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  • 11 Multi-platinum selling country rock group Alabama is performing at Crown Coliseum Saturday, June 2, with special guest Exile.

    Alabama’s roots run deep in their home state, but the band got its official start in nearby South Carolina, not in the Heart of Dixie.
    Cousins Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen, spent the summer of 1973 playing covers of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Merle Haggard at the legendary Myrtle Beach bar, The Bowery. The bar considered Alabama their house band until 1980.

    One of their first original songs, aptly named “My Home’s in Alabama,” got the attention of listeners and music producers. They were invited to record a single, “Tennessee River,” which shot to number one on the Billboard country charts.

    Fast forward to 2022, and the former bar band has had more than 40 number one hits on the country charts. They have released 26 studio albums from 1976 to 2015.

    Alabama is considered one of the most recognized names in country music and is billed as one of the biggest multi-platinum selling groups. They were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

    With hits like “Song of the South” and “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas,” the band embodies the southern culture rooted in classic country music, but critics have noted they were one of the first country bands to bring a rock ‘n roll edge to the genre. They took cues from country, rock and pop, which was largely unheard of when they got their start.

    They were a big influence on the bands that came after them, opening the door to mixing genres and bringing a new sound to standards of country music.

    In 2002, Alabama played a farewell tour, citing exhaustion from years of being on the road. In 2011, after a series of tornados hit their home state, they played a benefit concert to raise money for the victims. The fundraiser rekindled their desire to tour again.

    In 2013, they celebrated their 40th anniversary with a tour named “Back to the Bowery,” a reference to the bar in South Carolina where they first got their start.

    They have continued to tour over the last few years and released their last studio album in 2015. With a 50-year career, they will have no shortage of songs to play on the year’s tour, and they will probably run out of stage time before they can get through all 40 of their number one hits.

    Another popular genre-bending band, Exile, is opening for Alabama. Known for their pop hit “Kiss You All Over,” the band started focusing on country music in the early 1980s, but their music still spans all genres. They have toured with legendary rock bands like Aerosmith and Fleetwood Mac and stayed closer to their country origins on tours with George Jones and Merle Haggard.

    The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale at www.crowncomplexnc.com

  • 10 GloCity Event will be hosting a day of family fun and delicious local food on June 4 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

    The first annual Taste the Fayettenam event will take place on King’s Field in Fayetteville. It will serve as an opportunity for local food vendors to speak to the people of the community through their food.

    “We created this event because we want to help local food vendors and food trucks around here become more well-known,” said Genevieve Hyman, owner of GloCity Event.

    “The nickname Fayettenam has so much flavor, and there are so many opportunities for good food right here. Instead of people chasing down trucks all over the city, we wanted to bring them together in one place. We want these vendors to let their food be their voice.”

    GloCity Event was established around two years ago. Since then, their chief objective has been to “provide events and activities for the community to do outside of the home.”

    Tired of hearing complaints about the lack of activities in Fayetteville, Hyman wanted to create a business that filled an entertainment void for the people of her community.

    “We started with sip and paint events and it kind of exploded from there,” Hyman explained. “At the end of our events, we have a suggestion box to get ideas from the community on the types of events they’d like to have here. “

    From those suggestions sprang the idea for Taste the Fayettenam.

    The family-friendly event will feature between 10 to 15 food trucks and games, live music, bounce houses and face painting. Hyman hopes the event serves as an opportunity for local and small businesses to get their deserved exposure.

    “We’re all trying to uplift our small businesses and feed our families,” Hyman told Up & Coming Weekly. “Events like this keep revenue circling in our community.”

    Through Taste the Fayettenam, Hyman hopes to show people just how much the city has to offer.

    “We want to end the idea that there’s nothing to do here. Fayetteville is growing every single day; we don’t have to go outside the city to have fun,” she said.

    Hyman loves creating memorable events for the people of Fayetteville and their families; she admits the message is bigger than simply having a good time, and a lot goes on behind the scenes to make events like Taste of Fayettenam possible while also keeping them free.

    “We are also raising money through donations to continue giving back to the community,” Hyman said.

    “In partnership with the Love Laugh Leyai Foundation, we give out free Thanksgiving turkeys and offer free lunches and meals at the local recreation centers. We come to the table and think of ways to keep funding within our community. Especially amid this inflation, we find ways to help families who need it.”

    Ultimately, Hyman hopes people come out and enjoy the day and the delicious food on offer.

    “We’ll be out there supporting food trucks, trying to give them a day to be celebrated and rewarded for all their hard work.”
    King Field is located at 127 S. King St. in Fayetteville.

    The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/glocityevent.

  • 9The 29-year-old Clayton man who was the suspect in a double murder in Fayetteville committed suicide Tuesday morning, May 17, according to authorities.

    Officer Jeremy Strickland, a spokesman for the Fayetteville Police Department, said Rhaim Mosies Santiago killed himself in Smithfield in Johnston County after a manhunt that lasted more than 24 hours.

    “He is deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Strickland said early Tuesday afternoon.

    Santiago was wanted on two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of a man and a woman on Monday, May 16; one count of second-degree kidnapping; and one count of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon.

    Strickland said the charges are all in connection with the deaths of Marchellous Braddy, 33, of Rushmore Drive in Raeford, and Nakeea Brooks, 27, of Bartons Landing Place in Fayetteville.

    The murders were reported at 12:14 p.m. Monday, May 16 in the 5700 block of Aftonshire Drive in western Fayetteville.
    Officers with the Fayetteville Police Department were sent to investigate a report that a dead person was found inside the residence. The homeowner arrived home and discovered an unresponsive man lying in the home, a news release said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers then found a second victim in the yard, and she was pronounced dead as well.

    Santiago went missing Monday after being charged.

    Strickland referred questions about the manhunt and investigation in Johnston County to the Smithfield Police Department.
    Smithfield police Capt. Ryan Shepphard was in a meeting on Tuesday afternoon and was not immediately available for comment.

    Santiago and the two victims apparently knew each other, Strickland said.

    “We can’t go into detail on how they were known to each other, but we think prior to the incident they knew each other,” he said.
    He said investigators are still trying to determine how the crimes occurred. Police have not said what the motive was.

    “The forensic unit has been on the scene more than 12 hours,” said Strickland. “The homicide unit continues to investigate to see if anyone else was involved with the homicide itself. They continue to interview witnesses.

    “Just because he’s dead doesn’t mean the case is closed,” Strickland said.

  • 8The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners on Monday, May 16 unanimously approved renaming part of Old Plank Road as Glenn Road after a brief public hearing.

    The name was changed because the N.C. Department of Transportation’s construction of Interstate 295 severed Old Plank Road into two sections. The county’s 911 emergency communications system cannot function properly when two roads have the same name, according to Assistant Fire Chief Freddy Johnson Jr. of Stoney Point Fire Department. The department is responsible for fire and emergency response in that area of the county.

    The Stoney Point department asked the county to continue the Glenn Road name from Robeson County over I-295 through Black Bridge Road. The change affects the 6400 through 6800 blocks of what is now Old Plank Road and the newly constructed portion that goes over I-295 to Black Bridge Road.

    The county sent 40 notices about the name change to area residents, and 15 responded. Of those, nine responses favored the name change and six opposed it. Only two people spoke at the public hearing. Johnson spoke in favor of the plan, and John Pavlikianidis spoke against it.

    Pavlikianidis, of 6456 Old Plank Road, said his family operates Carolina Stables on about 40 acres adjacent to the road. Changing the name would be an “undue hardship,” he said. It would require the family to change the address on legal documents associated with the property, said Pavlikianidis. Also, the Old Plank Road name has a historical context related to Fayetteville, he said.

    The board also voted to allow naming an unnamed private street off Chicken Foot Road. The owner, Craven Gaddy, said in his application that people have problems finding his home off Chicken Foot Road. The proposed name is Gaddy Lane. No one spoke on a public hearing on the request.

    After the vote, Commissioner Charles Evans asked if the county has a standard for road name changes. Members of the county staff said name changes are covered in county ordinances. Evans suggested the board review in detail the process of name changes, from roads to facilities.

    In other action Monday, the board voted to renew a lease with the Vision Resource Center for property known as the Alphin House at 2736 Cedar Creek Road. The three-year lease renewal is for $2,400 a year. Commissioner Jimmy Keefe objected to the lease because he said the property is not suitable for the Vision Resource Center. The property is adjacent to an industrial park and is in a remote part of the county that does not have public transportation, Keefe said.

    “It’s not the best use of the property. We’re losing money,” he said.

    Keefe said he is willing to find a more suitable location, but the other commissioners disagreed. The motion to renew the lease passed on a 5-2 vote, with Keefe and Michael Boose voting against the renewal.
    The agency serves the blind and visually impaired.

    Commissioner Toni Stewart said she spoke to the Vision Resource Center director and was assured she likes the location despite being in a remote area lacking public transit. “I have a problem with uprooting them,” Stewart said.

    Commissioner Evans suggested the board again look into the possibility of establishing countywide public transit.

  • 5“I’m a Tar Heel born, and a Tar Heel bred, and when I die, I’m a Tar Heel dead.”

    Those fight song lyrics have been sung by generations of students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, fiercely fought athletic contests, pep rallies and parties and quietly in their own hearts.
    Increasingly, though, we are not a state of “born and bred” North Carolinians, much less of individuals who attended UNC-CH.

