city where that starts. That is something to be proud of.”
To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Fayetteville/TheFayettevilleFreedomRunMoneyBox5KWalkRun.

By the time guests arrived for Trolley Pub Fayetteville's grand opening, the hardest work had already disappeared from view.
They saw the bright trolley, a finished gathering space and a Detroit-to-Fayetteville mural connecting the owners' roots to their newest venture. They could not see the delayed plans, rising expenses, late nights or decisions that forced co-owners Kevin Walker and Darnisha James to reconsider a path without abandoning the destination.
“The hardest part was probably everything people didn't see,” Walker said. “The grand opening was one day. Getting there was the real story.”
That story begins before business plans and branding. James is Walker's aunt, and family formed the partnership long before entrepreneurship tested it.
“Before we were business partners, we were family first,” Walker said. “You already know a person beyond what they can contribute to a business. You know their character, their work ethic and how they respond when things aren't going well.”
The lesson passed through their family was straightforward: Nothing mattered more than family. That value created trust before the pair had complementary résumés or shared companies. More than a decade later, Walker and James have navigated disagreements, risk, and growth across several businesses.
Their first ventures, RDL Therapeutic Adult Day Center and RDL Therapeutic Outpatient Therapy Health and Wellness, placed them in health care. Trolley Pub Fayetteville moves them into hospitality, but Walker sees a common purpose beneath two industries that appear unrelated.
“At the center of both is people,” he said. “The person walking through your door should never feel like a number or a transaction. They should feel welcomed, respected, safe and cared for.”
Walker describes himself as the creative who sees the larger picture and builds the framework. He credits James with networking and developing ideas. Their differences became essential while they searched for a location, designed the space, developed operations and decided what a Fayetteville trolley experience should feel like.
At times, one partner had to move the vision forward. At others, the most important contribution was asking the other to slow down and reconsider.
“After this many years, you stop needing to be the person who has the best idea in the room,” Walker said. “You learn to recognize when the other person's strength is what the business needs.”
James first encountered a trolley pub in her hometown of Detroit and brought the idea to her nephew. Together, they researched franchise opportunities and considered whether a pedal-powered social experience could find an audience in Fayetteville.
The finished business reflects both places. To Walker, the mural inside the headquarters is more than decoration. It marks the distance between inspiration and execution while giving the national franchise a local identity.
Trolley Pub Fayetteville celebrated its grand opening Sept. 5. The headquarters is at 218 Robeson St., while riders board at 455 W. Russell St. The 14-passenger vehicle features a sound system and motor assist, with a trained party captain operating the trolley as guests pedal through downtown. Groups can reserve private rides, and smaller parties can join public mixer tours.
The trolley may be designed for fun, but Walker applies the same duty of care that shaped the family's health care businesses. Guests arrive for birthdays, anniversaries, date nights and gatherings after a demanding week. In each case, they trust the owners with an occasion that matters.
“We want people to walk away remembering how they felt,” Walker said. “That part of customer care came directly from our years serving people in health care.”
The owners also want the experience to help residents and visitors see downtown Fayetteville differently. A ride can introduce guests to restaurants, bars, and gathering places along the route, helping a new attraction direct attention toward other local businesses.
For Walker, however, success reaches beyond reservations. He hopes families will remember where they celebrated together. He wants employees and future entrepreneurs to see that a person can learn a new industry without discarding the lessons gained in another.
“I hope they don't just say that Kevin and Darnisha owned businesses,” Walker said. “I hope they say we built things that mattered to people.”
That hope extends to their own family. Their path from health care to hospitality offers the next generation an example of reinvention and the courage required to follow an idea into unfamiliar territory.
“Legacy isn't just what you leave behind,” Walker said. “It's what you create that gives somebody else permission to imagine more for themselves.”
In downtown Fayetteville, that legacy now moves on wheels. Its deeper foundation remains what Walker and James possessed before the first business opened: family knowledge, tested trust and the willingness to stay with an idea after the exciting part gives way to work. For more information, visit their website at https://trolleypub.com/locations/fayetteville/.

(Photo by Jamie Bishop)

Come join Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom for their Oktoberfest on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4. Dirtbag Ales is located at 5435 Corporation Drive in Hope Mills.
On Oct. 3, events kick off at noon and last until 11 p.m. Field games and activities by Rogue Alpha Athletics start at 3 p.m. and will run until 5 p.m.
Festival-goers can partake in a dirndl and Lederhosen contest at 5:30 p.m. and a stein-holding contest at 6 p.m. A Bavarian Brass Band will play from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 4 events begin with Dirtbag Ales’ Farmer’s Market at 10 a.m. and will continue throughout the day with family-friendly activities and celebrations.
Food and drinks will be available from food trucks such as Pinewurst, Harmon’s Deutsche Kuche and Authenique, and of course Napkins will be dishing out delicious bites. Five-dollar beers are available in the little pavilion all weekend, with ten different beers to choose from. Admission is free to the public.
Oktoberfest began October 12, 1810, as a five-day public wedding celebration honoring the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (later King Ludwig) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The royal family invited the citizens of Munich to festivities on the fields outside of the city gates.
In 1811 there was the addition of the agricultural show to promote the farmers, and Oktoberfest has grown from there, with celebrations all over the world.
Make a toast to cheer and good times at the Oktoberfest at Dirtbag Ales, Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4. Admission is free. For more information, visit https://www.distinctlyfayettevillenc.com/event/oktoberfest-at-dirtbag/31864/ or call 910 426-2537.

Bourbon may be in the name, but Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s Heritage & Harvest Bourbon Showcase is about much more than what is poured into a tasting glass. Returning for its second year, Heritage & Harvest will take over the Cape Fear Botanical Garden on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The fall festival brings together North Carolina distilleries, traditional crafts, food, live music and activities for the whole family in a celebration of the state’s history and traditions. The idea for the event actually began with a simple suggestion.
“Ironically, it wasn't anyone on staff but rather Sheila Hanrick's son Aaron, who said, ‘MOM! You guys should do a bourbon festival,’” said Jessica Barnes, Director of Events & Experiences at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Barnes and Hanrick liked the idea, and Barnes began researching ABC requirements and contacting distilleries to gauge interest. From that initial bourbon festival concept, however, something broader began to develop.
The Garden wanted to hold the event in the fall, but its calendar was already full of weddings, galas and other activities. The Heritage Garden was available and proved to be more than simply a location; it helped establish the identity of the new event.
“We decided to utilize our beautiful Heritage Garden,” Barnes said. “This space naturally helped shape the concept into a festival centered around family, history and heritage.”
The McCauley Heritage Garden Complex itself reflects the region's agricultural past, featuring heirloom vegetables, herbs and Southern staples inspired by 19th-century homestead gardens.
Holding the showcase during regular daytime hours also influenced its development. Rather than creating an adults-only tasting event, organizers designed an experience in which bourbon could be one component of a larger festival that families could explore together.
That approach is evident in this year's lineup. Five distilleries are currently scheduled to participate: Buffalo City Distillery, BHAWK, Southern Grace Distillery, Olde Raleigh Distillery and End of Days Distillery. Three are returning from last year's inaugural event, while two will make their Heritage & Harvest debut. Barnes said participating distilleries aren't selected at random. She researches their products, websites and customer reviews, and each participant must produce bourbon.
“We try to be intentional about identifying distilleries that align well with the event and would bring a quality and diverse selection to our guests,” she said.
The tasting tables also allow visitors to learn what is behind the bottle.
“Our distillery representatives are excited to share their history, processes, and stories with our guests,” Barnes said. “What makes this event special is not simply the tasting, but the storytelling and personal connections that happen at each booth.”
That storytelling is particularly appropriate for North Carolina, where whiskey and distilling have longstanding connections to agriculture, craftsmanship and local communities.
Although bourbon is most closely associated with Kentucky, Barnes said Heritage & Harvest offers an opportunity to introduce visitors to North Carolina's own distilling tradition and the agricultural resources, particularly corn, that helped support it.
“The event is not simply about bourbon,” Barnes said. “It is about celebrating the people, craftsmanship, agriculture and traditions that have helped shape North Carolina.”
Those traditions extend well beyond distilling.
Visitors will encounter representatives from the Cumberland County Beekeepers Association, the Quilters' Guild and Basket Weaving Guild, along with blacksmith demonstrations. The demonstrations turn Heritage & Harvest into something of a living-history experience, giving guests the chance to see skills that were once part of everyday life.
“In the ever-evolving world of technology and convenience, many of the traditional skills and trades that shaped our ancestors' livelihoods are slowly disappearing,” Barnes said. “It is important to preserve and share our history and the stories of those who came before us.”
She noted that children, and even many adults, may never have had the opportunity to watch some of these crafts being practiced or appreciate the time involved in creating an object by hand. That emphasis on passing traditions from one generation to another is also one reason organizers have deliberately kept Heritage & Harvest family-friendly.
“History and heritage aren't limited to adults,” Barnes said. “Nurturing a child's interest in these traditions from an early age can help preserve and pass down the skills, stories, and history that are important to North Carolina for generations to come.”
Beyond the demonstrations and bourbon, guests can hear live music from Luke & The Cool Hands and purchase food and drinks from vendors including Copperhead Burgers, Graze Craze, BADOS Louisiana Kitchen, The Scarlet Whisk, The Tonic Garden and Lucia's Cafe.
Families can also explore the Garden, visit a small hay bale maze, try the sluice, and stop at seasonal photo opportunities. The setting is an important part of the experience. Cape Fear Botanical Garden describes Heritage & Harvest as one of its signature community events, and Barnes said programs such as this one allow the Garden to reach people who might be drawn there for different reasons while still supporting its larger mission.
“The Garden is a unique and wonderful place in Fayetteville, offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life,” Barnes said. “Guests can slow down, enjoy the outdoors, put their feet in the grass, and take a moment to reconnect and recenter themselves in nature.”
By combining that natural setting with North Carolina history, agriculture, and craftsmanship, Heritage & Harvest creates another way for visitors to connect with the place they call home. Ultimately, Barnes hopes that connection lasts longer than the afternoon.
“We hope guests leave with a renewed sense of pride in North Carolina and see the Garden as a place they can return to and feel connected,” she said. “Whether through membership, classes, events, or volunteering, we want to create a welcoming space where people can build relationships, find community, and feel a lasting connection to the Garden.”
The Second Annual Heritage & Harvest Bourbon Showcase will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Cape Fear Botanical Garden, 536 N. Eastern Blvd. General admission for ages 13 and older, without bourbon samples, is $25 or $15 for Garden members. Admission with five bourbon samples for guests 21 and older is $40 or $30 for members. VIP admission, which includes eight samples and a take-home glass, is $80 or $60 for members. Admission for children ages 6 to 12 is $7 and free for Garden members; children 5 and younger are free. Bourbon sampling is restricted to guests ages 21 and older. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://tinyurl.com/yc23e4rs.

