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.

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.

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.

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.

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/.

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.

“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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fayetteville 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.

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."

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.

When is the last time you heard a quasi-government agency broadcast they are not raising your rates or taxes? Well, from the press release from the Public Works Commission last week, their utility customers' electric rates are not expected to increase during 2023. This update reflects the staff at our hometown utility doing a great job and looking out for their Fayetteville customers. Together, they provide leadership by example, not being afraid to make decisions, take action, roll up their sleeves and get the necessary work done to better the community.

The nearly $400 million 2023 proposed budget calls for more than a 10% decrease from the current budget. Yes, decrease! Water rates, however, will increase slightly. According to PWC's President and CEO, Elaina Ball, higher water rates will take effect in 2023, and average water and sewer customers about $3 a month. These water rate increases were postponed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kudos to PWC. They are setting the example for both our city and county governments. This kind of responsible strategic planning and high-level leadership is sorely needed at all levels of our local government. And, in today's economic climate, it is more important now than ever before. As we approach the upcoming 2022 city and county elections, voters must pay special attention to the character, leadership skills, abilities and vision that local candidates are touting.

Several days ago, I was at a meeting with four businesses that started here in Fayetteville/Cumberland County 25 to 30 years ago. We all adamantly agreed that the foundation of our success came from the leadership and support we received from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, the Chamber of Commerce, Fayetteville Visitors Bureau, and the office of Economic Development. Today, not so much. Our reputation has become that we are not a business-friendly community. That is why it is so important to vote in the upcoming elections for candidates who will again provide the vision and leadership that will move this community forward. We have plenty of opportunities here that need cultivation and development, and our current leadership has failed us in so many ways. Look no further than the last 8 to 10 years if you need proof. Look around, ask your own questions, make your observations and draw your own conclusions.

Here are a few to get you started: Is it easy doing business with the city and county? Does our homicide rate have you concerned that Fayetteville is quickly becoming the murder capital of North Carolina? Why can't our City Council make the most straightforward decisions like what downtown Fayetteville paid parking hours would best benefit the downtown businesses and encourage visitors, guests and residents to frequent historic downtown Fayetteville. Or, how should Fayetteville repurpose the historic Market House without involving the Justice Department and conducting countless (and fruitless) meetings with the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Community Relations? These decisions should be relatively easy to make, but there are not being made. Yet, these same bodies can approve an expenditure of $450,000 of taxpayer's money on an impromptu request for a study on an African American Museum followed the same impromptu approval from the Cumberland County Commissioners. Together, on a whim, they approved $900,000 for this project when the unhoused, those facing mental health crises and panhandlers, aimlessly roam our streets. Deadly carcinogens were creeping dangerously close to contaminating our Cape Fear water supply. Recently PWC took the initiative to seek financial assistance from the Cumberland County Legislative delegation and received $200 thousand to address this problem. PWC matched it and came up with the solution to clean up the site and avoid such a disaster. Reaction from the City of Fayetteville? Honestly, I'm not sure many city council members even knew they owned the property or were aware that our region's water supply was in severe danger.

And, with Gray's Creek homes and schools still having to drink bottled water because of GenX contamination, Cumberland County Commissioners seem to be slow-walking solutions with an attitude of "well, want to you want us to do about it?"

In my opinion, these are misplaced priorities by both the city and county. Ask yourself what's more important? Preventing a regional contaminated water supply disaster or a government-funded festival? Providing housing and care for the homeless and mentally ill, or contracting for another downtown museum? Having our school children continue to drink bottled water or fund repurposing a historic building?

I own a business downtown. I see a great community suffering from poor decisions and inadequate leadership every day. Only involved caring citizens can change this situation. I urge everyone I come in contact with to get involved and make their voices heard. Vote. There are many good people in our community that are willing and able to do the right things for the right reasons. For this, I am grateful, and they need to be encouraged and supported. This is a good community; however, it can be a great community with fantastic potential and endless opportunities with exemplary leadership. The leadership at PWC, our Hometown Utility, gets it. City and county leadership should follow in their path.

Thank you for reading the Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper.

Fort Bragg’s Smith Lake Beach's opening weekend is scheduled Friday, May 27, until Monday, May 30.

The fun-filled weekend will feature themed days, giveaways, games and plenty of activities for the whole family.

On FREEdom Friday, the first 500 guests can enjoy free entry and a meal. SUPER Saturday will feature water slides, bouncers and games.

