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  • 09 4th FridayThe fourth Friday of the month is a special time in downtown Fayetteville. From 6-9 p.m., galleries open new exhibits, shops stay open late, and there are activities and performances throughout downtown. This month, 4th Friday falls on March 23.

    The Arts Council is set to open an exhibit called “Impressions: More than Skin Deep.” Scheduled to hang through May 12, the exhibit celebrates tattoo artists and their creativity. It recognizes that these artists who create art on skin also create in other mediums. It is a juried exhibit. Mediums include but are not limited to drawing (pencil, ink, marker); painting (watercolor, acrylic, oil); photography; animation; sculpture (clay, stone, metal); mixed media (collage, assemblage); printmaking (linocut, etching, woodcut). Learn more at www.theartscouncil.com.

    The 4th Annual Power and Water Conservation Expo is set to take place March 23-24 at SkyView on Hay. It is hosted by Fayetteville Public Works Commission and is designed to share ways to save on energy and water bills. Attendees will receive free tote bags along with conservation items like LED bulbs, a fat trapper and tree saplings. There will be updates about projects like LED streetlight installation and annexation installation as well as demonstrations and Q&A session on topics like stormwater issues, watersheds and more. It is free to attend. Bring a donation for the Pay It Forward Food Drive for Second Harvest Food Bank. This event runs from noon to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Visit www.faypwc.com/pwcexpo to learn more.

    4th Fridays at the Market House make the historic landmark accessible to the public. Discover the permanent exhibit “A View from the Square: A History of Downtown Fayetteville.” There are rotating exhibits throughout the year as well. This month’s exhibit is “Civil War History.” Admission is free. Call 910-433-1457 for details.

    Fascinate-U Children’s Museum opens from 7-9 p.m. for 4th Friday. Guests can enjoy free museum play and make a craft. With Easter right around the corner, guests can look forward to an “egg-cellent” activity. Learn more at www.fascinate-u.com.

    At 7 p.m. in the Pate Room, the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center presents The Parsons. For more than 20 years, Jon and Caroline Parsons and their sidekick Jerome Hawkes have performed string band music. It’s a unique sound the trio has perfected. They all sing, write songs and play several instruments. There will be light refreshments. Call 910-483-1344 for more information.

    The Rape Crisis Center of Cumberland County will host Walk Awhile in Her Shoes at 7 p.m. This event raises awareness of sexual violence. Proceeds benefit the RCCC in combatting and preventing sexual violence.

    Cape Fear Studios opens its Alpha Romeo Tango “ART” exhibit March 23. Military personnel and their family members and retires answered a call for art to put together this exhibit. There will be a people’s choice award for the beginner and professional categories. Call 910-433-2986 for details.

    To learn more about 4th Friday and the many activities that take place downtown, call the Cool Spring Downtown District at 910-223-1089.

  • 08EasterEggEach spring, children around the country anticipate a visit from the Easter bunny. The Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation takes things a step further, offering an entire morning with the Easter bunny to include activities and more. Breakfast with the Easter Bunny and Easter Egg Scramble is set for Saturday, March 31, at 7:30 a.m. in the lobby of the ASOM.

    “This is a fundraiser to raise money for the museum, and it is a great way to get the kids involved in this family event,” said Jim Ryder, director of public relations and marketing. “We also have the Easter Egg Scramble, which typically draws up to 2,000 people.” Ryder added that for the egg scramble they put out thousands of eggs. Inside each egg is a toy or a piece of candy. The kids run out and pick up as many eggs as they can.

    Breakfast will consist of sausage, pancakes and drinks. “The money we raise is used for the upkeep and maintenance of the museum as well as modifying any new exhibits we might have,” said Ryder.

    The Easter Egg Scramble is broken down into age groups to keep things fair for younger participants. Children 2 and under hunt at 9:30 a.m. and 10:20 a.m.; 3-year-olds at 9:40 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; 4- and 5-year-olds at 9:50 a.m. and 10:40 a.m., 6- and 7-year-olds at 10 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.; and 8- to 10-year-olds at 10:10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

    “We look forward to this event and invite everyone to come out and enjoy breakfast and the egg scramble,” said Ryder.

    ASOM opened in downtown Fayetteville in 2000. It tells the story of the airborne and special operations soldiers from 1940 to the present. It houses a permanent display that is designed as a self-guided tour on the main floor and hosts exhibits throughout the year in its temporary gallery.

    Ticket cost for breakfast with the Easter Bunny is $10 for adults, $5 for children 3-5 and free with a paying adult for children 2 and under. The Easter Egg Scramble is free. The Easter Bunny will also be available for pictures.

    For more information, call 910-643-2778. Registration is required. Visit http://shop.asomf.org to register online.

  • 16CF softball Frankie Steins Cape Fear17CF softball Sammi Jo Loney Cape FearSome big names that were fixtures on the Cape Fear High School softball roster for the last few seasons are no more.

    Stars like Haley Cashwell, Bri Bryant, Kaitlyn Knuckles and Kayla Molivas graduated, leaving Colt co-coach Jeff McPhail more than a few holes to fill this season.

    “We’re probably going to go back to being young again,’’ he said after leading the Colts to the 4-A championship series with North Davidson last year. “It will be hard to replace Haley and Bri and all of them, but these kids have been at workouts over the fall and winter, really working hard at it.’’

    The good news for McPhail is pitching returns intact – with an important addition. Both Katie Murphy and MacKenzie Peters are back for the Colts. They’re joined by a senior newcomer, Frankie Steins.

    Steins was an All-State selection at J.L. Mann High School in Greenville, Sout Carolina, last year. Originally from Southern Regional High School in New Jersey, she’s won a United States Specialty Sports Association World Series title and the Pony Nationals. She has committed to play for North Carolina Central University.

    I think she’s going to help us,’’ McPhail said. “With Murphy and Peters throwing the ball, we’re going to be loaded up with three pitchers.’’

    Replacing all the offense lost with the exit of Cashwell and Bryant will be the big concern for McPhail.

    Fortunately, some productive bats do return in the form of Sammi Jo Loney, Alyssa Goshorn and Sidney Gronowski.

    Loney batted .450 and was second to Bryant in the county in RBIs with 48.

    Gronowski batted .333 and drove in 32 runs. Goshorn had 28 RBIs.

    “Sammi Jo is the leader of the crop,’’ McPhail said.

    Loney said the feeling is a little different on this year’s team with all the graduation losses, but she said that familiar Cape Fear chemistry is there. “Everybody has gotten the feel for it,’’ she said. “We’re getting to know each other and working really good together.’’

    She thinks with the addition of Steins, pitching will continue to be solid. “She’s a good pitcher and has pretty good movement,’’ Loney said.

    Aside from the changes in personnel, the Colts will be facing some new opponents when it comes state playoff time. Realignment moved them into the 3-A classification, and in some ways McPhail thinks the road to a state title could be tougher than it was as a 4-A team.

    “Hillsborough Orange is back and West Brunswick is bringing everybody back,’’ he said. Greenville D.H. Conley, a familiar Cape Fear playoff rival from 4-A, is also dropping down to compete at the 3-A level.

    “If we do make it to the playoffs, the competition will still be there,’’ Loney said. “I think we’ll do well this year.’’

    Photos: (L) Frankie Steins; (R) Sammi Jo Loney

  • 07Anti panhandling signFayetteville City Council isn’t satisfied with the draft of a revised ordinance the city attorney’s office has proposed to deal with panhandling in the city. Police Attorney Brandon Christian outlined an ordinance that would fine occupants of motor vehicles for giving items to panhandlers in the roadway.

    “There is ambiguity in the way the ordinance was drafted,” Christian admitted. He told council the U.S. Supreme Court has held that offering money to someone is a First Amendment form of protected free speech.

    Council members urged the city attorney’s office to concentrate on dealing with beggars as a public safety issue instead of a panhandling issue. Six months ago, council member Jim Arp raised concerns about panhandlers disrupting business, noting that customers are often preyed upon in busy shopping areas by men begging for money.

    Freshman Councilwoman Tisha Waddell urged her colleagues to stop referring to the ordinance draft as a panhandling regulation. “It’s about the safety of the streets,” Waddell said.

    Others agreed with Waddell’s views, including Police Chief Gina Hawkins.

    “We don’t have the manpower to enforce panhandling,” she said. She and others noted the existing ordinance and the new draft treat violations as civil not criminal issues. “I’m in favor of keeping safe streets for everyone, and right now it’s not safe with people in the medians,” Hawkins said.

    Mayor Pro-Tem Ted Mohn said he wanted the administration to recognize enforcement differences along residential streets and thoroughfares. He said he would be in favor of changing the ordinance to allow the exchange of items between pedestrians and motorists on neighborhood streets that are not clearly marked as traffic lanes. That, he said, would allow ice cream venders to conduct business in residential communities. He cited it as one example of the difficulty of crafting an ordinance on panhandling.