    According to researchers at UNC-CH, 44% of us are not North Carolina natives, and that percentage is growing. North Carolina is what demographers term “in migration” over the last decade, nearly 10%. And North Carolina is now the ninth largest state in the nation, with an additional seat in Congress to show the strength of our growth.

    Those of us who are “born and bred” take pride in and love to share our Tar Heel culture with newcomers — our barbecue with its competing eastern and western factions, our music encompassing both James Taylor and Nina Simone and why we are a “vale of humility between two mountains of conceit.” (A modest and independent colony and early state between the wealthy and aristocratic cultures of Virginia and South Carolina.)

    Sadly, we also have aspects of 21st-century culture that are far less attractive and appealing and have embarrassed us before the rest of the country and beyond.

    Think the so-called “bathroom bill” passed by homophobic legislators in Raleigh and ridiculed on late-night talk shows. Think the more than a decade of extreme gerrymandering that guarantees legislative and

    Congressional seats to the party in power. Think the war on public schools that has seen teachers fleeing classrooms across the state. Think the racism and venom aimed at “the other” that stained us in conflagrations over “Black Lives Matter” and improper law enforcement actions.

    A recent opinion piece in The News & Observer caught my attention. Sara Pequeno is apparently North Carolina “born and bred” but writes that she once wanted to leave our state, considering it “boring” and “backwoods.” Instead, she attended UNC-CH and decided to stay in North Carolina as a journalist. She sees our growth and its potential, and she also sees our warts and scars, many stemming from the past and rarely addressed because they are so entrenched and so painful.

    Couple our past as a “vale of humility” with our current reality of highly educated and booming metropolitan areas and less educated and economically challenged rural areas.

    The resentment of folks who feel left behind is clear and understandable. There is an element of “how ya keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree?” at work here. Families and communities want their young people to stay where they grew up, but career opportunities and cultural amenities draw them elsewhere. North Carolina now falls squarely into the narrative of “the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer,” both as individuals and as communities.

    That said, we are an original state with an old, rich and deep culture with strong traditions, families who have been here for generations and enthusiastic newcomers, and an economy that is strong and growing in certain sectors. In other words, North Carolina has a lot going for her and us.

    Sara Pequeno put it this way: “North Carolina is home to people who want this state to be better, who have been fighting the good fight for decades. It’s home to people who love this state, in spite of its flaws, because they see the place it could be. We’ve been working on our own to make this state better for decades, even though there is still work to be done.”

  • 4The privilege to vote is one of our most precious rights as Americans. Yet, we fail to take advantage of this essential aspect of living in a free democracy. In Fayetteville/Cumberland County, our voting record is much worse than in other communities, and there are substantial reasons for this disturbing and frightening situation. For those of you who read this newspaper regularly, I will apologize in advance because for over 25 years, I have commented and opined on this very subject dozens of times. I have articulated my concerns, and even though they have been acknowledged by prominent state and local public servants, all have failed to stimulate even the slightest attempt to solve or resolve the problem. So, once again, I will outline the sources of our low and apathetic voting turnout. These are the same reasons that inhibit our community from showcasing its assets and touting our quality of life.

    Part of the issue is that we have no local television station. Over two decades ago, Fayetteville and Cumberland County leadership failed to acknowledge the importance of having a local TV station. First, city and county elected officials preferred operating government in the shadows, away from the observing eyes of the public. Secondly, our local daily newspaper, the Fayetteville Observer, was enjoying a monopolistic heyday, parsing out and re-shaping the local news. They garnered the majority of local advertising dollars spent by businesses and organizations. So, it didn't take long for them to realize the benefits they would enjoy from the demise of our only TV station, Channel 40.

    Unfortunately, the rest is history. All the major networks (ABC, NBC & CBS) jumped at the opportunity to corral this market of over 300,000 with a bonus of Fort Bragg. Other cities saw the benefits and potential of this growing market, while our leadership chose to ignore it. Why is this significant? Because as a media source, a local TV station is a hub from which all other media communications radiate into the community. Residents, visitors and guests rely on local network television for information, education and awareness.

    Without it, citizens have no collective way to effectively understand or know the people, issues and circumstances that affect their daily lives. So, you may ask, what does this have to do with our inherently low voter turnout? Everything. Especially when only 16% of Cumberland County registered voters turn out at the polls, as was the case with the primary election.

    Local citizens do not know about the people running or the community's problems. They do not know the candidates who are running for elected office. With this being the situation, why would they come out to vote? It's not apathy on their part. They don't have trustworthy news and information that local television provides on a city and country-wide basis. Without TV, it dilutes the effectiveness of other media resources: newspapers, radio and billboards, because there is nothing there to stimulate local interest and help "connect the dots." This lack of visibility makes it difficult, if not impossible, to assess or vet political candidates. Low voter turnout is only one of the ill effects. This media void encourages a lack of transparency and invites corruption and misdeeds at all levels leaving a community vulnerable to disaster. Look no further than the Town of Spring Lake for the near-perfect example of what happens when a community is without a TV station or legitimate form of media. Jason Brady wrote a comprehensive report on the Spring Lake situation in last week's Up & Coming Weekly edition. Read it. News coverage discourages voter fraud and exposes ill-qualified candidates and, in some cases, those who are corrupt or have criminal intent.
    Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches make up the state of our government. The Fourth Estate (the media) is what is supposed to keep them in check by reporting their actions to the American people. Without media, you invite tyranny.

    At Up & Coming Weekly, we continue to fill the media void to serve our community readers with news and information and to keep this from becoming a media desert. With your help and the grateful support of our partners and advertisers, Up & Coming Weekly will remain free on the newsstand and free to online subscribers. We also will remain a consistent resource for what to do, where to go and how to enjoy the amenities offered here in Fayetteville/Cumberland County. You can depend on us.

    With ongoing partnerships with the Carolina Journal, the Carolina Public Press and CityView Today, we are able to provide news and insights on important local, regional and state issues affecting our readers. These three organizations, along with our own writers, reporters and editor, serve as the local media to keep you informed with honest, up-to-date news you can use and trust. Together we are proud to be a community vanguard against government waste and tyranny. Subscribe, write us, call us, support local and original stories, help support media and good journalism, but, most importantly, make an effort to seek out the truth. Think local, read local, support local.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • voting pexels element digital 1550337 1 The North Carolina primary election is over. Here are the unofficial results of those races according to the State Board of Elections:

    CITY AND COUNTY SEATS
    FAYETTEVILLE MAYOR

    This July, Mitch Colvin, the incumbent candidate, will be facing Freddie Delacruz for the mayoral seat. Colvin left the primary election with 64.5% of the vote while Delacruz left with 13.9% of the vote.

    CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1
    In July, Kathy Jensen, the incumbent candidate, will be running against Jose Alex Rodriguez. Jensen left the primary election with 47.15% of the vote while Rodriquez left with 29.8% of the vote. Rodriguez surpassed third finisher William Milbourne by only 131 votes.

    CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2
    Shakeyla Ingram, the incumbent candidate, will be running against former councilmember Tyrone Williams. The race was separated only by 1.8%, or 41 votes. Ingram lead with 26.29 %, while Williams was second with 24.48%.

    CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3
    In July, Antonio Jones, the incumbent candidate recently appointed to the city council seat in December, will be running against Mario Benavente. Jones had 38.61% of the vote, while Benavente had 23%.

    CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4
    D.J. Haire, the incumbent candidate, will be running against Thomas C. Greene. Haire had 76% of the vote, while Greene left the primary with 16%.

    CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 6
    This open contested seat will be decided in July. The two candidates facing off will be Derrick Thompson, who won 46.5% of the vote, and Peter Pappas, who had 33.5%.

    CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 7
    Councilmember Larry Wright had a tight race in the primary and may have a tighter one in July against Brenda McNair. The race, the closest of the city council races, was separated only by 0.14%, or 3 votes. Wright came out on top with 44.37% with McNair right behind at 44.23%.

    CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 9
    Yvonne Kinston, the incumbent candidate, will be running against Deno Hondros. Kinston had 36.8% of the vote, while Hondros left the primary with 34.8%.

    COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AT-LARGE
    There are two at-large commissioner seats open for the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners.
    For the Democratic Ballot, there were six candidates running for the seats. The two that will face Republicans State Rep. John Szoka and Ron Ross will be Veronica B. Jones and former Commissioner Marshall Faircloth. The incumbent, Commissioner Larry Lancaster came in third in the primary election at 16.5%.

    COUNTY SHERIFF
    Ennis Wright, the incumbent sheriff, will be facing Republican candidate LaRue Windham in the general election in November. Wright won the primary with 77.7% of the vote.

    N.C. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
    DISTRICT 42

    Democratic incumbent Rep. Marvin Lucas will run against Republican candidate Gloria Carrasco in the general election in November. Lucas won the primary with 55.8%.

    DISTRICT 43
    Incumbent Rep. Diane Wheatley will be facing former State Rep. Elmer Floyd in November. Wheatley won the Republican nomination with 51.3% of the vote while Floyd won the Democratic nomination with 59% of the vote.

    DISTRICT 44
    Democrat Charles Smith won the seat for District 44 with no Republican filing for the seat this election cycle. Smith bested Terry Johnson in the primary election by 1,381 votes.

    DISTRICT 45
    Frances Jackson won the Democrat candidacy with 52.3%, beating Fayetteville City Councilmember Chris Davis. Jackson will be running against Republican candidate Susan Chapman in November.