Those visiting on Sunday Fun Day can check out local food trucks and participate in family-fun games.
Giveaways and more fun activities will conclude the weekend on Memorial Day.

New to the lake this year is an inflatable aqua park with over 40 elements and a 1/4 mile long Ski Rixen, which pulls wakeboarders, water skiers and knee boarders.

While family fun is undoubtedly high up on the list for an epic Memorial Day weekend, safety takes the top spot.

“The beach is, well — a beach,” said James Day, chief of outdoor recreation, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

“It has very little shade, so be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen, and you just might want to bring a sun hat.”

Though Smith Lake Beach does have lifeguards on duty, parents are responsible for their children.

Any ID card holder under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult guardian 18 years of age or older. Patrons 7 and under must be within arm’s reach of an adult guardian 18 years of age or older at all times. Children are allowed to wear Coast Guard-approved life vests in the water.
After destruction from Hurricane Matthew, Smith Lake was closed from 2016 until 2020. The park is now open seven days a week to the public. Although Smith Lake is on Fort Bragg, only certain areas are restricted to DoD ID cardholders.

“Because of its location, tucked away in the pine trees of Fort Bragg, you can enjoy the outdoors without having to travel too far,” said Sharilyn Wells, Fort Bragg spokesperson. “Smith Lake Recreation Area really has everything.”

Smith Lake Recreation Area is a popular location for military and civilian families alike. The 200-acre park features picnic areas, grills, playgrounds, camping, fishing and trails for hiking or biking.

“As the garrison, it is our job to provide our community with holistic ways to improve and maintain mental and physical health,” said Col. Scott Pence, Fort Bragg garrison commander. “Smith Lake is just one of the many facilities that offer service members and their families options for an overall better quality of life.”

The fun kicks off at 11 a.m. and those coordinating the event are excited to get the party started.

“When visitors leave, I hope they say, ‘What a great day! I cannot wait to come back again,’” Day told Up & Coming Weekly. “We hope the time they spend at Smith Lake is enjoyable, and we’d also like them to spread the word. Smith Lake will be a great place to cool off from the summer heat and enjoy time together.”

Smith Lake Beach is open only to DoD Id cardholders and their guests.

Current access fees for swimming are $5 for guests aged 12 and older and $3 for those 11 and younger.

For more information, visit https://bragg.armymwr.com/programs/smith-lake-recreation-area.

The second annual KidsPeace Art Gallery of Hope will be held Sunday, May 15, at the Church at Paddy’s Irish Public House in Fayetteville. The black tie evening event will showcase art from local Fayetteville artists, and will include an auction of the artwork.

KidsPeace is a private charity organization that helps children in foster care. It was started in 1882, and has grown across the U.S. as an organization. The mission of KidsPeace is, “to give hope, help and healing to children, adults and those who love them.”

Locally, KidsPeace holds fundraisers throughout the year to help the kids of Cumberland County and the surrounding areas, but in 2020, COVID-19 restrictions put their usual fundraising events on hold. The Art Gallery of Hope is a recent addition to the KidsPeace fundraiser calendar.

“The Art Gallery of Hope came into play last year. We used to have a lot of dress up fancy galas for KidsPeace but then Covid hit. We were looking for a reason to get dressed up again,” said Dominique Womack, art chair and founder of the KidsPeace Art Gallery of Hope. “We came up with this theme of doing an art gallery and giving people a chance to be snooty while still raising money for the kids and picking up some of the slack due to Covid.”

Last year’s event was a huge success, with $10,000 raised for the local charity. All proceeds of the event went to North Carolina kids in foster care. Womack decided to hold this year’s event in May, during Foster Care Awareness Month.

Canvases, prints and photography will be on display from local artists. Kids from the KidsPeace organization as well as students of Capital Encore Academy have donated artwork for the event. Adrian Warwick, a tattoo artist with New Addiction, has donated a print of one of his original works: a black and white portrait of a child standing in front of a tank with the Ukraine flag in color, in the background.
Carlos Tolentino will also be donating a piece of original artwork. Tolentino creates black and white images with bleach. His piece was the highest selling at last year’s auction.

“These two guys have been heavy hitters when it comes to art here in the city,” said Womack. “They are going to donate their work and their time to help us raise awareness for foster care.”
General admission for the event is $23 and tickets can be found at www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-kidspeace-art-gallery-of-hope-tickets-291739459577. The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m.