    Councilman D.J. Haire said he has concerns about penalizing people for giving money and clothing to panhandlers. Johnny Dawkins agreed. “I’m not going to support fining people for giving money,” he said.

    The city’s original ordinance, which is still on the books, was adopted in 2008. It bans panhandling in the downtown area, and everywhere in the city after dark. It prohibits panhandlers from begging while standing on roadway medians and shoulders, but as a practical matter it is rarely enforced. Courts have declined to prosecute panhandlers.

    “We have to deal with this in a comprehensive way,” Arp said. He and most other members of council want to undertake a massive public education campaign designed to discourage residents from giving money to panhandlers while at the same time keeping panhandlers out of the streets.

    “We’ve missed the point … it’s not about giving; it’s where they give,” Arp said. City staff will continue efforts to perfect an ordinance.

  • 12Robin BurnamWhen Robin Burnum relocated from Rhode Island to Hope Mills eight years ago, she’d never worked in a restaurant or experienced life in a small Southern town.

    But operating her own restaurant was something that had been on her bucket list. After her mother passed away in 2010 and left her some money, she headed South toward Fort Bragg, where her brother was stationed.

    “I was driving through Hope Mills while I was visiting and I saw a for rent sign,’’ she said. It was on the restaurant on Main Street in Hope Mills formerly known as Big John’s.

    Burnum decided to take a leap of faith and opened Robin’s on Main. “All of it is a challenge,’’ she said. “Every day’s a challenge, just learning how to cook Southern. That was a big challenge.’’

    She said it took her about a year to learn the ins and outs of preparing Southern favorites like grits and biscuits. She took tips from her helpful customers who showed her how to do it.

    Those same familiar customers became the heart and soul of her business, everyday folks she said she would be lost without.

    She’s currently open Tuesday through Friday from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturdays from 6 a.m.-1 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

    Beginning April 3, those hours will change. From Thursday through Saturday, her hours will be extended until 7 p.m.

    That’s because of the long-awaited return of Hope Mills Lake, which Burnum has never experienced. When she arrived in town, the lake had disappeared for a second time when the repaired dam failed.

    “It’s a beautiful lake,’’ she said. “People tell me I’m going to be extremely busy.’’

    That’s not surprising, lake or no lake, with the offerings Burnum features on her menu.

    A breakfast favorite at Robin’s on Main is something called the Fried Pan Pileup. It includes home fries with egg, cheese, bacon, peppers and onions, topped with sausage gravy and piled into a single bowl.

    With the coming extended hours, Burnum is planning some menu changes.

    A new dinner staple will be mashed potatoes, corn and chicken or steak with gravy for dinner. On Saturdays she’ll offer T-bone or ribeye steaks.

    But Burnum isn’t just about making a profit for herself. She also gives back to the community during the holiday season.

    On Christmas Eve she offers a free meal to first responders, including police, fire and emergency medical personnel. From 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. they can dine on a buffet that includes prime rib and shrimp among other delicacies.

    On Thanksgiving, she opens her doors to provide free meals to the homeless and others down on their luck. “It’s for anybody that needs a meal,’’ she said.

    At the moment, the person most in need of help may be Burnum herself. The building her restaurant calls home is old and in need of remodeling. Her grill recently went out, and as of this writing she’s been closed a little over a week waiting for it to be replaced. By the time this story is published, she hopes to be back in business with a new grill.

    “I believe I’ll be okay,’’ she said of her regulars. “I’ve reached out to my locals and told them I’m closed.’’

    Part of the reason she thinks she’ll be fine is the nature of Hope Mills.

    “It reminds me of the ‘Andy Griffith Show,’’’ she said. “Mayberry. It’s a small town, and I believe everybody sticks together and is willing to help each other.’’

    Photo: Robin Burnum

  • 14JB baseball Brennen Herbert15JB baseball Dr. Christopher DagueJack Britt High School’s time to savor sharing last year’s first-ever share of a conference baseball championship with Cape Fear is over.

    Not only do the Buccaneers no longer have time to celebrate, they won’t even get to defend the title. Realignment by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association moved Britt out of the defunct Mid-South 4-A Conference and into the realigned and powerful Sandhills 4-A Conference, where multiple teams, including Scotland, Pinecrest, Richmond Senior and Hoke County, have state baseball championships on their respective resumes.

    But Britt head coach Dr. Christopher Dague is looking at the season ahead with anything but a negative attitude. “I feel we have a lot of positive pieces coming back,’’ Dague said. “The kids have had a good fall, and we worked hard. A lot of the reason we were successful last year is the kids bought in. I think if we do that this year, we’ll be fine.’’

    The good news for Dague is he returns a solid core of pitchers who have already committed to play baseball at the college level. The group includes Brennen Herbert, Brendan Shea and Nick Lee. Herbert will attend Appalachian State University, Shea William Peace University and Lee Wake Technical Community College.

    “Looking at it as a former pitcher, pitching wins championships,’’ Dague said of the trio.

    Herbert was 7-1 last season with a 1.25 earned run average. Lee and Shea recorded 36 and 28 strikeouts respectively.

    The big question for Dague is where the team’s offensive production will come from.

    “We’ll have to see once the season starts,’’ he said. Herbert is also among the offensive leaders returning with a .337 batting average that included a double, two triples and two home runs. He was second in Cumberland County Schools last season with 25 RBIs.

    “This year we’re going to try and win another conference championship and make a name for ourselves,’’ Herbert said. “We lost a lot of good leaders, but we can replace some of those guys. The seniors have got to do what we’ve got to do and leave on a good note.’’

    Some of the younger players Dague will be counting on to take on bigger roles are shortstop Alex Reyna and catcher Chandler Cannon.

    Cannon batted .314 for the Buccaneers last season. Reyna had five doubles and a triple and drove in 15 runs.

    “We’ve got to have a couple of guys step up and replace those guys that left,’’ Herbert said. “We’ve got to stick together."

    “We’ve got to be a team and listen to Coach Dague and all the other coaches. We’ll be fine.’’

    Photos: (L) Brennen Herbert; (R) Dr. Christopher Dague

  • 06dogwood festivalFayetteville’s Dogwood Festival has been designated the best event in the southeast U.S. by the Southeast Festivals and Events Association. The honor was announced at the association’s annual conference in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Events in eight states were eligible for awards.

    “We are beyond thrilled to bring home this prestigious award for our community,” said Carrie King, Fayetteville Dogwood Festival executive director. “The spirit of the Fayetteville community made the Dogwood Festival a natural choice for the award.”

    The Dogwood Festival has received top honors from local, state, regional and international organizations. The annual event is a private undertaking committed to providing a variety of family-centered activities each spring and has done so for 36 years. The 2018 festival will take place April 26–29 in downtown Fayetteville.

    Mayor concerned about racial inequities

    Fayetteville City Council has withdrawn City Attorney Karen McDonald’s selection of two local attorneys in a nationwide civil action against prescription opioid manufacturers and wholesale distributors. Attorneys Terry Hutchens and Billy Richardson volunteered to represent the city of Fayetteville in cooperation with two national groups of lawyers who have taken the opioid manufacturers and distributors to court.

    The lawsuit is being presided over by a single federal judge. The objectives of the legal consortiums are to recover the costs of dealing with opioid abuse and to eventually reimburse local communities for their costs of fighting the epidemic.

    Mayor Mitch Colvin objected to McDonald’s awarding of the contract to the lawyers without going through the city’s bidding process. Colvin told Up & Coming Weekly that local attorneys Jonathan Charleston, Allen Rogers and Lila Washington, all black, had asked him why they hadn’t been offered an opportunity to represent the city.

    “There needs to be local and minority inclusion in this city, and it has not happened for years,” Colvin said.

    McDonald disagreed with Colvin’s characterization of events.

    “This is a cultural change,” Colvin said.

    City council revoked McDonald’s action and ordered the administration to invite other attorneys to offer their services. No money is at stake except that eventually cities and counties could receive damages and the lawyers would earn compensation.

    Cumberland County Primary Election preliminaries

    The 2018 May Primary Elections are just around the corner. Local and state primaries are May 8 this year. Early voting begins in mid-April. Six voting places have been established for one-stop voting.

    The Board of Elections voting hours are:

    Thursday-Friday, April 19- 20; 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

    Monday-Friday, April 23-27; 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday, April 28; 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

    Monday-Friday, April 30-May 4; 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

    Saturday, May 5; 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

    Cliffdale Recreation Center, North Regional Library, Hope Mills Recreation Center, East Regional Library and Gray’s Creek Recreation Center voting hours are:

    Thursday-Friday, April 19-20; 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

    Monday-Friday, April 23-27; 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

    Saturday, April 28; 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

    Monday-Friday, April 30-May 4; 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

    Saturday, May 5; 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

    Grove Street bridge closed for repairs

    The Grove Street bridge over the Cape Fear River has been closed this month for repair and maintenance work that will extend its longevity. Concrete repairs are being made below the bridge. Deck joints on the driving surface are also being fixed. The bridge was built in 1974 and carries about 25,000 vehicles a day. Portable detour signs have been erected.