    STATE SENATE
    DISTRICT 19

    On the Democratic ballot, former Fayetteville City Councilwoman Val Applewhite bested the incumbent, State Sen. Kirk deViere. DeViere conceded the race shortly before all precincts were reported Tuesday night.
    “The voters have spoken and I fully respect their decision but I am disappointed. I called Val early tonight and offered my congratulations. I intend to do my best in this upcoming short session to represent the people of my community, as I always have, and continue in my work as a Senator. Campaigns too often are about people viewed as winners and losers but when that happens, what gets lost are ideas and values. There is too much at stake in our community, state, and nation to let that happen here,” deViere said. “I plan to spend some much needed time with my family after this challenging primary race and the long session in Raleigh. Jenny and I are grateful for all the support during this race and will continue working to make this community and state better for everyone.”
    Applewhite will be facing Republican candidate, former State Sen. Wesley Meredith in November.

    U.S. CONGRESS
    CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 7

    Charles Graham has won the Democrat nomination and will be facing U.S. Rep. David Rouzer in November. Graham beat Cumberland County Commissioner Charles Evans by 758 votes. Rouzer won the Republican nomination by 79%.

    CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 9
    U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson has won the Republican nomination and will be facing Democrat candidate State Sen. Ben Clark in the general election in November. Hudson won the nomination with 81% of the vote.

    U.S. SENATE
    Cheri Beasley swept the Democratic primary field with 80.93% of votes. The closest competitor, Marcus Williams, carried only 3.89% of the vote. Beasley will face Republican Ted Budd in the general election. Budd pulled in 63.05% of votes. His closest competitor, former North Carolina governor Pat McCrory, received only 22.41%

  • 27b The next few weeks I bet you will be attending a graduation ceremony —yours or a friend's or a family member's. In an earlier column I shared my thoughts about the speeches given at those times. With a few changes, here is what I wrote.

    Can you remember anything said at your graduation? I mean anything other than your own name as you crossed the stage to get your diploma, shake the hand of a school official, flip your tassel, and head back to your seat thinking, "It's over. It's over. I'm all done with this."

    Come to think of it, how many speeches of any kind can you remember? If you are like me, not many. Can you even remember your minister’s sermon last Sunday? Can you remember the newspaper article or column that you read just before you got to this one?

    Be honest. And know that recalling what we hear and read does not come easy for any of us.

    It makes you wonder about those of us who like to give speeches and write newspaper columns. I guess we are arrogant enough to think we are different — and that people will remember what we say or write. In my mind I know that few will read these words, fewer still (if any at all) will remember, but my heart says, "Keep talking, keep writing, somebody will hear you say something that will be helpful to them."

    That must be what most graduation speakers think, too. And that is why there are so many long graduation speeches each spring. Fortunately, some speakers are different.
    For instance, former Greensboro mayor and president of the Joseph Bryan Foundation, Jim Melvin. Inspired perhaps by a similar one given by Winston Churchill, he once gave this speech at a Greensboro College graduation event.

    Never give up. Never, never, never give up.

    That was it. The entire speech.
    Too short?

    Maybe, but everybody who heard it will remember it. Is the message too simple? Maybe, but it is a strong message. Better to be too short than too long.
    There is a graduation speech that most people in my hometown remember — even though it was given 60 years ago. Dabney Stuart, 1960 Salutatorian at Davidson College, gave the following commencement address:

    Much has been written,
    And much said,
    And those who wrote, or spoke,
    Are dying, or dead.
    Jesus said, before he died,
    “Love one another.”
    I have nothing significant to add.

    Some in the crowd were stunned. They thought the short talk was disrespectful because it broke so radically from the norm. But today, looking back, that message seems right on point and memorable.
    Short speeches are hard to write.

    So are short columns. But short ones are better ones.

    Someone once asked President Woodrow Wilson how long it took him to prepare an hour-long speech. He said that it took about five minutes to prepare. Then he was asked how long it takes to prepare a five-minute speech?

    "That takes hours and hours," the president said.

    It does take longer to figure out how to say something important or complicated in a few words. But those of us who want people to remember what we say or write had better learn how to do it.
    Wait. I know what you are thinking. "This guy has made his point. Why doesn't he stop? Why doesn't he follow his own advice and keep his column short?"

    You're right. I'm done.

  • 27a By and large, even where we find it difficult to understand, most people love their country. No doubt they will be critical of it at times. Certainly, others will level criticisms at it. The difference is that citizens’ dissatisfaction with their nation generally comes from a place of love and loyalty, while outsiders may have a wide array of motives.

    Regardless of the degree of pride for achievements or frustration with perceived failings, most of the populace will express their patriotism and affection through celebrating national holidays.

    In addition to unique customs, most countries will share common festivities, such as parades and firework displays. For the past couple of years, most places scaled back their celebrations in the face of the worldwide pandemic. But, with the availability of vaccines, many places have been moving towards a return to more typical celebratory events.

    Last week, Israel marked its 74th Independence Day, and some two dozen celebrations again scaled back or eliminated their fireworks displays across the Jewish state, but for a very different reason. This year, there was a concern about the impact that the loud explosions have on people living with post-traumatic stress disorder, which led to the downsizing of celebratory pyrotechnics.

    Advocates struggled to educate officials, and the public about the adverse impact booming fireworks has on many veterans and others struggling with PTSD.

    Unfortunately, it took an April 2021 tragedy to begin to galvanize greater PTSD awareness. Last year, just before Israel’s Memorial Day (which is commemorated the day before Independence Day) in protest, a veteran, frustrated with his inadequate PTSD care, set himself on fire in the entryway to a military rehabilitation facility. Fortunately, he survived, and the nation has closely followed his slow and painful recovery.

    Such a wake-up call should not be needed anywhere, but the realities of competing priorities, inadequate budgets, bloated bureaucracies and political expediencies make this a reality pretty much everywhere.

    Indeed, in response to the events, the struggles of soldiers with PTSD almost immediately began to receive much-needed attention. What and how much will change remains to be seen. And we should not be surprised that there has been push-back from those who are disappointed with the curtailing of the traditional aerial festivities.

    No doubt, there is a complicated balancing act between the understandable desire of a nation to celebrate itself and concern for those who may be impacted negatively through certain forms of that celebration.

    We who live within the Fort Bragg area can especially understand these competing considerations. Obviously, every country has its own unique history and set of circumstances, so even if this issue were confronted globally, the particular calculus would necessarily and appropriately play out differently in different places.

    We are in the midst of Mental Health Awareness Month. I would suggest that taking note of this kind of weighing of values, wherever it occurs, is just the type of awareness-raising regarding the mental health issues that we are meant to engage in at this time of year.

  • 26 Local firefighters will be making the rounds in Hope Mills neighborhoods on Saturday, May 21, but not to fight fires. They want to teach residents about fire safety and the importance of having a working smoke alarm in their homes.

    The American Red Cross Sandhills Chapter partnered with the Hope Mills Fire Department, Town of Hope Mills, United Way of Cumberland County and Cape Fear CERT for Sound the Alarm, a national initiative to install 50,000 free smoke alarms with partners in more than 50 at-risk areas during the month of May.

    Hope Mills was chosen because they have had an increase in home fires. Volunteers placed door hangers on homes earlier in the month to let residents know about the event.

    Since launching in 2014, the program has helped save 34 lives in eastern North Carolina by installing more than 31,600 free smoke alarms making more than 13,000 homes safer.
    According to the Red Cross, every day in the United States seven people die in home fires, and many occur in homes without smoke alarms.
    Children, the elderly and people in low-income communities are the most vulnerable during house fires and they are the most likely to live in homes without smoke alarms.

    “Smoke alarms save lives,” said Phil Harris, executive director of the American Red Cross Sandhills Chapter. “The chance of survival is greater when you have a working smoke alarm.”

    In fact, the Red Cross says a working smoke alarm can double a person’s chance of survival of a residential fire.
    Firefighters and volunteers will be visiting homes in Hope Mills from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the day of the event. The visit lasts about 20 minutes and includes installation of a smoke alarm (or changing the batteries in an existing one) and tips for fire prevention and preparedness.

    “We sit down with homeowners or tenants and children to make sure they have two ways out of the house, (and ask) ‘do you know to crawl under the smoke?’” he said. “There are a lot of tips and things that we share during the visit, in addition to either checking working smoke alarms, changing batteries or providing new alarms.”

    Smoke alarms have a life span of 10 years, so residents who receive one during this event will be added to a list to receive a replacement when the unit expires.

    The American Red Cross Sandhills Chapter and Hope Mills Fire Department work together year-round to help victims of fires and other emergencies. They are eager to meet the community to teach prevention and preparedness so residents can stay safe and will not need their services in the future.
    Community volunteers can sign up to help install smoke alarms or be on hand to share fire safety information. No experience is required. The Red Cross will provide training the morning of the event.

    Residents can learn more at SoundTheAlarm.com/enc, sign up to volunteer or schedule an appointment for a free installation the day of the event.

  • 25b Amitria Fanae and Cerina Johnson sit on the prop stage set upon the actual stage at Cape Fear Regional Theatre. It has wide boards that make up a very inornate platform. The background of the stage is plain and minimalist, hinting toward the poverty and rural area in which the play is set.

    Fanae kicks her legs out rapidly and tucks her head in as she smiles. Her feet are tucked into ankle-high brown boots. Fanae looks up, laughs and then connects arms with Johnson. The two break out into a simple children’s song. Fanae portrays a naive, young teenager perfectly. Celie has come to life before the audience’s eyes, and she is endearing.