Ambition is a powerful force, but paired with love, it can prove catastrophic. This October, Sweet Tea Shakespeare invites theatergoers to witness that destructive mix firsthand as they present a dark, moody, and elemental outdoor production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Staged on the historic grounds of the 1897 Poe House at the Museum of the Cape Fear, the production runs across two consecutive weekends: Oct. 1-4 and Oct. 8-11.
Directed by Michael Curtis Houck, this immersive interpretation takes audiences on a deeply unsettling journey where absurdity turns to horror and comedy curdles into tragedy. At its heart, the staging explores how a single catastrophic decision can unravel the lives of everyone in its wake.
Rather than portraying Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as classic villains who are inherently evil, Houck’s direction frames them as deeply human. When the play opens, they are simply a devoted couple genuinely in love. However, when presented with a tempting possibility to gain power and status, they lack the resolve to resist. They make an irreversible mistake, spending the rest of the story frantically working through the bloody consequences.
"They aren’t monsters when we meet them," the company notes, highlighting the psychological complexity behind the couple's descent into madness and guilt. The play promises to be “dark, moody…strangely funny, and increasingly terrifying,” making it a perfect way to kick off the spooky season. Audiences are invited to “come for the poetry. Stay for the chaos. Bring your love of Shakespeare. Maybe leave your ambition at home.”
Set outdoors in the round, the performance places the audience directly in the middle of the chaos. This intimate layout ensures spectators experience the unraveling of ambition, fate, and devotion at dangerously close range.
Sweet Tea Shakespeare is widely celebrated for blending traditional classical performance with lively contemporary sensibilities. True to their signature style, the performance begins with an engaging preshow featuring storytelling, stagecraft, and music, building an approachable yet atmospheric bridge into the classic text.
The venue itself enhances the mood. Set against the backdrop of one of Fayetteville’s most distinctive historic landmarks, the open air and shadow-draped lawn create an environment where the night feels darker and the emotional stakes carry real weight.
Audiences planning to attend should prepare for an evening of live theater that actively refuses to sit politely on a traditional stage. Content Advisory: Prospective viewers should note that the production contains depictions of blood, staged violence, murder, and suicide.
This community theater experience is made possible through support from key sponsors and regional partners, including The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, The Capitol Encore Academy and the Cumberland Community Foundation.
Tickets can be purchased online at sweetteashakespeare.com. Discounted tickets are available for senior adults, military and Gold Star families and students.
Gather your family and friends, settle onto the historic lawn, and get ready for a memorable night of classic poetry, psychological suspense and theatrical turmoil.

(Photo courtesy of Sweet Tea Shakespeare's Facebook page)

A good restaurant tour can take you farther than you expect without leaving home. This month, Dining Guide is rounding up Indian restaurants in the area.

TANDOORI BITES (Best of Fayetteville Winner)
1916 Skibo Rd., Unit A1
910-339-2222
www.tandooribites.net
At Tandoori Bites, the journey into the rich heritage of Indian cuisine begins the moment you step inside. The restaurant prides itself on bringing age-old recipes and traditional cooking techniques to life, offering a genuine taste of India’s diverse culinary culture.
Spices are the heart and soul of Indian cuisine, and at Tandoori Bites, they are used with precision and care to create unforgettable flavors. The restaurant’s chefs skillfully blend a variety of spices to craft dishes that are both complex and balanced. From the fiery heat of red chili powder to the aromatic warmth of cumin and coriander, each spice plays a crucial role in defining the character of a dish.
Dining at Tandoori Bites is more than just a meal; it’s a culinary journey that transports you across India. The menu is thoughtfully designed to showcase the diversity of Indian cuisine, with dishes representing various regions and cultures.
From the rich, creamy curries of the north to the spicy and tangy flavors of the south, Tandoori Bites offers a comprehensive tour of India’s culinary landscape.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply looking to explore new flavors, Tandoori Bites offers an unparalleled culinary experience. The restaurant’s passion for Indian cuisine is evident in every dish, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike. For those who appreciate the art of good food, Tandoori Bites is a gastronomic treasure that should not be missed.

BOMBAY BISTRO
5945 Cliffdale Rd, #1101
910-487-0020
On Cliffdale Road in Fayetteville, Bombay Bistro offers a relaxed place to settle in over Indian food. The established restaurant keeps its dining room low-key, putting the focus on familiar dishes and a welcoming meal.
At lunchtime, the buffet gives diners a chance to sample several dishes in one visit. It is an appealing starting point for anyone still discovering Indian cuisine, as well as a convenient option for regulars who want a little of everything. Dinner brings a full menu of North and South Indian specialties.
Chicken tikka masala and lamb curry are among the classics, alongside tandoori meats, biryanis, and fresh naan. Vegetarian and vegan-friendly choices offer more ways to explore the menu. Whether the plan is to linger over dinner or pick up a meal for home, Bombay Bistro also offers takeout and delivery.
The restaurant typically serves lunch Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., then reopens for dinner from 4:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. It is closed Sundays. For diners making a first visit, the midday buffet offers an easy way to find a new favorite; for those who already know what they love, the dinner menu has plenty to choose from.

DHAN’S KITCHEN ON THE GO
432 Chatham St
910-263-8591
Indian culinary traditions have traveled far beyond India, taking on new flavors along the way. At Dhan’s Kitchen on the Go LLC, diners can explore one of those connections through Caribbean-Trinidadian street food and curries.
Look for Trini doubles, a popular street food made with curried chickpeas, known as channa, tucked between two pieces of soft, fried bread. They are a satisfying introduction to the way Indian ingredients and techniques have become part of Trinidad’s food culture. Roti wraps offer another taste of that heritage, pairing curry with a convenient, handheld meal.
Dhan’s Kitchen offers a flavorful addition to an Indian food tour, especially for diners interested in where familiar spices and dishes have traveled. The menu’s Trinidadian perspective shows how a shared culinary influence can produce something with a character all its own.
For those inspired to bring some of those flavors into their own kitchens, Mediterranean Mart and Indian Foods on Cliffdale Road stocks Indian spices, grains, lentils, fresh produce and other pantry staples. A stop there can turn a good meal into the start of a new cooking project at home.