“Cumberland County has the most kids awaiting foster care,” said Womack. “I’m excited to get that final number and know those kids are getting after school programs, clothing, their foster parents are getting help.”

“We are giving them a home to lay their head in instead of having them bounce from house to house with their stuff in trashbags. That’s what hurts me the most, they carry their stuff around in trash bags. I just want to raise as much money as I can to help out these kids in our program,” she added.

The Church at Paddy's is located at 2606 Raeford Road. To donate to KidsPeace, visit www.kidspeace.org.

County Public Health Director Jennifer Green on Monday, May 2, gave the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners an overview of the planning process needed to acquire the county’s portion of money from a state opioid lawsuit.

Dr. Green gave county commissioners a number of options to consider when requesting the funds and will ask for the commission’s guidance during their upcoming May 12 agenda planning session.

North Carolina is part of a $26 billion settlement that will provide money to help bring relief to communities affected by opioid addiction. The state, its 100 counties and 45 municipalities joined the agreement. The money agreement is a result of lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies deemed to have been responsible for creating and fueling the opioid epidemic.

Green told commissioners that the state will keep 15% of the money, with the remainder going to North Carolina counties and municipalities who are part of the agreement. She said Cumberland County will get about $16.9 million, and Fayetteville will get about $2 million. The state will distribute the money over an 18-year span.

A memorandum of agreement between the state and local government directs how the opioid settlement funds are distributed among the recipients. To access the money, local government must conduct annual meetings within each county; establish a special revenue fund, which cannot be co-mingled with other county funds; adopt a budget resolution that authorizes spending money, to include amount and time period, a spending strategy and forwarding information to the opioid settlement board. The requirements also include filing an annual financial report and annual impact reports.

Additionally, the MOA requires local government to choose a plan of action, giving two options.

Option A allows local governments to fund one or more strategies from a shorter list of “evidence-based, high impact strategies to address the epidemic.”

Option B allows local government to fund one or more strategies from a longer list of strategies after engaging in a collaborative strategic planning process involving a “diverse array of stakeholders”.

Green said the County could start with Option A and then switch to Option B, but it could not switch back and forth.

The next steps to getting the funding underway is to get the Commission’s guidance at the May 12 Agenda session; complete stakeholder and community feedback sessions scheduled for May and June; analyze the data, align the proposed strategies, and feedback from various stakeholders; and present the total findings to the county commissioners.

The funding flow starts immediately, with $652,543 becoming available this spring, $1,435,068 later this summer, and the remainder increments each following summer until 2038.
Commissioner Charles Evans asked if the money could be used to treat people addicted to other substances, such as crack cocaine. Green responded that the money has to be used for addiction treatment for opioids.

“That’s where the settlement comes from,” she said.

The commissioners also heard from Sharon Moyer, community engagement administrator for the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County. Moyer updated the commissioners on the Family Connects Program.

The program provides in-home or virtual nurse visitation to families with newborns in Cumberland, Hoke and Robeson counties. The visits occur about three weeks after the baby is born. There is no cost to the family.

The visits reduce hospital visits and have decreased child abuse reports by 44%, Moyer said. The program addresses issues like postpartum depression, household safety and parent-child relationships, among others. Moyer said Cape Fear Valley Medical Center now allows trained nurses to contact new mothers and provide them with an informational card prior to leaving the hospital.

In other action, the Commissioners unanimously agreed to extend another three-year lease to Coastal Horizons Center, Inc., a Wilmington-based non-profit providing substance abuse treatment. The organization is housed in the county-owned building at 412 Russell St. The county’s pretrial services and state parole and probation agencies also occupy the building. Coastal Horizons Inc. will pay the county $18,180 a year for 1,212 square feet of office space.

The Fayetteville City Council on Monday, May 2, unanimously but cautiously accepted a staff proposal establishing an ordinance that would substantially curb homeless encampments throughout Fayetteville.
The proposed ordinance would allow the city to remove “tent city” encampments occupied by homeless individuals if deemed a danger to the public or the homeless occupants. The encampments could be on public or private property.

Assistant City Attorney Lisa Harper said the ordinance would allow camping on private property if the owner consented. It would regulate how long such encampments could remain on that property.
Some council members expressed concern about the proposed ordinance when staff could not specifically identify places to house or shelter homeless people once they were removed from their encampments.
Brook Redding, assistant to the city manager and one of the presenters, continuously emphasized that the city would not close down an encampment if beds or other shelters were not available to those being affected by the ordinance.