    Alice Walker’s famous novel-turned-musical, “The Color Purple,” has hit the stage at Cape Fear Regional Theatre this month. According to director Brian Harlan Brooks, the play is about a journey inward — one that many of the characters in this play take and one the audience themselves can take alongside them. This journey is full of boisterous musical numbers with amazing voices to match. The actors do not disappoint in their singing and musical talents; deep gospel-like tones are mixed throughout the entire play. Each song transforms the audience, bringing them to a place where music communicates without the need for much else. Both the songs sung by the entire company and single actors were glorious and felt rich in depth.

    One of the best songs is “Hell No,” sung by Melvinna Rose Johnson, who played Sophia. In this song, Sophia describes the treatment that will not happen to her and the oppression she won’t allow. Her will is strong.

    Johnson played her part well and gave the audience a lot of comedic relief through her potent display of a character with a who-the-hell-do-you-think-you-are attitude and a stern but loving quality. She was captivating and mesmerizing to watch as she completely overtook the character. The audience falls in love with Sophia almost instantly.

    Cerina's portrayal of a humble, abused and naive young girl is broken free by her louder-than-life voice and confident portrayal of a woman who is transformed. There is another fantastic performance by Fanae when she sings, “I’m Here.” In the moment, everyone in the room is proud of Celie and her ability to overcome and find within herself all that she ever needed.

    These two characters were perfectly balanced by their counterparts, including Harpo and Shug Avery, played by Herbert White II and Toneisha Harris, respectively. White was a joy to watch and matched Sophia well with tidbits of comedic relief during the serious topics discussed during the play. Each time he took the stage, the audience waited in suspense to see what his next line or movement might be. Harris really steps into the role as the sexy, free-spirited Shug and has an intensely beautiful voice that fills the entire theatre.

    The downside to this play was the occasional inability to understand the words being sung. This may have been a one-time sound issue but was still distracting during portions of the play. However, the beautiful, poetic music often overpowered the occasional inability to understand all the words of each song.

    Towards the end of the play, the background will become a vibrant display of color and transform just as the character Celie has, and the audience may find themselves in a different place than where they started.

    “The Color Purple” will run until May 29. Tickets are on sale at cftr.org. This play is rated M for mature due to references of a sexual nature and discussion of abuse.

  • 25a Friends of Cape Fear Botanical Garden will host a night of "true elegance" on Wednesday, May 18. A Garden Gathering begins at 5:30 p.m. and promises to be a beautiful evening of drinks, conversation and culinary intrigue beneath the stars and amongst the flowers.

    The Cape Fear Botanical Garden comes alive this time of year. Springtime blooms of every color dot the garden and paths, making it just right for a night of enchantment.

    "We have the perfect setting for an outdoor farm-to-table fundraising event to bring awareness to our mission to connect people with nature. It also fits seamlessly with our initiative to grow and donate produce to the Fayetteville Urban Ministry," said Sheila Hanrick, director of Events and Marketing for Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

    A night of Fayetteville's finest entertainment has been crafted for guests' enjoyment with no detail overlooked.

    From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., guests can look forward to a floating cocktail hour as they make their way through the Eleanor and Raymond Manning Children's Garden.

    The dulcet sounds of Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra's Jazz Trio will play sweetly in the background as those in attendance are served an exquisite three-course meal of locally sourced ingredients prepared by Chef Mark Elliot of Elliot's on Linden.

    While the event is "formal," Hanrick wished to clarify expectations regarding attire. "The event is not a 'formal' attire event," she explained, "but more of a garden party. We advise guests to wear shoes that allow them to walk the garden grounds and grassy areas."

    A Garden Gathering is an event open to the public, though it does require a pre-purchased ticket.

    Tickets will be sold individually for $125 or as part of several VIP package options.
    A VIP table of four is $625 and includes a household membership to Cape Fear Botanical Garden. A table for eight costs $1250 and includes a patron membership to Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Both VIP options include valet parking courtesy of Valley Auto World.

    A premier destination for weddings and social gatherings, the Cape Fear Botanical Garden is more than just a pretty face. The institution is fiercely committed to its mission "to transform people's relationship with plants and the natural world."

    Since its establishment in 1989, the Cape Fear Botanical Garden has maintained the link between nature and the Fayetteville community through its many educational and cultural programs.
    Symposiums like Gardenmania, nature camps for children of all ages and programs like yoga in the park create resources that ensure citizens of the region can enjoy being in nature while learning about everything it offers.

    Fundraising events like A Garden Gathering work to support the efforts of Cape Fear Botanical Garden as it continues its valuable service to the community.
    Cape Fear Botanical Garden is located at 536 N Eastern Blvd. in Fayetteville.

    To purchase tickets, visit https://friends-of-the-garden.square.site/?source=qr-code&fbclid=IwAR3lHgZ4kNgZ3xoI6nBS4QuQnxnZZLBM5pMqYcdxHaz3Ncy8aRDAeTPTnVU.
    To learn more about the Fayetteville Urban Ministry, visit their site at www.fayurbmin.org/about-us.

     

  • 23b Cool Spring Downtown is throwing a party every fourth Friday of the month, and everyone in Fayetteville is invited.

    “Fourth Friday is when we line the streets of downtown Fayetteville with food carts, artisans, makers and vendors,” said Lauren Falls, director of Marketing and Events for Cool Spring Downtown District. “It’s a time when we invite families to come downtown and shop locally from 6 to 9 p.m."Beginning in March of each year, Fourth Friday concludes with the downtown Zombie Walk in October, giving the people of Fayetteville around eight Fridays a year to see the city really let her hair down.

    Fourth Friday has been a popular addition to the downtown scene for over a decade. The block-party-type event is an opportunity for citizens to come together in love and pride for their city.
    Like so many other social events worldwide, Fourth Friday moved to a virtual platform during the height of the pandemic. Falls is excited for people to have the full Fourth Friday experience as the city opens back up to larger events.

    “Fourth Friday serves the families of this area because it’s such an engaging experience for people of all ages. There are so many things to do,” Falls told Up & Coming Weekly. “You can come with your kids, grab something to eat from the food trucks, see local artists, listen to local music and visit some downtown shops.”

    Visitors to Fourth Friday can look forward to extended business hours, live performances and art of all types on display as they weave their way through a bustling marketplace with a little bit of everything to offer.
    Like many programs and events throughout the city, Fourth Friday is part of a movement committed to bringing culture, arts and entertainment to the area while supporting local artisans and businesses.

    “I love so many things about Fourth Friday,” Falls said. “I love seeing kids get excited when they see local art and watching the faces of people enjoying themselves as they go into different shops and experience something new.”

    “Come expecting something unique,” she said, offering advice to those visiting for the first time. “Be open to trying new things. Come out, enjoy new food and shopping experiences, and try out a new business or local merchants.”
    Parking decks are located on the 400 block of Hay Street and the corner of Franklin and Donaldson. Both are open and available for public use during Fourth Friday.

    “I would love people to leave Fourth Friday excited about trying a new brewery or restaurant and loving where they live,” Falls said. “I would also be excited for them to come back to see the plethora of events Cool Spring Downtown District organizes throughout the year. I would love each and every person to get plugged into the downtown scene here.”

    Fourth Friday is a free event and open to the public. The next Fourth Friday event will be Friday, May 27, starting at 6 p.m.
    For more information, visit https://visitdowntownfayetteville.com/events/7046/.

  • 23a Channing Perdue wants people to experience the taste of locally grown produce and farm fresh meat, so she hosts Farm to Table dinners twice a year at her family homestead.

    The spring event, on Saturday, May 21, will include a cocktail hour with charcuterie and wine followed by a three-course dinner prepared by a local chef. People will also have a chance to tour her property, Farms Helping Families, and meet their animals.

    Locals will not have to go far to reach the 10-acre farm.

    “We're basically in the center of Fayetteville. So, we're easily accessible from I-95,” she said. “Our property's a little hidden gem because our house is right on the road on Cedar Creek Road, but then our property goes back behind it, and it's peaceful back there.”

    She and her husband purchased the home and land just over four years ago. They decided to stay in the area after he left active military service and joined the Reserves. The home was built in the 1940s and renovated before they moved in, but the land needed their help.

    “(It) was completely overgrown, so we kind of rejuvenated it. It used to be a farm that raised mules and turkey. We've redone a lot of the pastures,” she said.
    The idea for having a farm came before Perdue even found the property. She started with a desire to teach her children how to grow vegetables in a garden, then she decided to purchase chickens so they could have fresh eggs.

    From there, her ideas grew to include having livestock and growing produce on her own farm. She also wanted to teach other children and adults the joys of farming and sustainable practices and provide farm fresh products to the community. The family now owns chickens, hogs and dairy goats and plan to add turkeys and cattle in the future.

    “I really wanted to have a farm to help families to learn about food, learn about where food came from and help our community,” she said.

    Perdue is a self-taught farmer who learned from classes through the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension and the Soldiers to Agriculture program through North Carolina State’s Agricultural Institute. The program introduces veterans and their families to careers in agriculture.

    After learning to develop her own land, Perdue began helping others interested in sustainable farming for their families. She shares her own experiences and helps them plot a piece of raw land with the appropriate areas for livestock and crops.

    “The thought process came to (me) because a lot of the farmers now are single commodity commercial farmers,” she said “My brain goes back like hundreds of years before things got commercialized to ‘How did we sustain life back then? What did we grow? How did our communities eat?’”

    Farms Helping Families has camps for kids teaching them how to start their own gardens. Each child is given a selection of vegetable seeds that they can use in a recipe for vegetable dip or salsa when they harvest the produce. She believes it is important for kids to understand where their food comes from.