On an October morning, cyclists will begin gathering outside Dirtbag Ales in Hope Mills. Tires will be checked, water bottles secured and riders greeted. Some will prepare for 100 miles. Others will choose 40. All will be riding through a story that began in Fayetteville 23 years ago.
Cross Creek Cycling Club, known as C4, will celebrate its anniversary Oct. 18 with a free group ride honoring the people who turned a small gathering of cyclists into an accomplished local sports organization.
“Our mission has been to encourage participation without regard to age, experience or ability,” club President Mike Thomas said.
That mission has carried C4 beyond its original circle. The club now has about 100 active members, and nearly 1,200 cyclists have belonged. They have included first-time group riders, endurance cyclists, competitive racers, active-duty service members, military retirees and families searching for community beyond the installation gates.
C4 earned national recognition quickly. USA Cycling named it Best New Club of the Year in 2004, one year after its founding. The organization has since received 13 USA Cycling Club of the Year awards.
Its racing record is substantial. Since 2005, C4 has conducted 35 competitive events, from road races and time trials to criteriums and cyclocross. Its résumé includes the Dragon's Challenge, the downtown Patriot's Criterium and multiple championship weekends. The club hosted the Carolinas Cycling Association road race and time trial championships in 2024 and 2025, followed by the association's time trial championship in 2026.
In 2006, Sports Illustrated selected C4 for a national U.S. Army advertising campaign, recognition that reflected the club's close relationship with Fayetteville's military community. C4 members have also included national champions Dane Pilon and Justin Mathers and world champion Jason Kimball.
Yet Thomas does not define the club by trophies alone. Seven marriages grew from relationships formed through C4. Beginners found mentors. Service members found connections to the city. Experienced riders taught newcomers how to communicate in a group, control pace, stay hydrated and ride predictably.
“Those goals are different, but both riders should feel that they belong,” Thomas said of beginners and accomplished cyclists sharing the club.
The anniversary ride will begin at 8 a.m. at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom, 5435 Corporation Drive. The century route will travel approximately 100 miles to Chadbourn and back, with planned rest stops near miles 20, 50 and 80. The shorter route will cover about 40 miles to Tar Heel and back.
Registration will take place onsite that morning, and every participant must sign a waiver. One support and gear vehicle will assist the ride. Cyclists should select a distance suited to their conditioning, arrive with a properly maintained bicycle and carry their own hydration, food and repair supplies. Organizers will make a weather decision at 6 p.m. Oct. 17. Riders can RSVP through the club's Facebook group event to help provide an accurate headcount.
Thomas expects about 25 cyclists, compared with 30 to 50 participants in previous milestone rides. The smaller estimate does not diminish the occasion. The route offers something statistics cannot measure: hours in the saddle with people who understand that cycling builds trust one shared mile at a time.
C4 has extended that trust into service. Thomas said the club has contributed more than $200,000 to charitable causes, supporting organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Cumberland County Special Olympics, Bicycleman Community Bike Shop, the Wounded Warrior Project and local public-safety foundations.
In 2018, the club established an endowment with Cumberland Community Foundation to preserve that community impact beyond any particular group of officers. Thomas said it was the foundation's only sports-specific endowment at the time.
The anniversary ride therefore celebrates more than longevity. It honors a club that made room for elite competitors without forgetting the nervous beginner, and one that transformed a shared sport into sustained civic service.
“The club's real legacy is found in the people,” Thomas said, “those who discovered cycling, became healthier, formed lasting friendships, represented Fayetteville in competition and used their shared passion to help the community.”
On Oct. 18, that legacy will leave Dirtbag Ales on two wheels. Whether riders return after 40 miles or 100, each will help carry C4's story into its next year. For more information, C4 can be reached on their website at https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18HgeKFAxv/?mibextid=wwXIfr.

(Photo: Members of C4 gather at Dirtbag Ales for a ride. This year, the club celebrates 23 years. Photo courtesy of Cross Creek Cycling Club's Facebook page) 

The Cumberland County Golf Championship returns for its 58th year in October, welcoming novice and seasoned competitors to tee up and give their all toward winning the title of CCGC Champion.
Registration runs until Monday, Oct. 5, offering competitors several divisions to throw their hats in the ring, including Men’s, Women’s, Senior Men’s, Senior Women’s and Super Senior. Registration for the Men’s and Super Senior Divisions is $145, while the Women’s Divisions cost $115; service fees apply. Registrants can sign up at https://pci.jotform.com/form/232342638462153.
In the spirit of keeping the game accessible to as many competitors as possible, a major change has been implemented for this year’s tournament. The minimum age for entry has been lowered to 13 so more future golfing pros can enter the Champion and Open Divisions. Previously, the age limit was 15.
The field will be divided based on sex and age and limited to 96 golfers; players will be flighted within their divisions according to their 36-hole scores.
Gates Four Golf & Country Club, trusted venue of the tournament since 2017, will host all rounds of the competition. General Manager Kevin Lavertu works hard each year to provide the ideal sporting environment with an 18-hole course redesigned in 2011 by Kris Spence, a respected golf course architect. This effort is why Gates Four is considered a premier club among golfers.
For many, playing in the tournament is about more than just vying for a trophy.
“It is a Cumberland County tradition, and it’s the oldest amateur golf tournament continuously running in North Carolina,” said Tournament Director and Up & Coming Weekly Publisher Bill Bowman.
Up & Coming Weekly has proudly put on the CCGC for almost a decade since The Fayetteville Observer stepped away from hosting it. Regular sponsors include SERVPRO, Healy Wholesale and Valley Auto World, among others.
“It’s been a very exciting and rewarding event for this community,” said Bowman. “Up & Coming Weekly is very honored to have been asked to carry this Fayetteville/Cumberland County tradition forward.”
The tournament will be preceded by the Gates Four Champions’ Reception and Pairings Party on Thursday, Oct. 8, held at the country club. This get-together gives players a chance to mingle and see who they’ll be playing against. Attendees include Kirk deViere, chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners; Diane Wheatley, North Carolina representative for District 43; and other city and county representatives.
The game starts on Friday, Oct. 9 and will last until Sunday, Oct. 11, with 54 holes of individual stroke play. The Women’s Divisions will play 36 holes across Saturday, Oct. 10 and Oct. 11. The tournament adheres to rules set by the United States Golf Association; any local rules will be declared before the game begins. On the last day, golfers who make it to the Championship flight will play from the black tees, which will determine the CCGC Champion.
After the tournament ends on Oct. 11, the SERVPRO Winners Reception will be held at the country club’s pavilion around 4 p.m. to reward the best of the best. The chairman and state representatives will also be present at this celebration.
Alongside new golfers, there will be many familiar faces returning to ramp up the competition, including 2025 runner-up Billy West, Chase Suitt and 2025 CCGC Champion Chip Collins, who’s looking to score a three-peat after his 2024 and 2025 wins.
Each division has its winners in addition to the overall CCGC Champion. Here’s a look at who took home the trophies in 2025:
• Open Division: Tori Callaway (245)
• Senior Men’s: Steve Wheeler (231)
• Senior Women’s: Jennifer Eavenson (181)
• Women’s: Toni Blackwell (175)
• Super Senior: Larry Spivey (231)
Collins went pro after playing in the CCGC for many years and is now back to competing in our local championship.
“I didn’t really know how much I would miss playing in the tournament until I got back to playing in the tournament,” he said. “It’s nice to be back, and it’s nice to have won a couple after coming back as well.”
With new competitors signing up each year, including youth players, Collins anticipates that the old guard of repeat champions will eventually give way to the “coming of the new kids.” Until then, he looks forward to returning for the 2026 game and seeing past players, and he keeps his skills sharp by competing in other tournaments during the year.
“I play on two amateur tours throughout the year — the Golf Weekend tour and the APT tour,” he said. “Between those two tours and some other tournaments, I just play tournaments mostly on the weekend and practice when I can.”
In addition to offering a highly competitive game and a weekend of elite sportsmanship, the tournament also supports youth education through the Kidsville News! Literacy & Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The organization “provides free reading and educational resources to elementary-age students in Cumberland County schools,” according to Bowman.
When Up & Coming Weekly took charge of the CCGC in 2017, there wasn’t yet a charitable component.
“The tournament really was just a golf tournament, and I wanted it to tie in with our mission and our mandate,” said Bowman, referencing Up & Coming Weekly’s aim to elevate Cumberland County’s quality of life and media landscape. “I wanted it to be a tournament with a purpose.”
This goal is also shared by and reflected in the sponsors who have been supporting the CCGC since its 2017 revamp.
Spectators are welcome to come down to Gates Four at 6775 Irongate Drive to watch the golfers play and see who comes out on top. Be there from Oct. 9 to Oct. 11 to root for the players and witness the excellence of Cumberland County golfers. Contact Bill Bowman at 910-391-3859 for any questions about the event.

(Photo: Division and championship trophies are lined up ready for the top golfers in Cumberland County. Photo courtesy of Cumberland County Golf Championship)