    While the bridge is closed, locals are being detoured using Cedar Creek Road and Clinton Road, which becomes Person Street, and U.S. 301/Business 95.

    For updates on the bridge closure or other realtime travel information, go to DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

    PWC water changes may be noticeable

    The Fayetteville Public Works Commission has temporarily stopped adding ammonia to its water treatment disinfection process. The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources requires all water systems that add ammonia to their drinking water to discontinue its use for a one-month period annually. PWC will resume adding ammonia to the water treatment disinfection process April 1.

    This month, fire hydrants are being opened frequently to flush the water distribution system. During the month, chlorine may be more noticeable, and some customers may experience discolored water because of the flushing.

    FTCC hosts Fayetteville’s fourth annual Foodtrepreneur Forum this Thursday

    Kent Hill, FTCC director of the Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Small Business, is excited that the school, alongside the Center for Economic Empowerment and Development, is cohosting Fayetteville’s fourth annual Foodtrepreneur Forum Thursday, March 15. The conference and expo focuses on the rapidly growing opportunities for food trucks and other mobile food service options, such as pushcarts and pop-up coffee bars. The event will begin at 8 a.m. in the Tony Rand Student Center at FTCC’s Fayetteville campus, located at 2201 Hull Rd.

    Attendees will be offered a variety of learning opportunities, including how to build a solid business plan for any food truck and how to collaborate with other local mobile businesses. There will be advice and testimonies from successful restaurateurs and food truck owners. Food industry experts will be on hand offering advice. There is even a tour of the successful “R Burger” food truck scheduled.

    In addition, there will be a panel discussion about how to get started in the food truck business, managing costs, food truck public and trade relations and obstacles to avoid in food truck marketing.

    Kent Hill and FTCC’s Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Small Business is the go-to resource for helpful business seminars, one-onone confidential business counseling and expert guidance to assist entrepreneurs in launching new businesses or to help existing businesses grow their companies. All these FTCC SBC services, seminars and resources are free.

    Online registration is required for entry to the free Foodtrepreneur Forum on March 15. Seating is limited, so early registration is highly recommended. Visit http://tiny.cc.ftccsbc to secure your spot.

     

  • 02baseball pub penThe Fayetteville City Council voted 9-1 to approve $300,000 of city funds for the baseball stadium construction with the only holdout being District 2 Councilman Tyrone Williams.

    What is that all about? The Fayetteville Observer reported that Williams’ rejection was because of his concern over the costs. Few people are buying that explanation, and many are hoping he will provide a more detailed and justified explanation in the very near future. After all, his District 2 includes the heart of downtown Fayetteville and is in the best position to benefit from the baseball stadium development project.

    Another reason for disappointment in and skepticism of his vote is that the baseball stadium is the biggest economic development opportunity Fayetteville has seen in decades. And, even though being fiscally responsible with taxpayers’ money is the highest priority of every council member, the people expect the city council, including Williams, to know and understand all the short-term and long-term economic benefits and positive quality-of-life implications a project of this magnitude will have on the community.

    Here are my thoughts about this major undertaking and why nine out of 10 council members did support the additional $300,000 of city funding.

    The baseball stadium and the new development that will come to Fayetteville as a result will no doubt be a catalyst for future economic growth. We already have indicators predicting that. This means Fayetteville and Cumberland County will be able to recruit new businesses and industry to the community. This means new job creation and the ability to expand our tax base beyond residential property owners. What’s not to like about that?

    In addition, the new baseball stadium will be the home of the World Series Champions – the Houston Astros. Fayetteville will receive national exposure as the country focuses on the Astros’ Minor League training and development of the superstars of tomorrow. All of this will be great for attracting new businesses and industry to Cumberland County. Fayetteville negotiated a $9 million, 30- year lease with the Astros. This is a longterm investment.

    Another unique and encouraging feature of the baseball stadium project is that it comes with an immediate private commitment and investment of $65 million of new economic development, including renovation of the Prince Charles Hotel (again), a much-needed flagship hotel that will be named very soon, a parking deck, residential condominiums and corporate office spaces.

    It’s all part of the master plan with a projected $7.2 million in annual economic output. The annual labor income is projected $1.7 million with 1,086 fulltime construction jobs just to build the stadium. In addition, we can expect new property tax revenue and increased sales tax revenues for both the city and county. More hotel beds, more restaurants, more shopping and more visitors.

    If that’s not enough, consider this: No tax rate adjustments are anticipated for the stadium funding model. Lease payments provide 17 percent of the funding; parking revenues are expected to provide 8 percent of the funding; new development at the Hay Street site estimates city and county taxes to provide 15 percent of funding; and the savings from a variety of areas within the General Fund are expected to provide 60 percent of the required funding.

    I am not well-versed in all the details of the baseball stadium project. However, everything I mentioned above provides national exposure and makes Fayetteville and Cumberland County attractive to newcomers and new business and industry. All of this works in conjunction with the prescribed city and county mandates to help retain current business, increase Fayetteville’s civic and community pride and improve quality of life for our residents.

    I’m sure Councilman Williams of District 2 has a better understanding of the stadium project than I do. In the big scheme of things, $300,000 sounds like a pretty good investment to me. I hope he comes around. We need leaders with vision. This is no time to be on the sidelines playing it safe or being coy. This is the future of our community. We need to move aggressively forward with the baseball stadium master plan and do it in a way that fosters inclusion, enthusiasm, excitement and cooperation. In other words, it’s time for us to “play ball,” and we desperately need to win this game.

    For the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community, this is our World Series. It’s the last inning of the final game, the score is tied, the bases are loaded, and (your name here) is coming up to bat.

    Thank you for playing, I mean, thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 11Paint A 1 Bob Kretzu 2Dr. Bob Kretzu, pastor at Hope Mills United Methodist Church, thinks there’s a connection between art and faith.

    “Art is an inherently spiritual activity,’’ he said. “It’s like a meditative, creative process.’’

    That’s why for the second year in a row he’s offering something called Paint and Pray. Every Friday from noon until four through Good Friday, all are invited to come to Hope Mills United Methodist Church at 4955 Legion Rd. and work on their own artistic creation while taking part in a time of prayer and meditation.

    Before he got into pastoral ministry 25 years ago, Kretzu, a former resident of Honolulu, Hawaii, had extensive experience in the world of art. He started as a child, taking classes at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Eventually he got into industrial design, commercial art and computer graphics.

    All that took place while he was out of the ministry. Painting is actually a late addition to his talents. He didn’t take that up seriously until 2012.

    “It’s a really accessible way of using art in a pastoral setting,’’ he said of the Paint and Pray gatherings.

    He especially likes doing portraits and prefers to work in oils, but for the purpose of the Paint and Pray meetings he tries to keep things simple for potential newcomers to the world of art.

    “For working with kids or adults, teaching art, acrylics are so much faster,’’ he said. “They dry faster, are easier to work with and wash out with water.’’

    He got the idea for Paint and Pray when he was pondering what to do for the Lenten season last year at Hope Mills. “This church didn’t have a tradition of Stations of the Cross,’’ Kretzu said. So instead of actually observing the Stations of the Cross, Kretzu decided to offer people the chance to paint them.

    This year, he’s shifted the emphasis to the seven days of creation.

    People from all over are invited to come and bring their own art supplies and take part. Kretzu said acrylic paint, inexpensive paint canvas and easels are readily available from a number of local businesses.

    To keep purchases at a minimum, Kretzu said you can get by without an easel, although he prefers to use one. For colors, he suggests focusing on red, blue, yellow, black and white. He only uses two brushes, one flat tip and one pointed tip. For a palette, he suggests a plastic plate.

    Some people have kept things really simple, he said, and just brought a pad of drawing paper and either pencil or charcoal.

    “People make their own interpretation, and I think that’s a good process,’’ he said. “This year we’re each doing our own interpretation of creation.’’

    Kretzu thinks the community aspect of the program helps encourage people both in exploring art and in developing spiritually.

    “It’s easier to be in a fitness program if you’ve got an accountability partner,’’ he said. “Obviously, some artists do fine working alone, but I think there’s a significant number that need that kind of collaboration, encouragement and accountability.’’

    For those with no background in art, Kretzu is glad to lend his guidance and expertise.

    He shares advice on choice of colors and tips on how to create an image.

    “We try to get it all done within four hours,’’ he said. “It involves simplifying the image. I go around and help people with color mixing.’’

    Kretzu said he once read a story about a ballerina who was asked after a performance what it meant to her. He said the ballerina replied, “If I could have put it in words I wouldn’t have danced it.”