    “We started with chickens because (my kids) didn't understand that eggs didn't just come from Walmart or the grocery store. They actually came from a chicken.”

    The Spring Farm to Table dinner is Perdue’s chance to share their family’s story and their hope to rebuild the culture of small sustainable farming. She wants to use the land to continue teaching people to build farms so they can provide for their own families.

    “It’s taking a piece of land and figuring out how you can feed your family, but also feed the community.”
    Tickets and more information about the event can be found at https://farmshelpingfamilies.com/events.

  • 21 “We live here, so we want to help here,” explains Steve Brack, vice president, Cape Beard.

    And for 10 years, that is just what the Cape Beard organization has done in Cumberland County.
    Cape Beard is a nonprofit group of bearded and mustachioed individuals, many of whom are veterans. The group was organized in February 2011 and is currently composed of 25 members who meet monthly.

    “We are around 25 strong and growing, of course, like our beards,” laughed Brack.

    The group has raised a total of $190,000 locally from their events since the first Pig Pickin’ in May 2012.

    The group began as a club of facial-haired friends and grew into something more with their charity events.

    “It just grew into something that nobody saw as a future goal,” Brack said.
    Cape Beard Treasurer Johnny Schantz echoed this sentiment.

    “We are like Kudzu. We just take over,” he said.

    The Pig Pickin’ event itself has raised over $85,000 over the years.

    The proceeds from the event are given to the Autism Society of Cumberland County.

    The society was founded in the 1980s by a small group of parents. These parents were looking for support and wanted to learn more about autism and improve the quality of life for their children. The group’s mission is to provide support and promote opportunities that enhance the lives of individuals within the autism spectrum and their families. For more information on the cause, visit www.autismcc.org.

    Marking a decade of helping locally, the tenth annual Cape Beard Pig Pickin’ will kick off at 10 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. on May 21.

    On top of supporting the cause, attendees can expect to find much to enjoy at the event. Cape Beard will be prepping 750 pounds of Boston butt. Hungry visitors can grab a $5 plate of pulled pork, slaw and baked beans, hang and eat in a tented dining space, or grab their food and go. Sodas and water will be available for purchase, and Bright Light Brewing Company will be on hand with their local beers.

    If patrons find they need to finish off their BBQ with something sweet, Freddie’s Frozen Custard will be selling frozen custard with proceeds going to the cause.

    Not hungry? There will be vendors on site selling everything from wood crafts to soaps, jewelry and more.

    There is a strong contingent of downtown businesses supporting the event and vending. The Downtown Market of Fayetteville, Garnet Skull, Rude Awakening and White Trash will have booths set up at the event.
    Kids can wear themselves out in any of the four free bounce houses, including an inflatable obstacle course, and all can enjoy music.

    The All Veteran Parachute Group is slated to make an appearance on the day; for up-to-date times on their jump, double check the event’s Facebook page.
    Organizers expect it to be busy.

    “People come, get a plate of pork or pork to-go and then boogie, so you have this constant flow all day,” Brack said.
    The event will be held at the Harley-Davidson of Fort Bragg, located at 3950 Sycamore Dairy Road.

    “We truly take over their dealership,” said Brack.

    “Oh yeah, every inch. Grass, parking lot, all of it,” Shantz said.

    For Brack, it is a satisfying endeavor. For him it is all about “seeing the event grow; seeing the payback to the community; seeing the community appreciate what we are doing.”

  • 19 Locals who want to learn how to cast a line only have to venture down to the Pechmann Fishing Education Center on Raeford Road. The center offers programs to people of all ages who want to learn the ins and outs of fishing. It is the only education center of its kind in the state, and all classes and programs are free to the public.

    The land the center currently sits on has been a hatchery for nearly a century, according to Fishing and Aquatic Education Manager Thomas Carpenter from the Wildlife Education Division, NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Private hatcheries were the norm before the wildlife commission came into existence in 1947. These private hatcheries helped to stock the local ponds and lakes with fish.

    The commission took over that job, and the hatchery on Raeford Road began focusing on striped bass production, which it did from 1964 until the late 1980s. At that point, the hatchery was turned into a depot.
    In 1994, Cumberland County Ducks Unlimited held a Greenwing event for kids at a local lake. They had over 100 children show up to the event but only managed to catch one fish. The head of the Greenwing program at the time, Lee Warren, reached out to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and asked if they could hold their next event at the hatchery in Fayetteville. John Pechmann, a Fayetteville lawyer on the commission and a friend of Warren’s, helped bring the Greenwing event to the hatchery.

    It was a wild success, and the commission began to think of how they could use the hatchery as an education center. Plans and programs began to form, and in 2004, plans for the actual education center came into fruition. The center was named for John Pechmann in 2005 and was officially opened to the public in 2008.

    Currently, the center hatcheries house catfish, bass and bluegill fish. In the winter, when the water is colder, and they can support the population, trout are brought in from the Bobby N. Setzer State Hatchery in Pisgah National Forest. Trout is a popular fish for fly fishing, and the center holds classes concentrated on the sport.

    “I love all types of fishing, but I’ve really migrated toward our fly fishing programs,” said Carpenter. “It’s growing pretty rapidly, and it really appeals to younger kids, younger people."
    "We have a young woman on staff who has created a group called Reel Women Fishing Adventures. We are trying to get more women to do these things, and fly fishing seems to be one of those things that they want to try.”

    Carpenter has been working with the center since 2009 when he started as a temporary educator. In 2015, he became the director.

    “We are completely focused on getting people into fishing, and we are following some principles that are being developed by a national movement called R3,” Carpenter said.
    R3 stands for recruitment, retention and reactivation. The purpose of the conservation campaign is to help people rediscover hunting and fishing.

    “(We are ) trying to increase the number of licensed anglers because those anglers are what provide us the economic backbone for our conservation activities,” said Carpenter.
    An excise tax is exacted on fishing tackle and equipment, a tax that is then paid into the fish and wildlife service. This money is allocated to each state based on population density and the number of licenses within the population.

    “We are able to use the money for habitat restoration, management activities like stockings and species research and management, and boating and fishing accesses,” said Carpenter. “Another portion of it is available for education. It’s kind of a big circle which equates to better fishing and facilities for people.”

    The Pechmann Fishing Education Center holds numerous classes throughout the month. On May 19 and 20, the staff will be holding an Introductory Fishing for Adults class.

    “We missed generations of people who may want to try fishing, and now they are a bit older and thinking about it, so we are breaking down the basics of everything to hopefully get them more into fishing,” said Carpenter.

    On May 21, a fishing and cooking class will be held, teaching attendees how to catch fish and how to clean and store them for the best flavor. The day will conclude with a cooking class, showing students how to cook fish in various ways.

    Camps will be held throughout the summer, starting May 26, for kids ages 12 to 15; the camps will focus on catching bass with natural baits.

    In June, the center will hold a virtual class entitled “Hook, Line and Picture.” The purpose of the course is to teach people how to take great fishing photos.

    “We are trying to help people create some really great memories,” said Carpenter.

    Classes are free to attend, and those interested in going to classes at the center should register at www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/The-John-E-Pechmann-Fishing-Education-Center/EventRegistration. Interested individuals can also see a calendar of events on the website.

    Fishing licenses are not needed to attend the center’s events; however, would-be-anglers can get a fishing license at https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/licenses-permits-and-leases/recreational-fishing-licenses.

     

  • 17 As a two-tour combat veteran, Kia Anthony says the one adage that reverberated throughout her seven-year military career was: “If not you, then who?”

    Anthony never wanted to be a mayor, much less a politician. Seeing what was happening in her adopted town and her desire to be a public servant pushed her to seek political office. She prayed about it and was given the go-ahead, she said. Also, as Anthony explains it, her mother – who often fed and clothed the less fortunate – instilled in her the DNA of public service.

    The Flint, Michigan native joined the Army in 1999, right out of high school. First, the Army sent her to Korea, then to Fort Bragg’s 44th Medical Brigade. Despite her multiple deployments and temporary assignments to other places, Fort Bragg and Spring Lake became her home.

    She knew little about the details of Spring Lake’s financial woes before running for town mayor in 2021.

    “I knew to the extent citizens were allowed to know,” she said. “And that was one of the reasons I felt I needed to run.”

    Although a newcomer to Spring Lake politics, she ran against two strong incumbents: former Alderwomen Fredericka Southerland and Jackie Jackson. Anthony said she didn’t have to do too much convincing because the voters were ready for a change.

    Anthony says she never directly ran against Southerland and Jackson; instead, she ran against the status quo, and her campaign message promised a “new standard” in town government. She placed campaign signs both in and outside Spring Lake town limits to ensure name recognition.
    Anthony officially became a Spring Lake resident in 2004.

    “I bought my house here.”

    She has seen the town’s decline, in part because citizens played a minimal role in the town’s governance.
    Anthony said she has multiple goals that could help revive Spring Lake’s economic vibrancy.

    “The main thing is to tackle our finances. We’ve made extreme headway in getting our finances in order. The budget is actually looking good,” Anthony said.

    Anthony chairs the Town’s Audit Committee, which is tasked with triaging the recommendations from the 2021 State Auditor’s investigation into the town’s finances. Other members of the committee include Alderwoman Sonja Cooper and Alderman Raul Palacios. Staff members on the committee include Interim Town Manager Joe Durham and a Town Finance Department employee. Anthony may add a citizen as an ad hoc member.