Sweet Tea Shakespeare actors turn the historic home into a turn-of-the-century Poe family party filled with period games, Southern ghost stories, audience participation and real Fayetteville history.
If you have ever attended a Sweet Tea Shakespeare production, you know it is never as simple as sitting and watching a play. It is a full-on experience. The company’s cast members and directors have a unique talent for breaking the fourth wall and bringing the audience completely into the story.
That is why Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s partnership with the 1897 Poe House for the upcoming Hallowe’en Revels production, “Haints and Diversions: A Poe Halloween Party,” feels like the perfect fit.
The words in the title help set the tone. A “haint” is a ghost, mischievous spirit or haunting presence, while a “diversion” was a period term for a game or entertaining activity that offered a break from ordinary life. Although diversion is often associated with distraction today, it once represented an opportunity to turn away from the everyday for a moment of entertainment, fun and, in this case, a little mischief.
Those haints and diversions become part of a turn-of-the-century Halloween story designed to bring history to life. Visitors will not simply tour the 1897 Poe House. They will enter as guests at a historically grounded Poe family Halloween party and participate as the story moves throughout the house.
The interactive format connects local history and turn-of-the-century Halloween traditions with celebrations that continue today.
Imagine entering the 1897 Poe House, perhaps even dressed in a period-inspired Halloween costume. After being greeted by a guide, guests will move from room to room, meeting and interacting with members of the Poe family and other people connected to them. Along the way, they will participate in Halloween activities and traditions while hearing ghost stories rooted in Southern and North Carolina history.
“It’s kind of like theater meets living history,” museum educator Mary Cooper said.
The annual Hallowe’en Revels program will be presented Oct. 16-17 and Oct. 29-30 at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex. Developed in partnership with Sweet Tea Shakespeare, the approximately 45-minute guided production will feature more audience participation than previous Hallowe’en Revels presentations.
One important distinction: This Poe is not Edgar Allan Poe. E.A. Poe was a prominent Fayetteville businessman and owner of the Poe Brick Company. The production imagines how a family such as the Poes might have celebrated Halloween during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It does not claim that this specific party historically occurred.
This year’s production focuses more directly on historical Halloween traditions and a younger period in the Poe family’s life. Actors will portray real Poe family members and historical figures connected to them. The format also gives guests more opportunities to participate instead of simply watching the story unfold.
“It’s a different story every year,” business officer Stephen Thompson said.
The production is supported by research into Victorian- and Edwardian-era Halloween activities, decorations and costumes, along with Southern ghost stories, North Carolina folklore and relationships within the Poe family. Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s experience with audience interaction allows that research to become something guests can experience instead of information delivered during a traditional historic-house tour.
As a complete and total history buff, I love the idea of becoming part of a historical story. However, not everyone responds to history in the same way. Hallowe’en Revels gives visitors an opportunity to see how people from another period celebrated, played and entertained one another, and why their lives were not quite as removed from ours as they may seem.
“Just because it’s history doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have been fun, and it wouldn’t have been entertaining,” Cooper said.
The production was created with families in mind. There are no jump scares and no actors waiting around corners; this is not a haunted house. It does include ghost stories, fortune-telling and historically rooted supernatural themes, so parents should consider their children’s individual comfort levels. Some characters represent Poe children around ages 10 to 12, reflecting the younger period of the family’s life explored in the story.
Tours begin at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. each evening and are limited to 15 guests per time slot. Tickets are $10 per person and must be purchased in advance. Walk-up sales will not be available. Tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/4jjpOq4.
Guests will check in at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, 801 Arsenal Ave., before being escorted to the Poe House by their guide. The experience requires approximately 45 minutes of walking and standing, and guests will use stairs. The second floor of the Poe House is not wheelchair accessible. The museum gift shop will be open before and after each tour.
Cooper hopes guests leave the Poe House with a different understanding of what learning about the past can feel like.
“I definitely want them to go through and say, ‘Wow, history is exciting,’” she said.

Massey Hill Baptist Church presents the 33rd Annual Gospel Singing Celebration Saturday, October 3 at 6 p.m.
“I started singing when I was five years old, and I have been involved with quartet music,” said Larry Chason, organizer of the event. “I have been doing solo work for 33 years in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.”
Chason’s humble beginnings began with him singing alongside his mother and sister at his home church, Pittman Grove Baptist Church, in the Rockfish Community of Hoke County.
“I sang with several quartets and back in 1989, I started doing solo work and the Lord has blessed me traveling by myself,” said Chason. “We have been able to sing with a lot of bigger groups, I do a lot of promoting of regional groups, and I am excited to be able to help the groups when they call me.”
He added, “I sing the old-style southern gospel music.”
The gospel celebration highlights performances by Gabriel’s Call from Durham, North Carolina, Jennifer Rhone from Balm In Gilead Family Counseling Ministries and Chason. Gabriel’s Call is a talented trio featuring Patsy Sanders, Bruce Wimberley and Tim Davis.
“There’s nothing like the old-style southern gospel music,” said Chason. “That’s what I try to bring to churches when I go and sing a lot of the hymns.”
When asked to name his favorite gospel song, he answered without hesitation.
“My favorite gospel song is “The Lighthouse” and it was written in 1970 by Ronny Hinson. I will never forget it,” said Chason. “It was the first song that I sang on the piano with my mother, and it has always played a special part in my life.”
He stated, “’Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’” (Matthew 5:16) is my testimony. Yes, I make mistakes, but I want people to know that the light of Jesus is real.”
Chason’s heart and desire, wherever the Lord leads him, is to share the gift that God has blessed him with and use it for His glory. His prayer is that through every song, someone’s heart will be touched, a life will be encouraged, and a soul will be drawn closer to the Lord.
“We are at the end of time, and everybody needs to have that assurance that they know the Lord,” said Chason. “There is something about music that calms the storm and soothes the soul.”
He added, “I don’t call it a concert; I call it a worship service.”
September 19, 2025, was the day that changed everything; Chason lost his beloved wife.
“The Lord called her home, and one of her main wishes was that I would continue to use the gift that God has so graciously given to me,” said Chason. “She wanted me to go sing, spread the gospel, and I’m doing it now more than ever.”
For Chason, it has been an incredible journey of faith, ministry, and music. “We have been privileged to record 8 CDs and we are working on our ninth CD now,” said Chason. “My best friend, Lucy Hemmingway, and I co-wrote a song that will be on my brand-new project entitled ‘God’s Got It,’ and it will be released the first of the year.”
Chason added, “Those were the last words that my wife whispered to me before the Lord called her home: God’s got it.”
The 2018 Long Leaf Pine recipient is expecting a powerful turnout and hopes the community will rally behind his efforts.
“We would love to have a generous love offering to help take care of the expenses of the groups and the advertising,” said Chason. “I give God all the praise and glory, so come join us for an evening of worshipping and praising the Lord.”
For more information, call 910-818-9769 or email chasonlighthousemusic@yahoo.com.

Most of us have likely seen social media posts sharing information about pets that need a good home. Whether they have been lost or abandoned or surrendered through no fault of their own, many dogs, cats, and other pets in our community depend on the kindness and generosity of people for their shelter and basic care. While we may not be able to house and feed them ourselves, there is a way to support organizations that do just that.
On Oct. 9, the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society will host its 14th annual Woofstock celebration at the picturesque Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Doors open at 6 p.m. for an evening filled with live entertainment, fine food, and community philanthropy with a single, worthy goal: to rescue shelter animals across Cumberland County.
North Carolina currently ranks second in the nation for shelter euthanasia rates. As the only licensed, no-kill, non-profit animal shelter in Cumberland County, FAPS receives no government funding and relies entirely on local generosity to keep its doors open. Since 2012, Woofstock has served as the shelter's primary fundraising event. Money raised through Woofstock directly funds medical care, nourishment and shelter for hundreds of homeless pets every year.
Headlining this year's benefit is On The Border-The Ultimate EAGLES Tribute. A nationally recognized touring band, On The Border will perform two full sets of classic hits.
Alongside the classic rock lineup, attendees will enjoy a full BBQ dinner, drinks and the chance to win exciting prizes. This year’s 50/50 cash raffle offers a major reward for supporters. Last year’s winner walked away with more than $2,000, and participants do not need to be present on event night to win.
The silent auction promises an array of premium packages.
“The silent auction is stacked this year,” says Jackie Peery, Executive Director of FAPS.
Highlighted items that participants can bid on include a complete orthodontic treatment package valued over $6,000, a seven-day Caribbean cruise, designer handbags, curated bourbon and cigar baskets, signed Bob Timberlake art prints, gift cards to Evolution Ink and themed baskets covering everything from "Cat Mom" to "Date Night."
Presented by headliner sponsor Mercedes-Benz of Fayetteville, tickets went on sale September 1. General admission is priced at $60, while $100 VIP passes grant access to the exclusive Tito's VIP Lounge inside the Grand Hall.
Unsurprisingly, VIP passes are nearly gone. As of September 22, only 9 VIP tickets remain available.
While sponsorship packages for Woofstock 2026 are officially closed due to finalized print materials, FAPS welcomes local businesses to explore year-round partnership opportunities for upcoming programs.
Despite being the city's largest event for animal welfare, attendees should leave their pets at home.
“Woofstock is a human-only, pet-free event,” emphasized Peery. “We celebrate our animals by keeping them safe and comfortable at home rather than bringing them (or kids) into a crowded evening event.”
By bringing together 500 attendees for an evening of music and giving, Woofstock 2026 ensures that Cumberland County's homeless pets get the second chance they deserve. Tickets can be purchased at https://secure.qgiv.com/event/woofstock2026/.