Harper emphasized that shutting down an encampment would not be legal if there were no alternative means to shelter the homeless.

“If no beds were available, it would be a Constitutional violation,” she said. Harper also suggested the council could limit the ordinance.

Despite the assurances, councilmember Shakeyla Ingram continuously asked where the homeless would go after an encampment was shut down. She also said many of the homeless suffer from mental health issues, and she feared that removing them from their encampment would trigger them. She also asked why the military was not involved in the discussion since many of the homeless are veterans.
Ingram's concern resonated throughout the council. Council members Larry Wright and D.J. Haire echoed Ingram’s concerns. “Where they go (after being evicted) will not be answered tonight,” Haire said.

“Let’s not make this an issue of not caring,” Mayor Mitch Colvin said at one point. He contended that those sleeping in the rights-of-way are in danger from nearby traffic and the city needed to take action.

Among the major findings by the task force is that the city needs a policy that regulates homeless campsites on public and private property, and in vehicles.

Councilmember Johnny Dawkins, a Republican, took the opportunity to criticize Gov. Roy Cooper's administration for not allowing the city to remove homeless encampments on state-owned highway rights-of-way within the city.

“I want the public to understand. I get complaints every single week. It’s becoming a real issue for businesses. The governor and the NCDoT will not let us do anything about it,” Dawkins said.

City Manager Doug Hewett said the city has agreements with the state to cut vegetation and remove debris on some NCDoT rights-of-way. Keeping them maintained would help the appearance of those areas where the homeless tend to congregate.

In summary, the Task Force recommends:
•Adopt an ordinance that addresses: camping on public property, camping on private property and is enforceable and within legal limits.
•Adopt a city policy that provides a standardized procedure that governs the cleanup of public property used for temporary shelters.
•Establish an agreement with NC DoT providing shared jurisdiction of rights-of-way in the city.
•Establish an “Impact Reduction Program” that provides a protocol when the city engages a homeless and “unsheltered” individual in
the city.

The report recommended that council either accept the report and direct staff to bring a draft ordinance forward for adoption at a future council meeting, or to accept the report and direct staff to bring back alternative ordinance recommendations.

Councilmember Courtney Banks-McLaughlin motioned to accept the report and asked the staff to bring back options that address the question of where homeless individuals would go after vacating an encampment. Councilmember Dawkins seconded the motion.

The proposal with alternative ordinance proposals will come before city council at a subsequent meeting where councilmembers can review the changes before officially adopting them.

A Fayetteville man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole in the 2017 stabbing death of a retired teacher and Army veteran.
Jameel Malik Davidson was convicted Friday of first-degree murder in the death of Gerald “Jerry’’ Gillespie, the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office said. He was sentenced by Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons.

Gillespie, 86, was found dead in his apartment off Owen Drive on Jan. 18, 2017.
Senior Assistant District Attorneys Rob Thompson and Robby Hicks prosecuted the case. Davidson is appealing the conviction.

This was the second time the case had been tried. A trial last year ended in a hung jury, Hicks said.

Hicks said Davidson lived in the apartment below Gillespie’s.
He said testimony at the trial showed that while law enforcement officers were on the scene investigating, Davidson told someone the man in the apartment had been stabbed.

“He knew that before it had been released publicly,’’ Hicks said.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Davidson’s apartment. During the search, Gillespie’s blood was found on shoes belonging to Davidson, Hicks said. Davidson was arrested a few days later in Florida.
Davidson was represented by Bernard Condlin.

Gillespie was an Army veteran who retired as a master sergeant. He served multiple tours in Vietnam and served with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), his daughter-in-law Pamela Gillespie said.
After retiring from the Army, Gillespie became a math and science teacher. He taught at Dunn Middle School and at Overhills Middle School, she said.

Gillespie was born in the Philippines. His mother was Filipino and his father was an American soldier.

His father returned to the United States. During that time, Gillespie’s mother became ill. He lived in orphanages and on the street until a doctor took him in and helped get him to the United States, Pamela Gillespie said.
His father died soon after Gerald Gillespie came to the United States, she said.

“He came here with absolutely nothing,’’ Pamela Gillespie said.
A family member found Gillespie in his apartment after he failed to show up at their business, Flow & Grow Hydroponic Garden.