    “When you paint, there is something spiritual I believe that happens, whether you are painting a sacred subject or not. There’s a spiritual dialogue going on. You meditate on the subject matter.’’

    Newcomers are welcome to join the weekly sessions each Friday from now until Good Friday on March 30. For more information, contact Kretzu at the church at 910-425-0108.

    Photo: Dr. Bob Kretzu 

  • 01 UAC0031418001Cape Fear Regional Theatre will bring Ayad Akhtar’s Pulitzer Prize winning play “Disgraced” to the stage March 15- 25. With special events planned to complement the production, CFRT is inviting local audiences to start a conversation on topics usually not discussed in polite company – religion, politics, immigration and racism.

    “Any opportunity to discuss these topics in any local community would be a good thing to allow people to review their own viewpoints and challenge them,” said Dr. Andrew Ziegler Jr., professor and chair of the political science department at Methodist University.

    Ziegler will serve as the moderator for a pre-show discussion March 18 at CFRT called “No Politics at Dinner: How Do We Discuss Difficult Topics.”

    These hot-button topics will be on full display in “Disgraced,” said CFRT Artistic Director Mary Kate Burke. The story deals with how the topic of radical Islam affects public discourse on our differences in race and creed. It examines how we not only have preconceived ideas of other people, but also often struggle with our own self-identity.

    “This particular show is taking on some tough issues,” Ziegler said. “But theater allows us to do that.”

    In the play, two couples meet for dinner. As they exchange observations about careers, faith and politics, tempers flare and things get tense. Secrets are revealed and lives are upended.

    Amir is a Pakistani-American lawyer working for a Jewish firm in New York. He is set for a huge promotion until he agrees to defend an Islamic imam accused of terrorism. Amir’s wife, Emily, is an artist about to book a major gallery showing of her work based on Islamic imagery. The couple hosts Isaac, a Jewish curator, and his wife, Jory, an African- American woman who works at Amir’s firm.

    Director Dani Keil said the play presents complicated characters and enough action to pull the audience in before delivering a “gut punch” that will leave them with questions and conflicting feelings.

    “I know the audience will like these characters and, at times, not like these characters,” Keil said.

    As the story unfolds, our empathy for those characters changes, Burke said.

    “There are no heroes and villains, just complicated people,” Burke said. “It’s really the best kind of family drama. The heart of the play is when people judge you based on some perception of who you are.”

    “(The play shows) the importance of listening, the importance of being able to say ‘I was wrong,’ the importance of being a part of a community and still being able to challenge its notions,” she said.

    Actor Raji Ahsan, who plays Amir, has performed in two productions of the play and said he learns more about himself and the characters each time.

    “All the characters have flaws,” Ahsan said. “I believe everybody in this play does something disgraceful.

    “This play really challenges stereotypes. The idea of identity is made up of myriad things, not just how you were raised.”

    His character Amir is in a battle of identity and reinvention – wanting to fit in and find success, but unable to reconcile his culture with the American dream. He finds that even if you distance yourself from your culture, the outside world may never see past their preconceived notions of you.

    The play presents an opportunity to address such notions and start a dialogue, said Burke.

    “These characters are debating various issues around their lives and identities and who deserves success and not,” Burke said. “The experience of watching the characters going through it hopefully allows you to consider how you treat other people.”

    Ziegler said his previous military service and deployments overseas helped him learn the importance of opening a dialogue to gain awareness of stereotypes in order to bridge divides among people of different backgrounds.

    “The notion of acceptance and tolerance – it’s okay for people to hold different viewpoints but not to demonize people who hold different viewpoints than our own,” Ziegler said. “I think most of us do not confront beliefs and ideas that we disagree with. The theater gives incentive for people to go and creates an opportunity to hear and see things they might not face.”

    Listening is the first step in recognizing some of these ideas, Ahsan said.

    “Humans have a problem listening,” he said. “It’s the downfall of any sort of progress – personal or professional. Things only change when we accept a point of view we never really considered.”

    Seth Shelden, who plays museum curator Isaac, said “Disgraced” presents no clear answers or assertions of right or wrong. “I couldn’t tell you what the author’s political affiliations are,” he said. “He’s showing us how hard it is to tell other people what your identity is.

    “It’s human nature to define who we are, tell other people who we are, and decide who other people are.”

    The problem arises when people attempt to speak for another’s identity, such as Lauren Mae Shafer’s character Emily.

    “She is a white woman doing art based on Islamic traditions,” Shafer said.

    Burke said “Disgraced” is being produced in an intimate manner, with the audience sitting on three sides of the stage.

    “We want people to feel unclear about what their own preconceived notions are,” Burke said. It mimics voyeurism, she said, where the audience members will feel as if they are in Amir’s apartment, watching this story unfold right before their eyes.

    This arrangement does limit seating on the already limited-run show, so audience members are encouraged to get their tickets early.

    In addition to Ahsan, Shelden and Shafer, the cast includes Alason Little as Jory and Darius Shafa as Abe.

    CFRT has a number of special events scheduled to support “Disgraced.”

    Preview Night Art Fun

    Friday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m. at CFRT. Be the first to see “Disgraced” and stay after for hands-on art making with dessert and tea.

    Opening Night Celebration

    Saturday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m. Stay after the show to celebrate with the cast and creative team.

    “No Politics at Dinner: How Do We Discuss Difficult Topics”

    Sunday, March 18, at 1 p.m. at CFRT

    Discussing politics and religion in social settings is often frowned upon, but what are the benefits of talking about these topics? Break the rules of polite conversation as experts and journalists lead a pre-show discussion. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Andrew Ziegler Jr. of Methodist University. Panelists include Dr. Naveed Aziz, Dr. JR Hustwit and Paul Woolverton from The Fayetteville Observer.

    Military Appreciation Night

    Wednesday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m.

    Military members and family receive discounted tickets for the show.

    “Disgraced” is a limited-run show March 15-25 with limited seating based on a new stage configuration. The play is rated R due to its language and violence. There are discounts for military, seniors and students. For tickets or more information on special events, contact CFRT at 910-323-4233 or visit www.cfrt.org.

  • 05OpioidI completely admire King Solomon’s prayer for wisdom. Nowhere is true wisdom more needed than with our city’s insistence that we halt our participation in the opioid litigation and that the local firms hired by the city meet the city’s often-ignored policy of promoting minority-owned businesses.

    We should admire and respect our mayor’s resolve in enforcing this policy once and for all. So intent is his commitment to this policy, he convinced the council to rescind a lawfully executed contract the city had done through its attorney after the council had empowered her to act.

    The signed contract involved my firm and the Hutchens firm as local counsel – after we were associated by the national firm of McHugh Fuller Law Group and six other national firms that are representing over 200 municipalities in seeking damages from four of the largest opioid distributors in the country. These distributors willfully violated our country’s schedule II law as it relates to controlled substance distribution after their own studies “proved” their premise that opioids are non-addictive when a patient is in pain.

    This group has successfully won the first suit in West Virginia, and they are in good standing with the court that presided over that trial and is now in charge of the next round of litigation. In other words, with this firm, we are in the room with the decision-makers and with the court that will decide the merits of the case.

    It is essentially a front row seat to the mediation settlement and our trial of this litigation.

    The move to rescind this contract to promote Fayetteville’s ignored policy regarding minority-owned businesses, albeit a noble one, is a dangerous move. In doing so, not only are we not in the room, we are not in the suit itself. Given the current posture of the situation, neither the county nor the city has any designs to act promptly even though the judge in the case has issued an edict saying he intends to expedite the signup period and begin settlement negotiations as soon as possible.

    My fear is that this delay will cause Fayetteville and Cumberland County to miss out on a potential eight-figure recovery, which we sorely need to augment our depleted budget. There is a Latin phrase used in the law, “Vigilantilous et non dormientibus jura subvenunt.” It means, “The law assists those that are vigilant with their rights and not those who sleep thereupon.”

    My fear is well-founded, as this judge has made it clear that the train is about to leave the station. Thus, to delay signing up, we take a substantial risk of being left out of the chance to receive a substantial recovery. As the old saying goes, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

    How did we get to this point? In October 2017, I was approached by a group of well-respected North Carolina attorneys who were hired by the six other national firms. Their job was to act as local counsel and to promptly engage as many North Carolina counties and larger municipalities as possible. This was because the court had recently ruled in West Virginia that the four major distributors were, in fact, responsible for the substantial uptick in addiction to opioids. The ruling and verdict opened the door for counties and cities to participate in recovering monies for the strain on services the opioid addiction epidemic has placed upon them.

    The litigation is similar to the tobacco litigation of the ’80s and ’90s and is based on sound fact, legal authority and precedent. It was stressed to me that time was a rare commodity and the court was going to allow a relatively short time to sign up those entities that were damaged by this plague.