Pull out your most elegant black-tie attire to indulge in an evening of jazz, dancing and cultural cuisine while supporting local youth through fundraising.
An Evening With the Arts: A Night of Jazz is hosted by the nonprofit organization Greater Life of Fayetteville and will take place on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event will be held at the Country Club Community Outreach Center at 651 Country Club Drive.
GLOF’s mission is to help at-risk youth and those struggling with behavioral challenges by providing them with meaningful opportunities for enrichment, such as workshops, intervention programs, an after-school program and a summer academy. The I Am YOU-Nique Summer Academy provides STEM education and classes on a wide variety of subjects, such as law enforcement, etiquette and gardening.
By attending this gala, residents help uplift families and youth throughout Cumberland County; funds will go directly to GLOF’s year-round programs. Two of these are the Virtual Learning program, which provides a safe, low-friction environment for kids to learn virtually, and the Mentoring program, which connects children with mentors to help reduce school dropouts and truancy rates.
Jazz tunes will be performed by Pete Everett & The Total Package Band. This musical outfit specializes in funk, jazz and gospel music and plays for audiences worldwide. In addition to their covers, the band plays original compositions made by Everett. He’s opened for and played backup for many revered artists throughout the years, including Chaka Khan, the Whispers, Frankie Beverly & Maze and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Tickets for the gala are $50 and come with a letter of appreciation. Through various contributor levels, gala attendees can show their support by sending their desired amount:
• Bronze Contributor: $1,000 for reserved seating for four guests
• Silver Contributor: $2,500 for reserved seating for six guests
• Gold Contributor: $5,000 for a reserved VIP table for eight guests and premium co-recognition
• Platinum Contributor: $10,000 for a reserved VIP table for 12 guests and premium recognition
Each contributor level offers several perks, such as appreciation certificates and plaques and ad placement in the gala’s program.
Pay for tickets online through Eventbrite by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-the-arts-a-night-of-jazz-black-tie-gala-tickets-1998492204983. To avoid processing fees, you can also mail checks to P.O. Box 41432, Fayetteville, NC, 28309. Checks should be made payable to Greater Life of Fayetteville.
The guest MC for the evening will be TV and radio personality Gilbert Baez, who hosts Good Morning Fayetteville on 640 WFNC. He’s served the North Carolina news broadcasting industry for decades as a news reporter, weather anchor and photojournalist.
Previous GLOF galas have focused on themes of art expression and Filipino culture and cuisine, preserving a tradition of highlighting the local arts and culture scene and giving artists a platform. This ties in with GLOF’s continued efforts to get young learners acquainted with different art forms and instill the value of creativity.
For more information about the event, reach out to GLOF President and CEO Georgeanna Pinckney at 910-364-9531 or hello@glofnc.org.

Competitors, ready your stomachs. Spectators, prepare to be amazed. Ichi Kaku will be holding their fourth annual ramen eating contest and block party from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15. This Fayetteville restaurant has become much respected for serving top-tier Japanese cuisine, and their yearly contest brings the familiar food residents love with a side of fun.
Chef Yohei Kamiya, a native of Nagoya, Japan, started the ramen eating contest to offer Fayetteville residents an experience that extends beyond the food, embodying the value of building relationships with customers.
“We want to connect to our customers and community,” Kamiya said.
One of his favorite aspects of running Ichi Kaku is the ability to uplift people and make their days better through food.
“First, they’re not feeling good, but after they eat my ramen, they’re impressed like, ‘Oh my God, it’s so good,’” he said. “When they leave my restaurant, their faces are shiny and smiling and they’re happy to go home... that’s my most favorite part.”
Kamiya opened his ramen restaurant in 2022 after working as a chef in Japan, New York and Charlotte, including a stint in the omakase-style Michelin-star restaurant Kurumazushi. “Omakase” is a form of gourmet dining in which the chef decides what items to serve. After the COVID-19 pandemic cut his restaurant-owning dream short in Charlotte, he decided to give it one more chance in Fayetteville.
The ramen eating competition is free to attend and will take place in the parking lot of Ichi Kaku’s location at 350 N. Eastern Blvd., Suite 200. The contest itself starts after 2 p.m., while the rest of the time will be devoted to the block party, including a car show displaying Japanese rides from CruZin Auto Performance and a DJ set performed by Kamiya.
His skill for DJing coincided with the start of his cooking abilities.
“I started DJing when I was 15 years old, so now for more than 25 years, I’ve experienced that,” Kamiya said.
As a whole, the event offers the perfect way to honor, celebrate and share Japanese culture.
The winning competitor will have to finish 5 pounds of ramen, both noodles and broth, equaling about 3.5 bowls. Applications for the competition will go live on Thursday, Oct. 1 and stay open until Friday, Oct. 23, and sign-ups will be through a Google form — no walk-up entries. Keep your eyes on Ichi Kaku’s Facebook page for updates at https://www.facebook.com/Ichikaku.nc. The sign-up form will be posted across their social media pages, including Instagram and TikTok. Only five challengers will be chosen.
Any noncompetitors who also want a bite to eat can preorder from a selection of specially discounted bentos, priced at $9.95 before taxes. Available meals will include Spicy Turkey Noodles, Chicken Katsu Curry and the Ichi-Kaku Combo with teriyaki chicken, Japanese fried rice, gyoza and karaage. Bento preorders will open on Sunday, Nov. 8. Digital preorders will close the day of the event at 10 a.m. Once you’ve ordered your bento, you’ll be able to pick it up from noon to 2:15 p.m. on event day.
Don’t forget to secure your merch to immortalize your memories of this event long after it’s over. Each year, Ichi Kaku sells a limited-edition T-shirt with a unique design to represent the contest, and this time around is no different. Shirts will cost around $30.
Beyond the competition, Ichi Kaku has big plans for devoted fans to look forward to. They’re set to open a second ramen bar location in 2027 near Santa Fe Drive, which will be inside Midtown East in The Forge Food Hall that’s currently under construction.
Ichi Kaku has also brought back their Frozen Ramen, a specialty only available through pickup. Customers can enjoy the rich flavors of expertly made tonkotsu ramen in their own homes.
There’s only one way to find out who’ll be the I.K. Ramen Eating Champion of 2026. Stay in the know by following Ichi Kaku’s Facebook page, as well as their Instagram @ichikaku.japanese.ramen and TikTok @ramen.japanese.ichikaku.

(Graphic courtesy of Ichi-Kaku)

The Oct. 10 Birthday Bash at the Crown Expo Center will feature three bouts showcasing established, youth and new skaters while honoring the friendships and community that have kept the league moving.
When I learned I would be interviewing a Fayetteville Roller Derby skater named Claire Lee Psycho, her name alone gave me a preconceived notion of who would answer the phone. Within moments, I realized I had it wrong.
The soft-spoken woman on the other end was a military spouse and mother who had participated in roller derby in Colorado before moving to Fayetteville with her husband and 2-year-old. She had no family nearby and joined Fayetteville Roller Derby while looking for connection.
Thirteen years later, she is the league president.
The contrast reminded me that Fayetteville Roller Derby is about more than women racing around a flat track in a full-contact sport. It is about community, friendships and creating family with people whose paths may never have crossed otherwise.
My first Fayetteville Roller Derby experience came in 2019, when former league skater Pharaoh Fawcett introduced me to the sport and the local organization.
Seven years later, I was being reintroduced to the league as it prepared to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The conversation gave me a chance to look beyond the track and into what has kept the league moving for two decades.
As Psycho and I talked, I realized we had plenty in common, although I had never put on skates to compete in a bout.
“Most of the time, I’m just called Mom,” she said. “But when I leave and I go to derby, I’m Psycho.”
Many women, military spouses and civilians alike, can relate to carrying one title so often that it can eclipse other parts of who they are. Being Mom does not fully capture all of Psycho. Fayetteville Roller Derby gives her space to embrace another part of her personality alongside women doing the same.
When Psycho arrived in Fayetteville, she remembered her previous roller derby experience and searched for a local league.
“I showed up, and I never left,” she said.
What she found was not simply a team. The skaters have attended one another’s weddings, welcomed new children and supported one another beyond the track. Former skaters return to practices when visiting, and friendships continue after moves take members elsewhere.
One former skater, now living in Ohio, drove from Myrtle Beach during a vacation just to attend a practice. A transfer from Hawaii arrived with a connection to a former Fayetteville skater and received an immediate welcome.
Those relationships have sustained a league in a military community where permanent change of station moves can alter a roster quickly. When Psycho joined, the league sometimes had barely enough skaters to compete. Members left, new skaters arrived and the team repeatedly rebuilt itself.
Then came the pandemic.
Because roller derby depends on close physical contact, the team could not safely compete for nearly two years. Psycho said the league almost did not make it through the interruption.
Yet, they are still rolling.
That makes the 20th anniversary more than ceremonial. The league survived military turnover, fluctuating membership and a prolonged period when its sport could not be played.
It also avoided making the experience solely about winning.
“When other teams reach out and say, ‘You guys were so much fun to play. Do you want to play us again?’ that’s what makes me the happiest,” Psycho said. “I don’t care if we win or lose. I just want to go skate and hit my friends.”
Experienced skaters have even encouraged newer opponents while blocking them, offering advice as they attempt to break through the pack. The competition is real, but so are the sportsmanship and desire to help the sport grow.
For those of us who thought roller derby was simply women skating in a circle and hitting one another, there is more strategy involved.
Each team may have five skaters on the flat track. Four are blockers, while one is the jammer, identified by a star on her helmet cover. After breaking through the pack, the jammer earns points by passing opposing blockers. A jam may last up to two minutes, although the lead jammer can end it early. The team with the most points wins.
During my first bout, I learned one thing quickly: Watch the woman wearing the star. If you remember nothing else, that will help you follow the action.
And yes, the contact can hurt.
“Sometimes it does hurt, but I usually don’t notice until later,” Psycho said.
Fayetteville Roller Derby will celebrate its 20th Birthday Bash on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Crown Expo Center. Doors open at 2 p.m.
Fayetteville Roller Derby will face Black Skaters With Attitude at 3 p.m. A youth mixer follows at 5 p.m., and a new-skater mixer begins at 7 p.m.
The three bouts will showcase established competitors, Black skater representation, young skaters and new adult skaters. Experienced skaters will also help guide participants who may be competing outside practice for the first time.
Admission at the door is $15 for adults and $10 for children. Presale tickets are available through skaters. Reach out to FRD.publicrelations@gmail.com for more information.
Beyond the track, the nonprofit has supported charitable organizations through bout proceeds. Members have helped food banks, participated in Adopt-a-Highway cleanups and held recruitment information nights.
For those who walk through the door, Psycho said the welcome is immediate.
“You’re walking into an entire group of friends that want you to be here.”
For 20 years, Fayetteville Roller Derby has continued making room for the next person searching for competition, connection or a place that may eventually feel like family.