    The meetings are open to the public, she said.
    Anthony said other goals include relating to younger citizens. Spring Lake’s median age is 24.9, and Anthony believes it necessary to reach that demographic stratum through citizen engagement.

    She also listed business infusion, calling Spring Lake a “diamond in the rough” that is perfectly positioned.
    Another goal for Anthony is getting Spring Lake’s infrastructure up to acceptable standards.

    “We can’t bring in a movie theater, or a bowling alley, or even another housing development other than the two we have coming in right now. Our water and sewage can’t sustain that kind of capacity.”
    Recently, the state Local Government Commission, which currently oversees the town’s finances, approved the town’s application for a grant to rebuild its water/sewer infrastructure.

    “Once we do that, we can think about revitalizing our main street,” she said.
    Before thinking about becoming mayor, Anthony said she worked to re-establish the Town’s Chamber of Commerce. She calls that project “critical in injecting life into the business community.”
    The departure of Pope Air Force Base and the undertaking of a North Carolina Department of Transportation bridge construction to facilitate I-295 crippled downtown Spring Lake.

    “We lost almost 40 businesses during the creation of that bridge. This also divided Spring Lake traffic. It devastated us here in Spring Lake,” she said.
    The town also lacks affordable housing. Anthony explained that a current housing development on Odell Road consisting of 122 new 2023-model mobile homes is a start.

    As one of three military veterans on the board, Anthony believes Spring Lake lacks proper military engagement. “That is huge for us here in Spring Lake. We are very connected to the military. We have a high veteran population, and we want to make sure they are serviced, and not only veterans but also active duty military and their families,” she said. “We don’t connect with Fort Bragg as we should even though Spring Lake is the gateway to Fort Bragg. We should be proud of that, and we should capitalize on that,” she said.

    Finally, Spring Lake needs to work on its appearance, she said. The town has an active Appearance Committee chaired by Southerland.

    “We are all working diligently cleaning up Spring Lake. It’s a priority of all of the board members,” she said.

  • 16 The Town of Spring Lake is no stranger to ineptness or corruption when it comes to town governance.

    From losing control of its police department to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office because of corruption to the most recent state takeover of the town’s finances, the Town of Spring Lake has, over the years, tainted its reputation.

    In its most recent debacle, the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (OSA) deemed the town incapable of handling its finances and put its financial affairs under the Local Government Commission. Additionally, a state audit published in March determined that Spring Lake officials misused taxpayer dollars, including more than $430,000 for personal use by the town’s former accounting technician. The audit further alleges that the town did not adequately inventory vehicles, misused procurement cards and that minutes of public meetings were missing.

    The audit found that the town’s finance director failed to supervise and review the accounting technician’s actions, especially deposits into her account at the Fort Bragg Mutual Credit Union.

    The March audit was not the first time Spring Lake came under state fiscal scrutiny. A 2016 OSA audit found similar infractions. The OSA launched that investigation after receiving complaints of misappropriation of money via its hotline. The audit identified 63 Town employee positions and three aldermen who violated town policy using procurement cards. The audit did not name the individuals.

    It also determined that from July 2010 through March 2015, the town board and employees spent at least $122,434 on 1,448 purchases unrelated to town business. And the town under-billed a commercial real estate company by $90,930 because town employees misread water meters. After discovering the mistake, the then-unnamed town manager believed it unfair to bill the real estate company for the remaining water usage, according to the report.

    The reasons for Spring Lake’s continuing financial mishaps can be attributed to several reasons, according to a former long-time Alderwoman Fredricka Southerland. For years, Southerland was on the losing end of a 3-2 vote regarding town business she considered questionable.

    “I believed in honesty and transparency. The town needed to quit sweeping things under the rug,” she said. Retired from the banking and financial industry, Southerland often questioned the town’s fiscal decisions. She blames much of the town’s financial woes on unqualified leadership. Leadership unwilling or unable to learn about their fiscal responsibilities. In one set of town meeting minutes, Southerland is on record pleading with her fellow board members to educate themselves about issues.
    She also suggests the town’s citizens own part of the blame. Despite having one of the highest municipal tax rates and a $13 million budget, the town of some 12,000 often voted for personalities rather than qualified candidates.

    “I tried my best to educate them. Some didn’t realize how much (taxes) they were paying. I wanted them to come out to meetings and hold the board accountable,” she said.

    In this latest financial mishap, the town’s organizational makeup may have played a damaging role. For example, although the town operates under a council-manager form of government where the town manager is the chief administrative officer, well versed in the responsibilities of all aspects of the town’s daily activities, Spring Lake had its finance director and thus financial operations reporting to the board and not the town manager.

    The often-abrupt dismissal of key town personnel also played a role. In this instance, it led to the appointment of a non-qualified accounting technician to the finance director role. This individual is alleged to have embezzled town funds; an issue brought to light in the latest audit.

    The LGC has a legal obligation to ensure local governments’ finances are well managed. Spring Lake joins the towns of Kingstown, Robersonville, Pikeville, Eureka and East Laurinburg under the LGC’s financial control. Under state law, the LCG has far-reaching powers, and last year voted to revoke East Laurinburg’s municipal charter because it couldn’t get its finances in order. The town will no longer exist after June.
    Spring Lake’s ongoing financial woes are not new. The LGC communicated with Spring Lake numerous times during the past four years, raising concerns about the town’s failure to follow state law when administering public money.

    In its latest actions, the LGC on May 2 intervened to resolve issues surrounding a $1 million loan the town accepted from South River Electric Membership Corporation. The problem: Spring Lake did not have the authority to accept the loan since its finances and ability to repay any loan were under state jurisdiction. The town never sought LGC approval of the loan.

    So, the LGC directed its staff on May 3 to begin re-negotiating with South River EMC terms for the town to pay off the loan. South River EMC loaned the $1 million to Spring Lake to build a fire station, which the town started building before the money was in place. The original 10-year term was deferred for two years, followed by eight annual payments of $125,000.
    Since Spring Lake never asked the LGC to approve the loan, under state law, the loan and its agreements are not valid and thus not enforceable by the lender. However, the LGC wants to hold South River EMC harmless and opted for Spring Lake to repay the loan. The LGC’s counteroffer is a 20-year payback period with a two-year payment deferral. A 20-year payback period would be less stressful to the cash-strapped town.
    According to the LGC, once the terms are final, its staff will file an application for financing approval – required by law – and hold public hearings before staff brings the proposal back to the LGC for a vote.

    Spring Lake, for years, knew its financial operations were suspect. The latest warnings included:
    • January 3, 2020, Sharon G. Edmundson, LGC’s Fiscal Management director, sent a letter to Mayor Larry Dobbins warning him that for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, the town failed to submit its annual audits.
    • April 23, 2020, LGC staff sent a letter to Spring Lake’s Board of Aldermen and town administration stating that the town failed to comply with state law by not having fiscal year audits conducted soon after adopting a budget. Audits are due October 31 following June 30 budget adoptions.
    • June 2, 2020, the LGC issued a resolution warning Spring Lake regarding its failure to comply with state laws to submit fiscal year audits. According to the resolution, the town’s audits had been at least two months late for the past five years. The 2018 audit was 16 months late.
    • June 23, 2021, citing a budget deficit and lack of fiscal controls, the LGC again warns Spring Lake of a possible takeover of the town’s finances. The LGC held an emergency meeting on June 22 and voted unanimously to send a warning to Spring Lake due to concerns over long-standing fiscal irregularities and an investigation into missing money.
    • July 26, 2021, The LGC voted to take complete control of Spring Lake’s finances if the Board of Aldermen impedes the Office of State Auditor investigation into “questionable” financial activities if the board withholds information from the commission.
    • October 5, 2021, after being under investigation by OSA for several months, the LGC voted to finally take over Spring Lake’s finances. The LGC cited concerns the town may default on November debt service payments totaling $221,385. The action came two months after the July warning.
    • March 24, 2022, LGC appoints deputy finance officers in the wake of staff turnover.
    • April 6, 2022, The LGC issues a letter to Spring Lake Mayor Kia Anthony and the Board “expressing deep concern over possible lack of compliance with state laws and reluctance to work cooperatively with commission staff.”

    Last month, the town hired Joe Durham as interim town manager. For the past eight years, Durham has operated an executive coaching and recruitment service for local governments. Before that, Durham spent years in local government leadership roles, including deputy manager of Wake County.
    Spring Lake hired Durham to recruit a town manager after the termination of its last manager, Daniel Geralds. Durham said recruitment was looking bleak. “People were staying in place,” he said.
    So, Durham put recruitment on hold and agreed to step in as the interim town manager until October. His goal, said Durham, is to get the town back on its feet and help the town regain its credibility regarding administering its finances.

    “The town is in the process of updating many policies relating to financial management. This will represent a comprehensive rewrite and will be conducted over many months, with items going to the board on a regular basis. The existing policy on credit cards is no town employee has a credit card in his /her possession and must make a request to the town manager each time there is a documented need detailing cost and purpose.”

    He goes on to say, “The town has policies and procedures that will have to be developed in response to the audit.” Durham said the board created an Audit Committee that will go through each of the audit’s findings and recommendations and work to resolve them. The Audit Committee will make monthly reports to the board, the LGC, and the OSA on its progress.

    The Audit Committee currently consists of two board members and himself, and he suggests perhaps including a citizen or two to enhance transparency.
    There is no date or timetable for the LGC to turn over finances back to the town. “We discuss this on an ongoing basis,” he said. Once a strong finance director is in place, Durham believes the town can regain control of its finances by the end of the calendar year.