    Toward that end, the group wanted Cumberland County and Fayetteville enrolled and asked if I would set up a meeting with the county officials, including the county manager, the director of the health department and lead counsel. I was glad to do this, and in late October of 2017, one of the lead lawyers in the case met with myself, the director of the health department, the county manager and several other top officials.

    By all accounts, all agreed Cumberland County and the city have a substantial need to be involved in the case for many reasons.

    1. Cumberland County is in the top 20 in the nation in opioid addictions.

    2. The tobacco litigation has created a viable legal theory to craft a very winnable case. In fact, the case has been won in West Virginia.

    3. Our county and city resources have been stretched to their maximum in no short measure due to the opioid plague. Consider 85 percent of our incarcerated population is in jail due to addiction.

    4. To be reimbursed by those who helped cause this crisis is only fair. They caused the harm. They should help fix it.

    Further, the evidence is overwhelming that despite knowing this addictive quality, they perpetuated a fraud on medical personnel and the public that “one cannot become addicted to opioids while in true pain.” Not only is it very possible to become addicted to opioids while in pain, but a person must with each succeeding dose take more of the drug just to reach the same pain reduction threshold. The strain on our hospitals, mental health professionals and law enforcement is extremely burdensome.

    We left the meeting fully believing we had everyone’s support and that our county and city were going to rapidly take steps to get in the mix of the many cities and counties that have signed up to be involved in the case. Despite our best efforts to date, we are still on the outside looking in.

    My deepest fear is that our effort to honor a very noble and much-needed policy will delay us to the point it costs us a seat at the table on this important litigation.

    The solution: I believe we have a two-pronged approach that, if followed, can enforce a well-intended policy and still allow us to be seated at the table. But it requires deliberate and fast action on behalf of the county and the city. First, longterm, our businesses and firms doing business with the city and county should make every effort to reflect our community. We are stronger united. Toward that end, our firm is committed to honoring the mayor’s edict and has a stated goal that our personnel mirror our community. We have lawyers who are Asian-American, Hispanic- American, African-American and both male and female. Our staff has four Hispanic-Americans who are bilingual. I can honestly say I have never enjoyed a group of wonderful colleagues more.

    But we are not 51 percent minority-owned. Therefore, do we comply with this policy or not? Frankly, it matters not. We certainly comply with a track record of success, and our dream is that we follow our mayor’s lead and show talented, committed diversity works.

    Second, let’s select three firms to serve as local counsel. Let’s honor our previous commitment and add a third majority minority-owned firm to help with the litigation. But let’s do so promptly.

    So, let’s open the doors of opportunity and promptly select firms to shepherd our community into this unique and complex litigation. As Mark Twain stated, “It’s never wrong to do the right thing.” But let’s make sure the road less traveled leads to prosperity and not despair. In pursuing equal representation for minorities, let’s not miss out on an equally important opportunity. We have the chance to reimburse our community for the monies expended and the misery caused by the distributors pushing pills onto a public and a medical community who were not quite ready to fully understand the ramifications of such a policy.

    If our city and county officials will act deliberately and quickly, we can have both a meaningful policy of diversity in hiring local firms and be involved in the opioid litigation. However, if we delay and debate this issue ad infinitum, we could very well lose a seat at the table. It is time to put aside any disagreements on this issue and act in the best interest of the citizens of this community.

    Toward that end, my firm stands ready, willing and able to partner with any other firm that the city chooses to have us partner with. I wish the city and the county the best in their efforts in weighing these two competing policies in hopes they can have both policies succeed at the same time.

  • 16PineForestBowlingOpen season may be a good thing for a hunter, but for a bowler it’s about as bad as it can get.

    In bowling, going open means not knocking down as many pins as possible in a turn or frame of a game. Pine Forest bowling coach Heidi Henry said her boys team had a lot of open frames during the regular season that caused her squad to struggle.

    She repeatedly told her players if they could pull it together, nobody could beat them. They finally proved her right in this year’s state bowling championships at Fayetteville’s B&B Lanes. The Trojans battled back from being third seed to defeat No. 2 Lakewood 292-202 and No. 1 Gray’s Creek 295-241 to take the title.

    Henry praised the performance of junior Jacob Ezzelle in the championship match as a key to Pine Forest’s victory.

    “He had only one or two open frames during bracket play, which is really critical,” Henry said.

    Ezzelle was bowling in the No. 3 position for the Trojans. “If he opened, that’s an open in the middle of the game, which is essentially where it could hurt you the most,’’ Henry said.

    Having Ezzelle avoid open frames helped set up the fourth and fifth bowlers in the Pine Forest lineup to perform with more confidence in the closing frames, to score well and have a good game for the team.

    Ezzelle has been bowling since he was a freshman, following in the footsteps of his brother who was also a member of the Trojan bowling team.

    He called bowling a serious sport that is also relaxing.

    While Ezzelle said he always had high hopes for a good season, he didn’t think this year’s Trojan team would make it as far as it did.

    “It was little things here and there that hurt us,’’ he said of the team’s regular-season problems. “I wouldn’t say I was disappointed. I felt we could have done better.’’

    Ezzelle said the team went back to basics and focused on practice at an individual level to overcome its earlier mistakes.

    He thinks prospects for the future of bowling at Pine Forest look good.

    “We’re losing one senior and we’ve got some young guys that are going to step up,’’ he said. “I think we’ll be fine.’’

    As for Ezzelle, he said he plans to listen to Henry, not be as hard-headed and keep practicing.

    Photo: L to R: Jacob Ezzelle, Dominik Lipari, Noah Hash, Justin Turner, Kendell St. Peter, William Bonds, Coach Heidi Henry, Jonathan Henderson, Manager Nakeithia Butcher

  • 14HM firetruck4When it comes to safety from the danger of fire, the citizens of Hope Mills can breathe a little easier these days.

    The town will soon replace a pair of fire trucks that have been in service a total of nearly 50 years. Two state-of-the-art vehicles built from the ground up by the Rosenbauer Group will take their place.

    Rosenbauer, which is based in Austria, is one of three manufacturers of fire-fighting vehicles worldwide.

    “They’ve been here for about 16 or 17 years,’’ said Hope Mills fire Chief Chuck Hodges of Rosenbauer. “We went with Rosenbauer because we’ve had real good service with the previous trucks we’ve had. I think it will do a good job for the town.’’

    The two new trucks are priced at $499,000 each, Hodges said. They were built from the tires up to specific instructions provided by the town. It took about a year to build each one.

    Both of these trucks are pumper tankers, Hodges said. “Basically, a tanker is like a mobile hydrant system,’’ Hodges aid. “There are some areas we respond to that don’t have hydrants. That extra water is helpful.’’

    Each truck is also equipped with what Hodges called a jet dump operation. That means if they get to a fire scene where even more water is needed than the truck carries, they can offload the water in the truck in what amounts to a portable swimming pool and then go get water from another nearby source like a pond.

    “The water in the pool can be drafted while they get more water,’’ he said.

    The minimum crew to staff a pumper is three firefighters, Hodges said, but the truck can accommodate a crew of up to six.

    Hodges said his firemen are currently preparing to put the new trucks into action as they transfer existing firefighting equipment from the old trucks.

    The only new equipment that came with the trucks is the radios.

    Items being moved from the old trucks include hoses, nozzles, axes and pike poles, Hodges said.

    The oldest of the two trucks being mustered out of service was a 1986 model. The other is a 1998.

    While the yardstick for determining when to retire most vehicles is mileage, Hodges said that’s not a good indicator of age on a fire truck.

    Hodges said the typical lifespan of a fire truck in a moderately busy fire department is 15 to 20 years.

    “When you’re dealing with fire apparatus, it’s not the miles, it’s the pump hours,’’ he said. That means when the truck travels to a fire scene, it may only go a few miles on the odometer. But the real wear and tear on the engine occurs at the scene of a fire when you calculate how long the motor had to run to power the firefighting machinery aboard when the truck doesn’t move an inch.

    “You pump six hours, that’s still wear and tear on the engine,’’ Hodges said. “Anything mechanical, over time, just starts to wear out, and it costs money to repair.’’

    He thinks the townspeople of Hope Mills should be pleased once the new trucks are fully operational, most likely before the end of February.

    “It’s something we shouldn’t have any issues with,’’ Hodges said.

  • 04CoolioI walked out to the street recently and picked up my copy of The Fayetteville Observer. There was the headline, “2018 Dogwood Festival features rap, rock, country.” I was saddened, but not surprised, to see that rap artists will be featured at this year’s festival. In what follows, I explain the reasons for my sadness … and that sadness runs deep.