(Photo: Running Scarred, Corporal Killah and Kris of Death, skaters with Fayetteville Roller Derby, compete during a recent bout. Photo by Belsaas Photography)

Music, auctions and interactive experiences will fill the Crown Coliseum Ballroom Oct. 17, while an online silent auction gives the larger community a way to support children and families affected by abuse.
The Child Advocacy Center’s Fall Gala is sold out. Before you stop reading and wonder why I’m telling you about an event you can no longer buy a ticket to, keep going. The sold-out ballroom is only the beginning of this story.
“Turning Awareness Into Action” is more than this year’s theme. Selling every ticket before the Oct. 17 event proves people have already taken the first step. Ticket holders understand the Child Advocacy Center’s purpose and have put that awareness into action by supporting its work.
The gala will take place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Crown Coliseum Ballroom.
“We are completely sold out of tickets,” said Genique Freeman, a Child Advocacy Center board member and the event organizer. “To my knowledge, that has never happened at our center for any event that we have done.”
So, what are those of us without tickets supposed to do with information about the gala? Keep reading, because support for the Child Advocacy Center was never meant to begin and end in one ballroom.
“Awareness is where change begins. But it’s the action that actually makes the change happen,” Freeman said.
The sold-out gala brings that idea into the ballroom, but its call to action connects to work happening every day. The center provides forensic interviews and trauma-focused therapy for children and families who have experienced abuse. Executive Director John Webster said it is the only organization in the area providing specialized forensic interviews. Some children interviewed there can continue at the center for therapy, allowing families to receive services in a familiar place.
“The Child Advocacy Center is a place of hope and healing and action for children and families who have experienced abuse,” Freeman said.
The fundraiser has taken several forms through the years. It was previously the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction and, before that, the Blue Jean Ball. The 2026 Fall Gala gives the event a new name, focus and experience while keeping live and silent auctions as fundamental parts of the evening.
Freeman designed this year’s gala so guests will not remain passive observers. She wants them to learn, laugh, connect with community partners and identify what action looks like after the room empties.
The evening will include live music from Rivermist, a pop-up shop, a caricature artist and a community trivia game. A social media action station will challenge attendees to share what they learned and explain how they plan to take action. Those posts can carry the center’s message beyond the ballroom to people who cannot be there.
Child Advocacy Center partners will also be represented throughout the event. The community trivia game will introduce businesses, organizations and partners while keeping guests involved in the experience.
Rivermist was selected for more than its music. Freeman said committee members were familiar with the band’s involvement in community events, making it a natural choice for a celebration centered on participation and local support.
The teddy bears in the live auction provide one of the evening’s strongest visual connections to the center’s mission. Each bear represents one of the center’s services and will be themed, dressed and staged with accessories, an adoption certificate and information about the program it represents.
The bears will be auctioned inside the ballroom, but the silent auction creates another point of entry for the rest of us. It will be posted on the Child Advocacy Center’s website before the gala, and bidders do not have to attend. Items include gas cards, a date-night package, a downtown experience and a golf package.
Yes, I will be one of those people experiencing FOMO on Oct. 17 because I did not get a ticket. But missing the event does not mean missing the opportunity to support the work.
Those of us without tickets can still bid online, make direct or monthly donations, volunteer, arrange prevention training for a business or community group, organize a third-party fundraiser or participate in future awareness programs.
Webster wants ticket holders to leave the gala thinking about what comes next.
“We want them to go home, think about it and find ways that they can connect with us,” he said.
That same call applies to those inside the ballroom and those supporting the center from elsewhere. The ballroom may be full, but the invitation to support the Child Advocacy Center remains open.
“If I don’t move and I don’t take any action, then I really don’t make a difference in the community,” Webster said.
For more information on ways to donate, volunteer and get involved, visit the Child Advocacy Center’s website at https://www.cacfaync.org/

(Photo: Pinwheels outside of the Child Advocacy Center are lit up in blue to bring awareness to child abuse in April. Photos courtesy of the Child Advocacy Center's Facebook page)

From Oct. 1-4, tennis players from across North Carolina will descend on Fayetteville and the Sandhills as the area co-hosts the 2026 USTA North Carolina Singles State Championship. Fayetteville and Pinehurst will share hosting duties for the four-day championship, with matches spread among 13 tennis facilities in Cumberland and Moore counties. Eight of those facilities are in the Fayetteville area, giving local tennis fans several opportunities to see championship-level competition close to home.
The tournament is expected to attract approximately 800 players, family members, and fans to the region, according to the Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. In addition to the competition on the courts, those visitors are expected to generate overnight stays and spending at area hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. The championship also provides an opportunity to showcase Fayetteville's investment in recreational and competitive tennis facilities, particularly the newly opened Courts at Glenville Lake.
Located at 730 Filter Plant Drive, the complex features 11 tennis courts, including a championship court, along with four pickleball courts. The facility will be among the Cumberland County locations hosting matches during the state championship.
“We are thrilled to welcome the USTA North Carolina Singles Championship to Cumberland County,” Robert Cox, director of sales for the Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, said when the championship was announced.
Cox also pointed to the Courts at Glenville Lake as a highlight for visiting players and said the community's hotels, restaurants, and attractions are prepared to welcome tournament visitors.
"The newly opened Courts at Glenville Lake are sure to be a highlight for participants. From our hotels, restaurants, and attractions, we look forward to delivering a memorable experience."
Fayetteville will serve primarily as the home for the tournament's 18 & Over men's and women's divisions and the 40 & Over women's division. Pinehurst will primarily host the 40 & Over men's and 55 & Over men's and women's divisions. USTA North Carolina notes that some teams may play a match in the other host community, although organizers plan to keep most matches within each division's primary location.
In Fayetteville, competition is scheduled to take place at the Courts at Glenville Lake, Tokay Park, Gates Four Golf and Country Club, Fayetteville Academy, Highland Country Club, Methodist University, Cape Fear High School and Terry Sanford High School.
The tournament will make use of both hard and clay courts. Glenville Lake Park, Tokay Park, Fayetteville Academy, Methodist University, Cape Fear High School and Terry Sanford High School are listed as hard-court locations, while Highland Country Club is listed as a clay-court venue.
Matches in the Pinehurst area will be held at the Country Club of North Carolina, Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst No. 9, Legacy Lakes Tennis and Fitness in Aberdeen and the Lawn and Tennis Club in Pinehurst. All five are listed by USTA North Carolina as clay-court sites.
The championship arrives at a time when Fayetteville has been investing in its public racquet-sports facilities. In addition to the opening of the Courts at Glenville Lake, the city recently completed a $744,382 renovation at Tokay Park. The project replaced six aging tennis courts with three new tennis courts and 10 pickleball courts. City officials have specifically cited facilities such as Glenville Lake and Tokay Park as part of Fayetteville's ability to attract competitive sporting events.
Hosting a tournament of this size has an impact that extends beyond the baseline. With players and their families traveling from communities around North Carolina, the championship creates an opportunity to introduce visitors to Fayetteville's restaurants, attractions, and businesses while strengthening the area's presence in the sports-tourism market.
USTA North Carolina, founded in 1973, is the state affiliate of the United States Tennis Association. The nonprofit organization works to promote and develop tennis throughout North Carolina and administers programs for players of varying ages and ability levels.
The 2026 Singles State Championship runs Thursday, Oct. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 4. Tournament schedules are expected to be published Sept. 24, with additional information for participants scheduled for release Sept. 28.
For tournament schedules, standings, and additional championship information, visit USTA North Carolina's Singles State Championship page at https://www.nctennis.com/singlestournament.