  • 15 Show off your ride and raise money for cancer patients at the Fight 4 Cure charity car show on Saturday, May 21 at Jordan Soccer Complex.
    The car show was added to Fight 4 Cure’s roster of fundraising events in 2019 when organization founder Dr. Lisa Wright wanted to explore other ideas to raise money for the non-profit.

    “When we did our first car show, we had so much participation from it [we thought] maybe this could be an annual event for everyone to participate,” she said. “Because who doesn't like showing off their car, their prized possession?”

    The entry fee for a car or truck is $20 and a motorcycle is $15. Registration is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the day of the event. Judging will take place from 1:30 to 3 p.m. with dozens of awards up for grabs, including Best of Show for each vehicle type.

    Volunteers will be firing up grills for a barbeque and selling lunch plates. Wright wants to raise additional money to offer free mammograms to women in the community during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month.

    When Wright’s mother and sister were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, she saw how difficult it was to find assistance beyond treatment. She created Fight 4 Cure with a mission to foster hope for cancer patients and increase awareness on resources available for overlooked communities.

    “The problem that we came across was, there was no information or assistance for individuals that were underrepresented, underserved, regardless of color or ethnic background,” she said. “They were left alone.”

    Fight 4 Cure offers both financial and emotional support. They provide patient care grants to people in treatment to help offset the costs of food, housing and utilities.

    They also send care packages with items to help chemotherapy patients, like water bottles, chap stick, blankets and journals. Since July 2021, they have mailed 69 care packages to patients in 22 states.
    Fight 4 Cure gives back 95 % of the money they raise through events like the car show. Wright and her husband often pay out of pocket for prizes and trophies.

    “I want the money that’s received from charity events to go to the cancer patient,” she said. “Everything else, it comes from in-kind donations or out of our pockets.”
    Wright recently found out she has breast cancer, but her diagnosis has not stopped her passion for helping others. Just a few hours after having a bilateral mastectomy, she was on the phone helping another patient in treatment. She plans to be at the car show even though her chemotherapy is scheduled to start the week prior.

    “I can’t complain. If I did, it wouldn’t do any good,” she said. “I am committed to helping others. That has not changed.”

    Learn more about Fight 4 Cure and the car show at https://www.fight4cure.org.

  • 13 Memorial Day weekend is often considered a magical time, a time for barbecues, judicious application of sunscreen and the long-awaited re-opening of the local water hole.

    But for many families across the nation, especially here on Fort Bragg, it is, first and foremost, a time to remember.
    Fort Bragg Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, in partnership with Army Community Service, will host the Fort Bragg Run, Honor, Remember 5k on May 21, starting at 7:30 a.m.

    This commemorative, family-friendly run/walk will occur at Hedrick Stadium on Fort Bragg and is open to Department of Defense cardholders and their guests.

    A tradition started after 9/11 to recognize the ultimate sacrifice of those lost in combat zones during that time; the walk has only grown in popularity and significance since then.

    The walk has been on hiatus since 2019 because of the pandemic, making this year especially meaningful for those coordinating the run.

    "This is one of our favorite events," said Jennifer Fayson, special event coordinator, FMWR. I think it is so important to reflect upon how many servicemen and women have laid their lives down for us and remember the sacrifice of their families. It's especially important as we head into the memorial day weekend."

    Over 7500 pairs of boots will be placed on the field at Hedrick Stadium to honor those soldiers who never returned home. The boots will stay on display for the entire Memorial Day weekend. It's a sight Fayson strongly urges people to come and experience for themselves.

    "It's so moving to see them out there," Fayson told Up & Coming Weekly. "About 175 of them have been decorated by service members' families. I think that's my favorite part."
    Home to over 500,000 active-duty soldiers, many families in the area know what it means to see a father, mother, son or friend walk out the door to serve their country. Many families also know that their loved ones' safe return is not guaranteed.

    The Run, Honor, Remember 5k is a time when the community comes together to acknowledge that freedom has a cost and give thanks to those who pay it.

    "Fort Bragg is a strong community and very supportive of our military in general," Fayson explained. "I love seeing the community come together. It's always such a large turnout because people want to show their support. They want to honor and remember soldiers who have given their lives in the ultimate sacrifice."

    The event invites walkers, strollers, amblers and runners of all ages, fitness levels and abilities. There is no charge to participate, and no registration is required.

    "It's open to anyone who would like to come," said Fayson. Family members, community members, spouses, kids—we invite everyone; it's a great event."

    The pre-event ceremony for the Run, Honor, Remember 5k starts at 7:30 a.m., while the event itself is scheduled to end at 10 a.m.
    Hedrick Stadium is located at Sedgewick Street on Fort Bragg.

    For more information, call, 910-908-5977.

  • 12Fayetteville officials on Monday, May 9 unveiled the scoring criteria for applicants to a grant program that they hope will decrease crime in the community.
    As Carolina Public Press previously reported, the city’s Community Safety Microgrant program, for which the City Council approved $250,000 in funding last fall, elicits ideas from the community for addressing crime. The program launched last week.

    Earlier this year, the Fayetteville Police Department released crime data from 2021, showing that violent crime had increased in the city as part of a national trend.
    At a meeting last month regarding the program, Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins said that the microgrant program was inspired by a similar one in Charlotte.

    “We all understand crime is a big problem to deal with,” Hawkins said. “A lot of different issues.”
    While the program is open-ended, the police chief presented several examples to the City Council of what could come from the program.

    These examples included conflict resolution, opportunities for youths, family stability and ways to address implicit bias, among others.

    These are just examples, though, Hawkins emphasized. Applicants to the program can implement any idea through the program’s funding as long as they can show it will address crime and meet the program’s scoring standard.

    “This is a community initiative,” Hawkins said. “They have the idea. They have the game plan. They have a program, and they grow this.”

    Once an applicant submits an idea, a panel will evaluate the submission and render a score with a maximum of 100 points.
    Four elements will be considered in the scoring process — inclusivity, collaboration, resourcefulness and innovation.

    “Scoring is a pretty time-intensive process based on the number of applications we get,” said Chris Cauley, Fayetteville’s economic and community development director.
    The ZIP codes 28314, 28305, 28303 and 28301 will also receive priority, receiving bonus points.

    The panel that determines the score is made up of one representative each from the Fayetteville Redevelopment Commission, the Citizen Police Advisory Board, the Human Relations Commission, the city’s mental health sector and someone within the public school system.

    “We are giving direction to not choose one entity to decide who will get the awards,” said Council Member Shakeyla Ingram. “We are compiling a community-based board or advisory committee to be able to decide who will get (the funding).”

    Mayor Mitch Colvin said the program allows various community stakeholders to get involved in reducing crime.

    “There are a lot of partners that played a role in this process,” he said. “Everybody is needed at the table in order for this to be successful.”

    Any nonprofit organization with an operating budget of less than $100,000 can apply for the program. For-profit entities cannot participate.
    Individuals can apply as well. Cauley said the program is designed for anyone of any educational level to apply.

    He said anyone can call the city’s Economic Development Department at 910-433-1590 to get help with the application process.
    More information for applicants is available at fayettevillenc.gov/microgrant.

  • 11 Voters in Fayetteville will be asked in November’s election to approve a bond package that would address public safety, infrastructure and affordable housing in the city.
    The City Council unanimously voted May 9 at the regular Monday meeting to put the bonds on a referendum.

    The bonds would be valued at $97 million, according to city documents, but the city could decrease that number over the next few months as the council finalizes the details of the package.
    The amount, however, cannot go above that amount approved on Monday before the election in November.

    Any amount approved by the voters would require a property tax increase, city officials said at a special council meeting late last month dedicated to the discussion of the bonds.

    “The voters would be able to give us their say on it,” City Manager Doug Hewett said at April’s meeting. “If they say yes, then of course, we would have to raise the tax rate to honor the debt payments that the bond would generate.”

    Residents will be able to vote on each area — public safety, infrastructure and housing — separately, as each will have its own portion among the $97 million maximum.

    “(The referendum) gives the council full authority, and it also gives the voters and taxpayers in the city of Fayetteville the authority as well to tell us if that’s something they want us to do in these areas,” Hewett said.
    The funds from the bonds would not be associated with any federal funds that the city has received from recent federal legislation, such as the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA.
    Assistant City Manager Jay Toland said one-time funds from ARPA to be used for economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic have already been obligated to various city projects.

    “It’s not like we’re going to take these projects or this amount here and then supplant it with the ARPA money,” he said. “This is (for) additional needs outside of that.”
    The funds from the bonds would be used for more recurring expenses, according to city officials.

    “Despite all of the federal money that we have and the very careful financial planning that we do here as the city, we find that we have capital needs, which far exceed our ability to fund,” Hewett said.

    “To address the significant public safety, unfunded needs, and not to mention potentially any housing, affordable housing issues that the council wishes to take, we would need a different funding method.”

    Tax increase

    If the bonds are approved by voters, it would cause an increase in property taxes in Fayetteville.
    With each cent increase to the property tax, the city could fund $1.45 million in annual costs of repaying the bond, Toland said.
    If the maximum $97 million is eventually put on November’s ballot, it would require an annual increase in property tax of just under 4 cents, based on a presentation Toland gave to the City Council.