    With a 13-year-old black girl who I mentor, I am reading “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” by Sean Covey. Early in the book, Covey addresses the importance of paradigms in the life of a person. He writes, “A paradigm is the way you see something; it’s your point of view, frame of reference or belief. Sometimes our paradigms are way off the mark, and, as a result, they create limitations. For instance, you may be convinced that you don’t have what it takes to get into college. But, remember, Ptolemy was just as convinced that the earth was the center of the universe.”

    Later in the book Covey says, “Paradigms are like glasses. When you have incomplete paradigms about yourself or life in general, it’s like wearing glasses with the wrong prescription.”

    Therein is the reason for my sadness. With absolutely no reservation, I contend that the appearance of rap artists at the Dogwood Festival will likely substantially contribute negatively to the formation of paradigms by black attendees. This might also be the case with some whites, but my focus here is on black attendees. My concern, my sadness, is not only driven by the personal appearance of and lyrics employed by most artists in this genre, but also by how rap came to the Dogwood Festival.

    In November 2016, I wrote a column titled, “Dogwood Festival Music Diversity: An opportunity for exercising leadership.” That column is available at www.karlmerritt.com/category/articles/page/3. I relayed how some members of Fayetteville City Council were pressuring the Dogwood Festival executive director and board of directors to diversify the music offerings. I think “pressuring” is a rather mild way of describing what was done. At the bottom line, they called for including music genres that appealed to blacks. Even beyond diversity in music, there was a not-so-subtle call for including blacks on the board of directors.

    I saw this as local government making demands on a very successful effort that was started by volunteers, and with very minimally paid staff – it is carried primarily by volunteers. The formula for success, from my vantage point, was one that focused on country music, a family atmosphere, financially supporting worthy causes, helping make Fayetteville attractive for business and promoting economic growth. Then-Mayor-pro-tem Mitch Colvin, now mayor, argued that the city was providing police and other support to the festival. Read my November 2016 column to get what I believe is a thoughtful response to that argument.

    have no doubt that what I have summarized here, and presented in detail in 2016, resulted in the Dogwood Festival adding rap to the entertainment lineup. Simply put, in the name of diversity, I believe that they were forced to do it. My observation is that any time there is a call for diversity, charges of racism immediately follow if white Americans do not instantly provide whatever is demanded. Although used routinely and far too often without foundation, the racism charge has great power.

    Looking at all of this, I would argue that the message received by black Americans is: Do not invest in organizing, in building anything of worth … just force your way in on what others have built and organized. Even though implementing your desired changes might jeopardize the ongoing success of what is in place, demand the changes anyway – in the name of diversity. You have this right because of past discrimination, slavery, being disadvantaged, constituting a certain percentage of the population and a multitude of other reasons.

    Let there be no doubt – the message described in the preceding paragraph contributes to creating paradigms in individuals. The resulting paradigm is the kind that allows one to believe it is acceptable to, in protesting, burn down businesses owned by people who had absolutely nothing to do with whatever started the protest. From the black perspective, this seeming license to force one’s way into what has been built by whites feeds a view of self as victim and whites as the enemy.

    All of this is not only destructive to the individual, but also to our nation. I see the pressure process that, I believe, brought rap to the Dogwood Festival as a prime example of contributing to negative paradigms in people, especially black Americans. Seeing this process play out is a saddening experience for me.

    Then there is how I believe the personal appearance of, and lyrics presented by, these artists will likely negatively affect paradigm formation among attendees. Consider Coolio, one of the rap artists scheduled to appear. What follows are a few lines from his rap “Is this me?”

    Mossberg Smith and Wesson

    Forty-five let me tell you how I learned my lesson

    House party in the hood at some niggas I don’t know

    But I had to go they had a house full of hoes

    I stepped into that party with my nigga high off that head

    The hoes is looking good so we try to make a friend for night

    Let’s get it right let’s get it straight”

    Then, the song ends with these lyrics:

    “These streets won’t let me go

    I can’t escape this life

    That they got me trapped inside

    This really really really ain’t me

    But the streets won’t let me go

    I can’t escape this life

    That they got me trapped inside.

    Granted, these are just snippets of a Coolio rap. However, they provide a sense as to what will likely be presented in what has been a family-oriented event. I do not see any reason to believe lyrics of this type help develop positive paradigms that are critical to successful living. Instead, just the opposite can reasonably be expected. That is sad.

    Please visit coolioworld.com/photos and view photos of Coolio. Doing so is essential to understanding and appreciating the case I am making in this paragraph. In my estimation, except for one photo of him in a suit, Coolio presents himself in a fashion that does not inspire selfrespect, self-worth or any of the other attributes conducive to successful and responsible living. Consequently, personal appearance will likely be another negative input to the paradigms of many in the audience.

    I have used Coolio in explaining my sadness regarding rap at the Dogwood Festival. However, be assured I have the same concerns in reference to rap artists in general. That is because all of them, that I have seen, pose the same threat to positive paradigms as I have presented here.

    In the midst of my sadness, I find hope in knowing that I will do everything in my power to ensure that the kinds of forces described above do not influence the paradigm development of that 13-year-old black girl I mentor. If people across this nation do not take a similar stand, we will continue to see young lives destroyed due to failure-producing paradigms.

    Photo: Coolio

     

  • 18Northwood Temple girlsFor the third time in five seasons, the Northwood Temple Academy girls are state basketball champions.

    The Eagles brought home this season’s North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A title with a convincing 70-57 win over Neuse Christian in the championship game at Forsyth Country Day.

    They ended the season with a 22-5 record.

    Head coach Donald Moore credited the team’s conditioning and everyone buying into playing a specific role as keys to the championship.

    “It wasn’t just one person,’’ he said. “We have one person leading in scoring (Ciara Moore), one in rebounding (Shenell Davis) and one in blocks (Arielle Wilson). It was a team effort.’’

    It all started with a long off-season where Moore focused on strength and conditioning, then continued with a tough non-conference schedule in regular season to prepare the Eagles for the run to the championship.

    “We were able to find out what we were weak in and the areas we needed to improve,’’ Moore said of the non-conference schedule.

    In the state semifinal round, the Eagles scored a 68-57 win over the Burlington School that wasn’t as easy as the score might indicate.

    “We were down most of the game,’’ Moore said. “Arielle and Ciara got in foul trouble.’’ With them sitting on the bench, Kendal Moore stepped up. “Kendal kept us in the game in the first half and Arielle hit some big threes in the second half,’’ Moore said.

    The championship game featured the best point production of the season for Northwood as seven players scored. Ciara Moore led with 26 points, Kendal with 19 and Davis 12.

    “We were able to use our athleticism and defensively focus on stopping their two big scorers, two Brazilian players with a ton of experience,’’ Moore said.

    Ciara Moore said the championship meant a lot after working so hard all season. “Kendal and I grew up together,’’ Moore said of her cousin. “We’ve been playing since we were five years old. It really brings a strong bond of chemistry, and it shows on the court.’’

    Kendal Moore said the underclassmen like herself and Ciara wanted a championship ring for the team’s seniors. Already committed to play at North Carolina State University, Moore said having the pressure of her college decision behind her makes it easier to focus on playing for Northwood. “I know where I want to go,’’ she said. “I don’t have to worry about the schools contacting me.’’

    Coach Moore only loses two seniors on this year’s team, Wilson and Davis.

    His players don’t play a great deal of summer basketball, he said, but he’s confident about next season. “Based on how I saw some of the other players play this year, I’m looking forward to coaching next year,’’ he said. “We’ve got some good pieces coming back.’’

    Photos: Front row, L to R: Valerie Veauthier, Morgan Smith, Kendal Moore (daughter), Ciara Moore (niece), Kaitlyn Jumalon, Megan Eaker, Head Coach Donald Moore. Back row, L to R: Shenell Davis, Jasmon Nolin, Ally McMillan, Arielle Wilson

  • 09Amazing GraceGivens Performing Arts Center presents Broadway’s “Amazing Grace: The Musical” at UNC-Pembroke Tuesday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m.

    The musical, written by Christopher Smith and Arthur Giron, is the story of John Newton, the captain of a slave ship who joins the abolition movement. Newton is best known for writing the famous hymn “Amazing Grace,” giving the musical its name. The story includes themes of romance, rebellion and redemption.

    Newton, son of a slave trader, comes of age in Britain in the 1700s. He is torn between following in his father’s footsteps and following his heart and the guidance of his childhood sweetheart. It is on the high seas in the company of his slave, Thomas, that Newton faces his reality and wrestles with his conscience.

    “Every audience that sees it has the same reaction,” said Carolyn Rossi Copeland, producer of the musical. “They are moved, they understand that change is possible for even the worst of human beings.”

    North Carolina is one of 27 states the musical is showing in during its eight-week tour. The national tour is led by Gabriel Barre, the original Broadway director, and Christopher Gattelli, the original Broadway choreographer.

    “My husband is from North Carolina, I’ve had three daughters go to school in North Carolina. So, I’m glad we get to come to North Carolina,” said Copeland, adding that the traveling performance does its best to replicate the feeling of seeing the show on Broadway.