“He came to our business every day like clockwork,’’ Pamela Gillespie said. “That’s how we knew something was wrong.’’
She said her father-in-law also frequented K&W Cafeteria, where he would eat with friends nearly every day.

“He was phenomenal,’’ she said.

Hundreds of students will mark their graduation from Fayetteville Technical Community College this year at the College’s 60th Annual Commencement Exercises on May 13 at the Crown Coliseum.
Due to the large number of graduates, FTCC will hold ceremonies at 10 a.m. and at 2 p.m.

The morning commencement will recognize graduates from FTCC’s public service, engineering and applied technology, allied health technologies, nursing and continuing education programs. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., with doors opening to the public at 9 a.m.

The afternoon commencement will recognize graduates from FTCC’s arts and humanities, business, math and sciences and computer information technology programs. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m., with doors opening to the public at 1 p.m.

Each ceremony will have its own commencement speaker. Cape Fear Valley Health System CEO Michael Nagowski will give the commencement address at the morning ceremony and Dr. Y. Sammy Choi, director of the Department of Research at Womack Army Medical Center, will give the commencement address in the afternoon.
Pastor Sharon Thompson-Journigan, president of the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Ministerial Council and pastor of Integrity Ministries Global Church in Eastover, will provide the invocation and benediction at both ceremonies.

The graduates will include Jennifer and Jenna Warnock, a mother and daughter who are both graduating from FTCC. Mom Jennifer Warnock is graduating with an Associate degree in Physical Therapy Assistant. Daughter Jenna Warnock is graduating with an Associate degree in Arts. Both Warnocks have earned highest honors and Jenna Warnock was voted the recipient of FTCC’s President’s Award.

The two women said they’re proud of each other and pleased with their educational experience at FTCC. Jennifer Warnock said she learned about FTCC’s physical therapy assistant program more than a decade ago. Even after moving away, the family had always planned to return to Fayetteville so she could enroll in the program. A few years ago, the Warnocks did just that, moving back to Fayetteville from northern Virginia.
Jennifer Warnock said the PTA program was as good as she had expected.

Meanwhile, after COVID forced Jenna Warnock to close out her sophomore year at Jack Britt High School with online classes, she decided to quit school — with her parents’ blessing. That summer, she took the GED test at FTCC and passed, then enrolled three weeks later in FTCC as a college student.

Jenna Warnock, now 18, said her experience at FTCC provided a challenging education along with caring instructors and robust resources. She said the affordable tuition saved the family thousands of dollars and she was able to live at home even while getting involved in a variety of student activities.
Jenna Warnock’s next step will be transferring to Appalachian State University where she plans to study to become a registered dietitian. Jennifer Warnock, who teaches yoga, plans to work part time as a physical therapy assistant.

They won’t lose touch with FTCC — in part because another family member (Jennifer Warnock’s son and Jenna Warnock’s brother) — is pursuing his degree in fire protection technology. He will graduate next year.

“We love FTCC!” Jenna Warnock said.

Infinite Art Studio NC and the Fayetteville Bakery and Cafe will be hosting a two-day event geared toward shining a light on mental health for veterans. Artists Perform to Stop Veteran Suicide will be held May 14 and 15 at the cafe at 3037 Boone Trail Ext. in Fayetteville.

Live music will be accompanying a two-day market with local vendors. Saturday evening will be full of live music in the cafe, and spoken word artists will perform Sunday afternoon.

“We’ve already got a host of talent lined up. Musical acts Michael Daughtry and the Drift, Afro Dope, Gamalier Padilla, Judah Marshall and Jammin’ Jon will play free to the public throughout the two-day event in front of the Fayetteville Bakery and Cafe,” said Thomas Walk, president, Infinite Art Studio NC. “Special guests Franco Webb and Luevelyn Tillman will speak on Saturday. Spoken word artists Aaliyah Hazel Lane, Law Bullock and T.A. Walk will perform Sunday afternoon.”

The market will open at 8 a.m., May 14. Food trucks and vendors will be set up in front of the Fayetteville Bakery and Cafe until 6 p.m. The cafe will hold an adult open mic night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The following day, the market kicks off at 10 a.m. Spoken word artists will begin to perform at 2:30 p.m. Events wrap up at 4 p.m.

Walk is a retired Army veteran who served for ten years. He was a combat engineer but became a bio-medical equipment technician during his military service. During his deployment to Iraq from September 2006 to September 2007, he had a moment that changed his life forever.