(Photo: The Courts at Glenville Lake will serve as a location for the 2026 USTA North Carolina Singles State Championship in October. Photo courtesy of the City of Fayetteville)

For Taamir Ransome, life after the Army did not immediately come with a new mission. Retirement in 2023 left him searching for direction until a service dog, motorcycle rides and time with his son helped restore something military separation had taken: purpose.
That personal recovery now drives Clutches & K9s, the Fayetteville initiative Taamir co-founded with his son, Mario Ransome, and Steve Uy. The organization will bring its Fall Showcase to Segra Stadium from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, combining a stationary motorcycle display with veteran resources, service-dog demonstrations, local vendors and family activities.
“For us, to be honest, it’s therapy,” Taamir said. “Anything with a motor and a shifter in it, we’re going to drive it for therapy.”
The dogs carry equal meaning. Taamir and Mario both have service dogs, and Taamir trains dogs for veterans and first responders at no charge. The work is funded largely from their own pockets, with occasional community support. Taamir said the combination of riding, training dogs and building something beside his son has strengthened their relationship.
“We’re probably closer now than we have ever been in his entire life,” he said. “I think it’s because of Clutches & K9s.”
That bond gives the showcase a purpose broader than polished motorcycles and trophies. Mario said Fayetteville possesses a wealth of services for veterans and civilian families, but too many remain scattered, underpromoted or difficult to find. The organizers want the stadium to become a single point of connection where visitors can meet organizations face to face.
“We’re trying to bring in resources for all walks of life when it comes to the military lifestyle,” Mario said.
Participating groups are expected to include organizations offering veteran, family, health, and wellness support. Mario said vendors are being encouraged to educate and demonstrate their work rather than simply sell products. The goal, he said, is for visitors to leave with knowledge and relationships they can use after the event, and opportunities for residents to volunteer locally.
The motorcycle show will feature selected bikes parked in a secured display area. Organizers plan to use randomly selected judges to reduce favoritism, along with a people’s choice category decided by attendees. The motorcycles must remain stationary, and visitors will not be permitted to handle them.
Service dogs will also be central to the day. Clutches & K9s expects to present several working-dog demonstrations, joined by law enforcement K-9 teams. Organizers strongly discourage attendees from bringing household pets because of the crowd, noise and presence of working dogs. Properly handled service dogs are welcome.
Family programming is expected to include field activities, games, music, raffles and giveaways. Organizers are also working with community groups on interactive demonstrations. Because several activities remain subject to final approval, attendees should check the event website before arriving.
Admission is $20 before fees and taxes, and each paid ticket includes entry for one child. Gates open at 1 p.m., and parking is free around the downtown stadium. Organizers are also planning a blood drive through which donors may receive a $20 gift card.
The event has been largely bootstrapped by its founders. Mario said turning an ambitious plan into an executable public program has required persistence, while Taamir said the greatest challenge has been building awareness for the Clutches & K9s name.
Their measure of success is simple. If someone leaves the stadium asking when the next showcase will be held, Taamir said, they will know the community understood the mission: motorcycles and dogs may open the conversation, but connection is the destination.
Tickets and updated event information are available at fallshowcase.live.

Fayetteville captured the spotlight recently with a thrilling Fayetteville Woodpeckers victory, a historic homecoming visit from rap icon J. Cole and a historic Chemours environmental settlement that brought a powerful mix of celebration, star power and long-awaited justice to the city. Also, outside of local chambers, Governor Josh Stein appointed Mayor Mitch Colvin to the North Carolina Board of Transportation representing the 6th Transportation Division. These are some of the most defining moments of our city’s current chapter and there is certainly more to come.

City of Fayetteville
In City news, the Fayetteville City Council met in regular session on Sept. 14, advancing several major economic development initiatives and municipal upgrades. Highlighted during the meeting was the announcement of a $1 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Presented by Economic and Community Development Director Christopher Cauley, this funding will be used to implement an automated permitting system designed to significantly fast-track Fayetteville's development processes.
In a boost to local manufacturing, the council adopted a resolution supporting Project Crossing, which paves the way for an application for a $152,000 N.C. Department of Commerce Building Reuse Grant. The initiative centers on Sigma Crossings & Railroad Products, Inc., which plans to establish a manufacturing facility at 595 S. King St. The project represents a $3.7 million capital investment and is expected to create 15 full-time jobs carrying an average annual wage of $57,700.
Public transit and airport infrastructure also received substantial financial injections through approved grant appropriations. The city accepted a $2,069,806 N.C. Department of Transportation Division of Aviation grant alongside a separate TSA agreement providing up to $146,000 annually to offset airport police security costs. Furthermore, the Fayetteville Area System of Transit secured over $1.6 million in federal transit grants to fund replacement buses and support non-medical transportation for seniors and residents with disabilities. Concurrently, council members approved lowered thresholds to make it easier for local bus stops to qualify for benches and shelters.
In policy and administrative actions, the council amended the city code to expand alcohol sales regulations. Permitted vendors are now authorized to sell alcohol at The Courts at Glenville Lake and other designated municipal properties, though bringing outside alcohol remains strictly prohibited. Additionally, approved concessions past the TSA checkpoint at the Fayetteville Regional Airport are now permitted to extend their operating hours for alcohol sales. Concessions may now begin selling alcohol one hour before the first daily flight and conclude one hour prior to the final flight. The session concluded with the approval of 26 appointments to various civic boards and a unanimous vote to officially dissolve the Joint Appearance Commission, which had been inactive since 2019.

Cumberland County
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners advanced several key infrastructure and housing initiatives during its regular meeting on Sept. 21, highlighted by a unanimous vote to adopt the new Hope Mills Area Land Use Plan. Developed by planning staff in coordination with local stakeholders, the comprehensive plan covers an area of approximately 65,000 residents spanning from the Robeson County line up to Fayetteville city limits. The regional focus on utility improvements also took center stage as commissioners approved a $1.31 million budget ordinance amendment to address PFAS contamination via a multi-year engineering project in the Cedar Creek area. Additionally, acting as the NORCRESS Water and Sewer District Governing Board, commissioners authorized funding applications to study merger, regionalization and asset management alongside the towns of Falcon, Godwin and Wade.
The board also addressed Department of Social Services operational strains, focusing on how to evaluate staffing levels amid persistent worker vacancies and rising service demands. Assistant County Manager Tufanna Bradley and Social Services Director Brenda Reid Jackson presented a proposal to conduct a comprehensive workload analysis through an outside consulting firm. The evaluation was initially suggested during the Fiscal Year 2027 budget planning process to help the county navigate ongoing recruitment challenges and ensure organizational resources match statutory duties.
Ultimately, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a recommendation from County Manager Clarence Grier to bypass a private firm for now. Instead, the county will utilize internal State of North Carolina workload analysis tools to evaluate DSS staffing resources, though county leaders noted they may revisit hiring an outside consultant in the future if necessary.
In a significant push for local residential development, the board unanimously selected IMEC Group LLC for a design-build contract to construct the Phoenix Place Permanent Supportive Housing Project. Backed by an anticipated project budget of $3.7 million, the development will establish 10 new single-family supportive housing units managed through Cumberland County Community Development. In other property moves, the county approved a $100,000 budget amendment to cover ongoing Sheriff’s Office litigation invoices, cleared a dilapidated structure on Winthrop Drive for demolition and passed a 4-2 vote amending a 2006 hospital property transfer agreement to accommodate financing terms for a new medical office building under Cape Fear Valley Health System.
Administrative operations and community wellness provisions rounded out the night's agenda, with the board confirming a series of health department fee adjustments. Commissioners approved the establishment of fees for new maternal health services while simultaneously voting to waive vaccine and administrative costs for COVID-19, flu and RSV immunizations.

About the Greater Fayetteville Chamber
Advocacy is a cornerstone of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. Every week, the Chamber dedicates staff to attend City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County meetings as well as monitoring updates on the state and federal levels. We monitor legislation locally, statewide and federally to protect our community’s business interests. With 91% of U.S. adults recognizing a Chamber of Commerce's impact on growth, membership ensures a strong voice shaping policies, driving economic success and building a thriving business community—together. To learn more, visit www.faybiz.com or email jmclaughlin@faybiz.com.

(Photo: The Fayetteville Woodpeckers celebrate as they win the Second Half Championship and a trip to the Carolina League Playoffs. Photo courtesy of the Woodpeckers)

Let’s see what our old pal George Orwell might say about the fun times in which we find ourselves. For reasons unknown, I recently revisited George’s rollicking laugh riot book “1984.” If you haven’t read it recently, consider taking a gander at it. George imagined Stalin as Big Brother, who became the life of the Party.
Any resemblance to Big Brother and our current Administration is purely coincidental, accidental, and I don’t mean nuthin’ by it. Draw your own analogies if you dare.
Big Brother developed his own language called New Speak in order to control the masses’ ability to think. The goal of Big Brother was to have all his subjects master the art of Double Think. Double Think is the ability to simultaneously hold two contradictory thoughts at the same time and accept both of them as true.
For example, consider the Western Michigan vs. Michigan football game in which it appeared time had run out and Western Michigan had defeated Michigan in an amazing upset.
Oops.
The Big Ten officials suddenly found another one second left to play despite what the field clock said. The Big Ten has a Double Secret Clock in which they store additional time if Michigan needs to try another Hail Mary Pass. The Refs on the field called the game over until the Overlords in the sky box pulled out the Double Secret Clock, giving Michigan another shot at winning. Like Schrödinger's cat, which is both alive and dead, the football game was both over and not over. Double Think in action.
Diversions are key to Big Brother’s control of the population. To keep the common folks occupied and politically inert, Big Brother supplied Prolefeed, which is entertainment for the masses like ancient Rome’s Bread and Circuses, or more recently White House lawn UFC fights and car races in downtown DC.
Big Brother had three main priorities to be Double Thought: “War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength.”
The Ministry of Love was in charge of law, order and obedience. If you believed, you were practicing Good Think. If you did not agree with the Party’s position, you were guilty of Thought Crime.
The Ministry of Love’s Thought Police would round you up to send you to the Joy Camp for indoctrination or extermination. Some soreheads might apply the term Thought Police for ICE and Joy Camps for DHS detention camps. But that would be wrong and Thought Crime.
If you really stepped outside of the Party line, you would end up in Room 101 in the Ministry of Love where something Double Plus Ungood would happen to you. If you were too much trouble, you would become an Unperson, vaporized, and all references to your existence wiped out.
It was necessary to keep the masses riled up by an enemy. To do so, citizens were required to participate in a daily Two Minute Hate where enemies of the Big Brother would appear on all the TV screens.
The people would then scream hatred and threats at the TV against whoever the enemy of the day was. Once a year, there was Hate Week, in which everyone was required to spend a week hating who Big Brother hated. Ungood things would happen if you didn’t scream your hate loud enough.
If you did not screw up your face into an appropriate grimace of hate, you were guilty of Face Crime, which led to a visit from the Thought Police.
One of my favorite New Speak terms is Duck Speak, which is the ability to talk using only your larynx without using your brain to recite mindlessly whatever Big Brother wanted you to say. Quacking like a duck without thought is the ideal means to stay out of the clutches of the Ministry of Love and Room 101.
The protagonist of "1984" was Winston, who worked in the Ministry of Truth rewriting news articles and books to comply with the current Party line. Old newspaper articles that did not agree with Big Brother’s recent lies were tossed into the Memory Hole and burned to eliminate anything contrary to Big Brother’s current position. Rewriting history was crucial for Big Brother. His quote was “ Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.”
Ponder the Memory Hole’s success in destroying Confederate statutes or the metamorphosis of the violent DC January 6 rioters into peaceful tourists filled with love.
Who are you going to believe? Big Brother or your lying eyes? Practice Good Think by believing 2+2 = 5.
Cheer up. It could be worse. You could be a Western Michigan football fan.