    “We really worked very hard to duplicate what people would’ve seen on Broadway,” she said. “The first act is one of the most beautiful scenic acts in theater.”

    UNC-Pembroke hosts “Amazing Grace: The Musical” Tuesday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the GPAC. Ticket prices range from $21 to $41 for alumni; $16 for children or non- UNCP students; $16 for faculty or staff; and $10 for UNCP students. Visit www.uncp.edu/gpac to purchase tickets.

  • Meetings

    Hope Mills Board of Commissioners Monday, March 19, at 7 p.m. at Hope Mills Town Hall.

    Public Meeting No. 3 Monday, March 26, 6-8 p.m., at Hope Mills Parks and Rec. The purpose of this meeting is to present transportation planning recommendations and to solicit public questions and feedback. To learn more, visit www.HopeMillsPlan.org.

    Activities at Hope Mills Parks and Recreation: 5770 Rockfish Rd.

    St. Patrick’s Day Dance Saturday, March 17, 6-8 p.m. • Game room is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

    Skate park hours through March 31: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. April 1-Oct. 31: Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday: 1-9 p.m.

    Open gym closed until further notice.

    Parks and Rec Senior Programs

    Senior programs 55 plus: Various activities for seniors are available Monday through Friday at the recreation center. For specific times and events, go to townofhopemills.com and follow the links to Hope Mills Parks and Recreation.

    St. Paddy’s Bash Friday, March 16, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Community Room. Free. This is a potluck social, so please bring a dish to share. Drinks and entertainment will be provided. Sign up to attend at the front reception desk. Only 100 seats available. Call 910-426-4109 for more information.

    Social Knitting and Crocheting Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon, in the small activity room. Those planning to attend must provide their own supplies and projects.

    Brunch and Bingo originally scheduled this month has been postponed due to a space conflict and will hopefully be moved to March.

    Promote yourself

    Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 17GraysBowlingWith a core of veteran bowlers returning, Gray’s Creek bowling coach Sam Bullard felt his girls squad had a shot at a good season. It just took them until this year’s state championship competition at Fayetteville’s B&B Lanes to realize it.

    The Bears topped Lumberton 295-241 in the finals to claim team honors.

    Bullard gave a lot of the credit to seniors Nicolette Kenton, Angel Pope and Jade Wilds.

    “They stepped up a whole lot,’’ he said. “They came in big when they needed to come in big.’’

    Bullard said most of his veteran players are also league bowlers and get the benefit of year-round competition. “The year before last they came in runner-up in the state,’’ he said. “I knew we would have a pretty good shot at it and just had to have things fall right.’’

    It looked like that might not be the case after Gray’s Creek led the conference bowling race much of the regular season. But when the conference tournament was held, a different format was used from previous years, and Gray’s Creek didn’t adjust to it well. “It was just a format thing,’’ Bullard said. “It caught us on a bad day. I think we could have pulled it out, but that wasn’t the way it was.’’

    Terry Sanford wound up winning the conference tournament, but the Bears still managed to qualify for a bid into the state tournament.

    Bullard said Gray’s Creek had a little bit of luck in the state tournament, with his team mostly having clean frames and picking up spares. “They were making sure they were getting as many pins as they could and getting to that second ball,’’ he said.

    Kenton and Pope were particularly impressive for Gray’s Creek in the state tournament.

    “I got a few strikes and picked up most of my spares,’’ said Kenton. “That was good.”

    A league bowler, Kenton plans to continue competing at the intramural level when she enrolls in college.

    Pope has been bowling since the age of five. “The best thing was to keep my composure and bowl well for our team,’’ she said. “I tried to get the best pin count as much as possible.’’

    Winning the state title meant everything in the world to her, she said. “I just really wanted to show how good we are, that we could actually win and put our names out there.’’

    Pope plans to enroll at Fayetteville State University and become a member of the school’s bowling team. “When it comes to bowling, it’s a fun thing to do,’’ she said.

    Photos: L to R: Shantell Jackson, Clarissa Rodriguez, Abagayl Gowen, Jade Wilds, Natalie Freeman, Destiny Delgado, Angel Pope, Nicolette Kenton, Ravyn Rozier Front: Coach Sam Bullard

  • 05ncpa logoHit (N.C. Press Association Awards)

    Congratulations to Up & Coming Weekly sports editor Earl Vaughan Jr. (1st Place - Sports Columns) and Up & Coming Weekly graphic designer Elizabeth Long (2nd Place - Best Food Ad, 2nd Place - Best Newspaper Promotion) on their North Carolina Press Association awards.

    Miss (Voter confusion)

    An official Cumberland County voter card many received in the mail notes citizens are registered to vote in seven different districts: 4th City Council district, 1st County Commission district, 1st School Board district, 43rd State House district, 19th State Senate district, 12th Judicial district and 8th U.S. Congressional district.

    Hit (Crosswalks for the blind)

    Fayetteville traffic engineers are making some intersections user-friendly for the visually impaired by installing devises that give audible instructions to the blind signaling when it’s safe to cross. Read more about it in the News Digest.

    Miss (Sheriff solicitation)

    The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association is soliciting for money for its members. Nearly half the group’s expenses go to pay its staff, which is one reason Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison had his name taken off the list. Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright has no problem with the solicitation for money. “These are tough times for North Carolina law enforcement agencies,” said Wright.

    Hit (Economic recovery)

    Fayetteville and Cumberland County continue to benefit from business investment in the community. Every investment by commercial firms and small businesses reduces property taxes on Cumberland County homeowners who have the greatest tax burden of all metropolitan areas of North Carolina.

    Miss (Illegal street barricades)

    Two streets that connect Eastern Boulevard with B Street have been closed for about three years. They were barricaded by police as a crime prevention effort. The streets were never officially closed by city council. The city attorney said several months ago she would take the closure of Link and School Streets before city council, but to date, she hasn’t.

    Hit (Open government is the law)

    N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein says he is an ally of journalists in communities like ours where local government too often conducts the public’s business in private. “The law is clear,” he said, that public bodies must obey the state’s public records and open meetings statutes. Stein spoke at the annual convention of the N.C. Press Association last month.

  • 15Chloes Corner dancewearKristy Jackson is a Hope Mills store owner, but at heart she’s a dance mom, and that’s usually what comes first when a customer visits Chloe’s Corner Boutique on Trade Street looking for dance wear.

    “I love seeing the new little dancers come in and helping them any way I can,’’ Jackson said. “I do make it more personal. I don’t want to sell them something they’re not going to need, because I’m like that. And they come back.’’

    Jackson’s concern for doing things right by her customers comes naturally. She got into the business of dance apparel after experiencing firsthand how expensive it could be when she had to help provide for her daughters in their dance careers. The business is named after her youngest daughter, Chloe.

    “That was my main reason for opening the business, to help dance moms like me save,’’ she said.

    She’s been in business for seven years, but she’s only been in her current location at 5472 Trade St. since last April because she outgrew her previous location on the same street

    The original business started with items including costume and fashion jewelry, Tyler Candles, keychains, ID holders and cups.

    Jackson still offers those items, but most of her sales now involve dance wear and products from the Simply Southern and Girly Girl clothing lines.

    When it comes to dance wear, Jackson said she offers the full gamut of clothing, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip hop. Most of what she offers is for girls and women, but she does have some items for male dancers and can place orders for specific needs.

    The Simply Southern attire, especially T-shirts, is popular locally. “It’s the name brand to be honest,’’ she said. “I’ve got a 15-year-old, and that’s what they are wearing. It’s not just the kids, it’s the adults too.’’

    Jackson said her store hours vary, based on the season of the year and adjusting to how much foot traffic she gets during the different seasons.

    For now, she’s open Tuesday through Friday from 12:30-5:30 p.m. Once Daylight Saving Time begins, Jackson transitions to summer hours and usually stays late a couple of nights a week from 6-6:30 p.m.

    “I do post on my door that for dance wear if somebody has to be fitted for shoes, I’ll open by appointment on days I’m closed.’’

    She carries a full line of dancing shoes, with the exception of point shoes with the hard box at the toe. “You have to be trained in fitting point shoes,’’ she said.

    She also has plain and fancy leotards, dresses, tutus, shorts and skirts.

    While she does have a jewelry selection, it’s not as large as it once was. “I just have a few necklace sets and initials,’’ she said. “I’ve got a few initial bracelets, rings and necklaces.’’ The reason for the limited supply of jewelry is when she was at her old location, she found herself having to remove jewelry from display to expand her offering of dance wear.

    Now that she’s at her new location with more space, she would like to eventually expand her jewelry offering again. She’s also in the process of adding a dressing room.

    To find out more about the business, contact Jackson at 910-423-0050 or visit her Facebook page at Chloe’s Corner Boutique.