“In all my time deployed, I found myself fractured by one moment in time. Approximately 30 seconds of my life,”
he said. “I was in the hospital where I was stationed, and I happened upon a ward filled with civilian casualties. To be honest, until that moment, ‘enemy’ casualties never crossed my mind … However, these women and children were not the ‘enemy,’ and there was no ignoring that. I went the wrong way down a corridor and viewed this room and its occupants as I passed for no more than 30 seconds.”

Walk has suffered from severe post traumatic stress disorder as a result. For years he said he was heavily medicated.

“[I would take ] a handful of medications in the morning to combat the handful taken the night before. Years and years of betting on a cure that tore me further apart rather than putting my pieces together,” he said.

Suicidal tendencies were a side effect of one of the medications he was taking, something he says contributed to tearing his family apart. He decided to be pharmaceutically clean. He began to write. Walk published two novels and was working on a third when a friend and fellow veteran committed suicide, causing him to put the book aside.

But Walk persevered. He discovered painting. His partner introduced him to acrylic pour painting.

“We decided to try our hand together, and what started as a bunch of wasted paint and trashed canvases has become our wellbeing,” he said. “Along with my PTSD comes slight obsessive-compulsive disorder issues, control issues, etc. This style of painting is the most chaotic, uncontrollable thing I could choose, but I love it … Over time, we noticed the changes creativity had affected in me and decided we wanted to find a way
to share our ‘therapy’ with our community.”

The two created Infinite Art Studio NC to do just that. The studio currently doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar space, but Walk is confident that with mobile events like Artists Perform to Stop Veteran Suicide, they will be able to lease space by the end of the summer.

“Our mission is mental wellness through creativity,” he said. “We want to be a place the community can feel welcome and safe, and a place people can leave their illnesses behind for a little while.”
Artists Perform to Stop Veteran Suicide is the first of several events Infinite Art Studio has planned for the summer.

The event is looking for more performers and vendors. For more information, to donate or sign up as a vendor or food truck, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/artists-perform-to-stop-veteran-suicide-tickets-317236461797.

A bold new play is coming to the Gilbert Theater for the season's final show.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Fairview,” written by Jackie Sibblies in 2018, will run from May 7 through June 12.

“I picked this play because it's a challenging piece for the director, the technical director, the actors on stage and the audience,” said Laurence Carlisle III, the Gilbert's Artistic Director.

“It's a show about racism, how stories are told and how stories can change based on the people watching them.”

Throughout its three acts, “Fairview” focuses on two groups of people: an African American family preparing for a birthday party and the four white people observing them as they do so.

“The play is a very nuanced and intelligent dissection of the ‘white gaze’ and what happens as the stories you try to tell are altered and affected by those watching and listening,” Carlisle stated. “The show demonstrates the transformative nature of observation in an interesting twilight-zone sort of way; the show starts pretty normally and slowly gets weirder and weirder.”

The Gilbert Theater prides itself on the diversity often seen in its productions and encourages anyone and everyone from the community to come out and audition.
However, since race is the play's central topic and integral to telling the story, the director followed the vision of “Fairview's” playwright and cast actors that reflect the race of their characters as written.

“It's important to the story and how it needs to be told,” explained Carlisle. “We had to have this particular make of the cast for the play to work.”
In her main stage-show directorial debut, Deannah Robinson will lead a cast of four white actors and four African American actors in a play Carlisle is excited for people to see.

“Race is a topic that bears discussion — it's not going away,” he said. “I've always felt the job of art in any form is to make people think, make them think about things they don't think about or make them think about it differently. I think this is a fantastic show, and I want people to come to check it out; it's extremely fascinating.”

“Fairview” follows Gilbert's production of “Othello" by William Shakespeare, another play that takes a focused look at race and other uncomfortable topics. While their position in the season is a coincidence, both plays and their subject matter speak to his vision for the theater and the material it produces.

“I hope to bring thought-provoking content in all my seasons,” Carlisle said. “If you want something that challenges you and makes you a little uncomfortable, but you also want to be entertained, see this show. The play is very funny but sometimes very uncomfortable. I hope it sparks conversation and makes people think about race in America and what their own blind spots are when it comes to that subject.”

General admission tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at www.gilberttheater.com or by calling 910-678-7186.

Discount tickets for first responders, military, students and seniors are also available.

The Gilbert Theater is located at 116 Green St. inside the Fascinate U Children's Museum building.