    Property taxes are calculated by dividing the value of the home or property by 100 and then multiplying by the cent increase.
    A $200,000 home, for instance, would see a one-time annual property tax increase of about $80 under the 4 cents scenario, or a monthly increase of just under $7. If the total bond amount is decreased, though, the taxpayer burden will go down as well.
    If the voters approve the bonds, the tax increase would not occur until fiscal year 2024 starts next summer, Toland said.
    Aside from the bonds issue, there will be no tax increases in the upcoming city budget for the next fiscal year, Hewett said.

    “There will not be a tax rate increase proposed in my budget that I’ll present to you in May,” he told the council at April’s bonds meeting. “There will not be an increase proposed in the budget for transit, solid waste or stormwater.”

    The city had previously considered an increase in solid waste fees, Carolina Public Press reported earlier this year.

    How each area will be funded

    The maximum amount that could be approved for public safety, infrastructure and housing is $60 million, $25 million and $12 million, respectively.
    The preliminary plans for the public safety portion is to construct and renovate various fire stations across the city and to build a police call center that would cost over $30 million.
    Hewett said that the call center “is a must.”

    Fayetteville Fire Chief Mike Hill said that the fire station locations are based on need, according to various data collected by the Fire Department.
    The $60 million, though, would not cover all the construction. Details of which projects the bonds will fund will be determined over the next few months before the referendum is filed to the Board of Elections later this summer.

    The $25 million infrastructure portion would cover new sidewalks, intersection improvements, new bike lanes and street repaving.

    The remaining $12 million would be used to provide and rehabilitate multifamily and single-family housing within the city. It would also fund “programs to provide loans and other financial assistance” for housing-related costs, according to city documents.

    The housing funds within the bonds would be used to benefit people of low and moderate income. Details for how that will be defined have yet to be determined.

    At April’s bonds meeting, when the City Council approved of an additional housing portion, Mayor Mitch Colvin cited a previous city study, when advocating for the housing funds, that showed Fayetteville is short 20,000 homes for workforce level housing.

  • The Cumberland County Board of Education on Tuesday night, May 10, unanimously approved the superintendent’s proposed budget for the 2022-23 school year.
    Based on Superintendent Marvin Connelly’s recommendation, the board is requesting $88.2 million in local funding from the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners. That represents an increase of 6.2%, or $5.1 million, over the 2021-22 appropriation.

    In other business, the school board voted 5-4 to continue with its optional mask policy. The board is required to vote on the policy each month.
    Before the regular meeting got underway, a public hearing was held on the proposed closure of Lillian Black Elementary School and Ireland Drive Middle School. No one spoke on behalf of either school, and the board did not take any action on the proposed closures Tuesday night.

    Budget priorities for the next school term include a minimum wage beginning at $15 an hour for bus drivers and other staff.

    The money needed to meet the proposed salary goals might require a property tax increase by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, the school board has said previously.

    The school district’s local funding request will now be submitted to the county board by May 15 for consideration.

    The total proposed budget for the school system is $699 million, which is a drop of 8% from 2021-22.

    The State Public School Fund accounts for the largest portion of the budget at $348.2 million, or 49.8% of the total budget. Federal programs, Enterprise Fund and grants account for an additional $232.6 million, or 33.6%.

    The federal budget makes up 26.6% of the district budget at $185.9 million. The capital outlay budget is approximately $13.6 million, or 2%, of the district budget.
    The capital outlay budget is the primary source of funding for buildings, land and improvements, furniture and equipment, and vehicles, according to a release from the school system. This budget is funded by designated sales tax revenues with annual allocations from Cumberland County government.

    The proposed salary schedule complies with a state-mandated minimum wage for all employees and eliminates the salary compression in the present schedule while increasing the local supplement of certified staff by an average of 2%, a release said.

    The board’s Budget and Finance Committee previously OK'd the proposed budget by unanimous vote before it was passed on to the entire school board Tuesday.

    “We remain committed to our students,” Connelly said during the board's regular monthly meeting. “Nearly three years ago, we made several commitments, and we determined to see them through. While a lot has changed since school in our strategic plan in 2019, our hope and aspirations for our young people have remained the same.

    “Despite a global pandemic that has ravaged our world,” he said, “we remain resolute in the commitments detailed in our strategic plan – 'Together, We Will Rise!' We are reimagining the Cumberland commitment and working innovatively to educate our young people.”

    Much of the budget invests in the system’s workforce, Connelly said.

    As such, a large chunk of the local funding request focuses on investing in the district’s 6,000-plus employees and implementing cost-of-living and supplemental increases. The board is seeking approval from the commissioners to launch a funding model to support the implementation of competitive salary and supplement schedules for the district’s employees.

    The superintendent said he was recommending that the full board seek approval from the county commissioners to implement the state-required $15 per hour minimum pay for all employees.
    High-quality educators and staff are choosing to retire and transition to different careers, he said. Some are leaving for higher-paying career jobs. As a result, he said, it’s important that Cumberland County Schools remain competitive with other school districts statewide by recruiting and retaining highly qualified employees.

    The key, Connelly told the board, is collaboration.

    “By investing in our premiere professionals,” he said, “we are invested in the success of our students. It is more important than ever that we invest in our future – the future of our students is at stake. It is imperative that we then move forward with the budget proposal for the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners that we can all stand behind."

  • 8 It’s Greek mythology time again. We’re going to see if our old friend Icarus can teach anything to Vlad Putin since Vlad apparently won’t listen to anyone but the voices in his head.

    Icarus was one of the Wright Brothers of Greek mythology. Kindly recall he flew too close to the sun, which resulted in trouble.
    Imitating Icarus, Vlad has flown too close to Ukraine. Let us begin with Icarus’s family history. Icky, as his friends called him, was the son of Daedalus. Daedalus was the ancient Greek version of Elon Musk. Daedalus was Athen’s greatest architect, designer of labyrinths and Thomas Edison style inventor. Like all mythology backstories, Daedalus’ was a humdinger.

    Once upon a time, King Minos was in charge of the island of Crete. Like most islands, Crete was surrounded by water. This meant Poseidon, the King of the Seas, was a big deal there.
    Poseidon sent King Minos a snow-white bull so that Minos could sacrifice the bull in honor of Poseidon. There was a lot of sacrificing back then. You might ask, why didn’t Poseidon just sacrifice the bull to himself and enjoy a barbecue? Don’t ask. It would ruin the story.

    Minos liked the bull so much he could not bring himself to sacrifice it in Poseidon’s honor. Bad idea. When Poseidon didn’t smell Texas-style BBQ on Crete, he became really cranky. He laid a spell on Minos’ wife, Pasiphae, which was even more potent than Love Potion Number 9. Like the guy who kissed the cop on the corner of 34th Street and Vine, she took one look at the white bull and was smitten. She fell in love. She and the bull made whoopee. From this union, the Minotaur was born. The Queen’s bouncing bundle of joy had the body of a man and the head of a bull. Minos soon realized he was not the father.

    Minos was embarrassed by his wife’s bovine dalliance. He decided he needed to hide the love child, who was running wild and eating local citizens. Minos hired Daedalus to design and build a labyrinth to hide the Minotaur from the paparazzi. Daedalus did his thing, and the Minotaur was stuck in the maze. Minos ordered seven young men and women of Athens to go into the labyrinth each year to serve as Minotaur chow. This precursor to Soylent Green irritated the Athenians to no end.

    A local hero named Theseus volunteered to enter the labyrinth to try to kill the Minotaur. Minos’ daughter gave Theseus a ball of string to put on his path on the way in so he could follow the string back out. Theseus slew the Minotaur and skedaddled with Minos’ daughter; this really got Minos’ goat. Minos had to blame someone. Theseus had escaped, so Minos blamed Daedalus for a design flaw that allowed the Minotaur to be killed. Minos made Daedalus and Icky stay on Crete as prisoners at a Grecian Formula Gulag. (We will get back to Putin in a while.)

    Daedalus and Icarus got pretty bored on Crete. It was time to make a getaway. Daedalus designed a set of wings for each of them made of feathers held together by wax. It was the perfect plan. Daedalus knew his son was a hothead like Sonny Corleone. He warned Icarus not to fly too high because the sun might melt the wax and not to fly too close to the ocean because the moisture from the sea might cause his wings to stop working due to humidity. This advice is reminiscent of Dean Smith’s advice to his University of North Carolina basketball players: “Don’t get too high in the good times and don’t get too low in the bad times. Remain steady.”

    You can figure out what happened next. After Daedalus and Icarus started flying off Crete, Icarus began cutting the fool, zooming up and down all over the sky. Like Sonny Corleone, he ignored his father’s advice and flew too close to the sun. Melt City. The feathers fell off his wings, plunging Icky headfirst into the drink. Icarus drowned. He was last seen in Davy Jones’ locker sleeping with the fishes like Luca Brasi. What a Dumbo.

    Which finally gets us back to Vlad Putin and Ukraine. Ol’ Vlad thought he could sashay into Ukraine and topple it over in four days. Not so fast, KGB-dude. Vlad’s war plan re-enacted Icarus’ flight to the sun. He did not say “May I?” before invading. Vlad flew the Russian Army too close to the sun, that is, President Zelensky, the Ukrainian Army and the Ukrainian people. The wax has melted off the wings of the Russian Army. The Russian battleship Moskva is sleeping at the bottom of the Black Sea with Poseidon, Luca Brasi and Icarus.

    So, what have we learned today? Aeronautical science has come a long way from waxwings and feathers; PETA would have hated Theseus for killing the Minotaur; sunshine may be the best disinfectant but ain’t good for waxwings. And, finally, just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do it. Don’t believe me? Ask Icarus and Vlad.

    Slava Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine.

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