(Illustration by Pitt Dickey)

How should North Carolina be governed? The same question can be asked about any other state in America, or any other country in the world. It’s a critical question. It lies at the heart of every political dispute you can think of, from education reform and environmental protection to tax policy and economic development.
I have strong opinions about the subject. Perhaps you do, too. My task today is not to advocate mine or criticize yours. Rather, it is to argue for humility.
Questions about how good governments are structured and what they should do aren’t mere abstractions. They have a history. Past generations thought about them, struggled with them, and tried out different answers to see how they would work in practice.
Obviously, past generations have no monopoly on wisdom. They made big mistakes and often paid a big price for it. To say that history ought to inform our political thinking today is not to say we must be bound by tradition. But it would also be foolish to think modern wisdom is always greater, or to discount the lessons history can teach us about the constraints of human nature and the limits of good intentions.
Over the centuries, North Carolinians have developed governmental institutions and traditions that favor legislative over executive power, statewide consistency over local sovereignty, and fiscal solvency over grandiose plans. These preferences aren’t random or the product of some insidious scheme by corrupt insiders. They were constructed in stages, as the leaders of the day sought either to solve immediate problems in North Carolina or to avoid problems other states had gotten themselves into.
During the colonial era, for example, North Carolina was largely settled from north to south, not from the coast westward. Many settlers were fleeing what they saw as oppressive laws or unjust taxes. Many of my ancestors, for example, were Baptists, Presbyterians, Quakers, and other dissenters whose religious liberties were being suppressed by the established church in Virginia.
During the mid-1700s, they moved southward to the Carolina frontier. Eventually, the long arms of colonial governors found them even there, and again sought to interfere with their desire to conduct their own marriages, educate their children according to their own beliefs, and keep their own money. The backcountry rebelled. In the ensuing series of state constitutions, North Carolinians made sure to keep the executive branch divided and on a tight leash.
Much later, in the aftermath of the Great Depression, leaders grappled with a different challenge: how to ensure that basic services were provided across North Carolina, both economically and without disruption. Many localities had run up large debts and then defaulted on them. Through their lawmakers, they sought state bailouts. Meanwhile, how were courts, schools, and roads to be maintained?
Lawmakers decided to make the state the primary funder of basic services, while limiting local capacity to issue future debts. Taxpayers would pay the bill either way, of course, but a state-dominant funding system reduces inequities and manages risk.
These and other traditions of North Carolina government are hardy free from legitimate criticism. I’ve challenged them myself on occasion. But they aren’t simply vestigial. If we thoughtlessly perform a constitutional appendectomy, we may rudely discover in the future that we’ve discarded something vitally important.
Georgetown University philosopher Daniel Robinson once used a wonderful image to describe the present value of studying the past. Remember the story of Theseus and the Minotaur? The former resolves to end the latter’s reign of terror over the Athenians. But the Minotaur resides in a labyrinth on Crete. Ariadne, a Cretan princess who loves Theseus, gives him a ball of thread. The hero ties the thread to a door post and lets it unspool so he can find his way out again after killing the beast.
North Carolina faces a range of challenges and opportunities. As we make our way through the resulting maze of choices, we may yet find value in tradition’s thread.

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

The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are Carolina League champions for the first time in franchise history. On Tuesday night at Segra Stadium the Woodpeckers completed a perfect 4-0 sweep of the postseason, taking down the Charleston RiverDogs 7-4 in game two of the championship series to clinch the league title.
After sparking a massive ten-run inning with a solo homer in Charleston on Sunday, Fayetteville first baseman Ben Tryon was once again the driving force behind an early lead in game two. Kam Durnin led off the bottom of the first with a double, Kevin Alvarez reached on a single, and Owen Nowak drew a walk to load the bases for Tryon.
Tryon, the Astros 17th round pick from this year’s draft, connected on an elevated pitch from Jacob Kuhn (L, 0-1) and sent it sailing into the right-field bar for a grand-slam and instant 4-0 lead. Tryon went 4-for-16 at the plate during the postseason with three extra-base hits.
Juan Fraide (W, 1-0) cruised with run support behind him and did not allow a hit until the top of the fifth inning. The 20-year-old top-30 prospect from Mexico allowed just two baserunners across five innings and struck out six.
Charleston got on the board in the top of the sixth inning when Cooper Flemming, who was named Carolina League MVP prior to the game, hit a solo homer off Jesus Carrera out to right-center field and cut the game to 4-1.
Three more runs scored for the Woodpeckers in the bottom of the seventh after Charleston pitching loaded the bases on a hit by pitch and two walks. Alvarez delivered the critical swing that helped decide the game, grounding a ball past the shallow infield and into center field to plate two runs for a 6-1 advantage. Waner Luciano upped the score to 7-1 with an RBI groundout and Fayetteville moved within six outs of a title.
Carrera returned for the eighth and surrendered another run on a Slater de Brun double. Brandon Cassedy was called upon from the bullpen and inherited the 7-2 lead with no outs and two runners in scoring position. The undrafted free agent from George Mason immediately flipped the momentum of the inning, striking out three straight hitters and holding the five-run lead.
Cassedy returned for the ninth, hunting three more outs. He surrendered a two-run homer to Dean Moss that cut the game to 7-4, but found a way to bounce back. He struck out two in a row, walked Alberth Palma, then struck out Slater de Brun with a pitch in the dirt that secured the Carolina League crown.
The Woodpeckers 2026 title marks the first minor league championship in the city of Fayetteville in 70 years, ending a drought that extended back to 1956 when the Fayetteville Hilanders won the eight-team Class-B Carolina League as an Indians affiliate.
Fayetteville finished the regular season with a 71-58 overall record and swept both Fredericksburg and Charleston en route to the Carolina League championship.
The Woodpeckers will begin their title defense on April 2nd, 2027 for Opening Day on the road in Salem, Virginia.

(Photo courtesy of the Fayetteville Woodpeckers)

As a person of a certain age, one of the questions I’m asked when I call or see my primary care physician is, “Do you feel unsteady when standing or walking?”
To be honest, I feel a little unsteady that they asked. I realize they’re just looking out for my well-being, but no. I don’t otherwise feel unstable.
When we were children, falling was part of the deal. We fell learning to walk. We fell off bicycles, playground equipment and whatever else somebody told us not to climb. We scraped knees, bruised elbows, cried for a minute and usually got back up.
Somewhere along the way, though, falling became something we learned to fear. Adults aren't supposed to fall. We're supposed to have the plan, make the payment, keep the job, hold the family together and know what comes next. We become pretty good at building lives designed to keep us upright.
Then life reminds us that we were never completely in control. A diagnosis comes. A relationship changes. A career ends. Someone we love dies. The carefully planned future suddenly looks nothing like the one we expected.
I can still recall how excited I was to get my first bicycle at about six years old. One of my mom’s best friends had a husband whose side hustle was fixing and selling used bikes.
In the 1960s, a kid could get a bike, jump on without a helmet and ride the neighborhood streets all they wanted. My parents let me ride that bike several blocks, through intersections and everything, that first day. I took the long way home, and they never gave it a second thought.
The only thing I didn’t know how to do was stop.
I simply had no idea how to apply the brakes, slow down and get off the bike while maintaining some sense of dignity. In other words, I had to learn to fall.
Now that I’m older, and perhaps even a little wiser, I look back and realize I’ve had the opportunity to replay that lesson many times over.
I’ve tumbled and stumbled just about every way a person can. And while it hasn’t gotten to be more fun, I’ve learned that those experiences can make me useful to people who are wobbling a little themselves.
I know what it’s like to hit the bottom. But I also know the experience doesn’t have to be the end. There’s a proverb that says a righteous person may fall seven times and rise again. Maybe that’s more than just a saying about perseverance. Maybe it’s an observation about life.
Perhaps one of the most important things we learn isn't how to keep from falling. Maybe it's how to fall. Or, more than that, how to get back up—no matter how long it takes, or how many tries.