  • 02pub pen haymountHaymount has all the elements of a standalone community. It’s got restaurants, a theater, shopping, a pharmacy, a business district, proximity to higher education at Fayetteville Technical Community College and even its own post office. And personality – so much personality. With homes built between 1817 and 1950, Haymount is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was once a neighbor to Fayetteville. But as Fayetteville grew, things changed.

    In 1910, this burg was incorporated into the city of Fayetteville. Many of Fayetteville’s prominent citizens and founders hail from Haymount, including Fayetteville Observer publisher E.J. Hale and U.S. Sen. Robert Strange. This historic district is centrally located close to downtown and local major shopping centers and is a stone’s throw from a first-rate hospital.

    Growth is still a theme here. Residents of Haymount benefit from the Museum of the Cape Fear historical complex and will benefit from the changes the North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction History Center will bring.

    As Fayetteville and Cumberland County have grown, in many ways it feels as if Haymount has been swallowed up. Increased traffic runs through its thoroughfares, and busyness encroaches as Haymount is squeezed between downtown and the fast-paced growth that continues closer to the mall.

    Can Haymount maintain its magical small-town charm that has endured here for centuries? Will the businesses that have served this community so faithfully continue to thrive?

    Haymount is at a crossroads. Literally and figuratively. It would be tragic for this distinctive neighborhood with such personality and the charm of a Norman Rockwell painting to be unceremoniously swallowed up in the name of progress. Yet without thoughtful consideration and planning, Haymount’s future is uncertain. So many of the area’s newcomers have no idea what a gem Haymount is or why it is significant to local history. And that is a shame.

    There have been several studies in recent years aimed at determining the best path for Haymount. And because business owners and families that have defined Haymount for generations love this community and don’t want to lose the very things that make it special, it’s been hard to move forward. Eventually, something has to happen, or Haymount will lose the opportunity to chart its own path as Fayetteville continues to prosper and change.

    On March 10, Build a Better Haymount explores some of the possibilities for what Haymount could look like. From 1-5 p.m., the district will include tree-lined streets, bike paths, a temporary plaza, food trucks, entertainment, art and more. Angie Hedgepeth and Eric Vitale, along with the city of Fayetteville, have spent the better part of a year planning this event with the hope that they can keep the community engaged in the process of change and keep the conversation about Haymount’s future going.

    The event is free and open to the public. If you’ve never walked the idyllic streets of the Haymount district and experienced the charm of this one-of-a-kind area, this is the perfect time.

    Many thanks to the city of Fayetteville; Angie Hedgepeth of Longleaf Pine REALTORS, Inc.; Cumberland County transportation planner Eric Vitale; the Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization; and all the Haymount residents and businesses for their efforts to shine a light on this community as it finds its path forward. Visit www.betterblockfaync. com to learn more.

    Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 03Marg gunsAs I write this and as you read it, energy is flowing away from political efforts to address our nation’s gun violence problem. The young people who endured the Parkland shooting are still on television and making online pleas for school safety, but elected officials from our president down to state legislators continue to play for time, hoping public angst will subside. If the past is an indicator of the future, then politicians are probably safe until the next mass shooting.

    Some positive signs can be found.

    Fear of the National Rifle Association may paralyze politicians, but corporate America, which survives and prospers by understanding what people think and want, is acting. To its enduring credit, Dick’s Sporting Goods will no longer sell military-style assault weapons and will sell firearms only to people 21 and older. Walmart raised its minimum age as well. Ditto for L.L. Bean whose new policy also limits ammo sales to those over 21. Delta Airlines severed its business ties with the NRA, even though the Georgia legislature immediately retaliated by jerking away a $40 million tax break. Said Delta’s CEO, “Our values are not for sale.”

    Gun violence and gun accessibility, both longrunning and complex issues in our nation, leave no doubt that the United States is the world outlier when it comes to both. We make up less than 5 percent of the world’s population, but we own 42 percent of the world’s guns. Only Yemen has a higher rate of mass shootings among nations with more than 10 million people, and – not surprisingly, it has the second highest rate of gun ownership, calling into question that old saw that “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.”

    Consider this as well. Other nations have mass shootings, but they are random. Ours have become so routine that we openly refer to “school shooters.” Details of all the incidents run together. The New York Times recently reported on a 2016 study that documented 133 mass shootings in the United States during the period of the study. By contrast, during the same period, Finland had two mass shootings and Switzerland had one, killing 18 and 14 people respectively. Our most recent mass shootings in Las Vegas and Lakeland killed 58 and 17 respectively, injuring 851 in Las Vegas and dozens in Florida.

    Mass shootings shock us – at least they should shock us – but other deaths by firearms affect Americans as well. In 2013, our nation saw more than 21,000 suicides with guns, more than 11,000 murders with guns and more than 500 accidental discharge deaths.

    To most of us, these are just numbers, but to the families and friends of these lost people, the pain of these deaths is deep and ongoing. The cold, hard reality is that we Americans are many times more likely to die by firearm than are residents of almost any other country.

    The politics of gun accessibility are brutal and volatile. Many elected officials have taken campaign contributions from the NRA and walk in lockstep with its positions. North Carolina’s own two U.S. Senators, Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, rank fourth and sixth on the NRA’s contribution list, which is totally legal.

    Many Americans, including some large American corporations, are rethinking their positions on gun accessibility. As we do so, here are some points to consider.

    Every state qualifies who can be licensed to drive a vehicle, most requiring both coursework and actual driving experience. Guns can be sold without either.

    Every state requires recordkeeping regarding sales and transfers of motor vehicles. Guns can be sold and transferred without either.

    The 19-year-old charged with 17 counts of murder in Florida bought his assault weapon legally. He could not, however, buy a beer legally.

    The NRA would argue that neither driving nor owning a vehicle is a constitutionally guaranteed right. Neither is buying a beer.

    But consider this.

    When the Bill of Rights, including the Second Amendment “right to bear arms,” was adopted in 1791, the new United States had just won its independence from England using muskets, muzzle-loaded long guns that appeared in Europe in the 16th century. Not until 1854 was there a reliable “repeating rifle.”

    God only knows what our Founding Fathers would make of rapid-fire military assault rifles in the hands of 19-year-olds or of Americans shooting each other in public places or chasing down children in schools.

  • 10Morgan Short Harp 768x576Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra presents “Americana,” one of the last concerts in its “Gone to Carolina” season, this Saturday, March 10. The Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra will join the FSO onstage for portions of the concert, which will feature a variety of songs that celebrate being American. Morgan Short, a 20-year-old harpist and the winner of FSO’s 2017-18 Harlan Duenow Young Artist Concerto Competition, will also perform solo for a portion of the concert.

    “From film scores to folk tunes to Sousa marches to classical works, the variety (in this concert) is quite nice,” said Dr. Larry Wells, FSYO director and conductor. “Most of the pieces featured here are of the shorter variety. It should be a very audience- and child-friendly concert.” Look forward to selections from classic American films like “Forrest Gump” and “Apollo 13” alongside work like Antonín Dvořák’s “New World” and Morton Gould’s “American Salute.”

    Wells said the FSYO, which the FSO formed in 2014, is important because it provides an opportunity for budding young musicians to practice with a full orchestra, which is normally not possible in school settings. In addition, he said, the FSYO is open through an audition process not just to 13- to 20-year-old public school students, but also to students who are home-schooled and who live outside of Cumberland County. About 75 students currently participate.

    Every year, the FSYO puts on two concerts of its own and joins the FSO onstage for one other concert. Wells said, “The benefit here is that our young musicians get the chance to sit next to professional players in a professional setting. They get to hear exactly what their professional counterparts sound like and... act like. … I always tell my kids, ‘If you don’t know what you’re supposed to sound like, then how will you know when you’re making a good sound?’ This event gives them a chance to define (and) refine what their musical goal is.”

    “Americana” will also spotlight Short. Short, who studies harp at University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, won FSO’s 2017-18 Harlan Duenow Young Artist Concerto Competition. The competition, named in honor of FSO’s longest-serving conductor, involves an essay, letter of recommendation and a video recording of the applicant playing a selected piece of music. It is open to young instrumentalists in the state of North Carolina. This year, it was open to woodwind, brass, percussion and harp students ages 12-21.

    Short beat statewide competition to take first place, which includes a $1,000 cash prize for continued musical development along with the honor of soloing with the FSO. Jacob Warren, a 20-year-old saxophone player studying at UNC-Greensboro, won second place, and Jonathan McGarry, a 19-year-old French horn player studying at UNCSA (where Short studies), won third. Next year, the competition will be open to string and piano instrumentalists ages 12-21 in North Carolina.

    Wells said the competition this year was fantastic. “This year, we chose (Short) because she was the complete package. Not only did she play beautifully, she performed beautifully,” he said. “She is amazing. I hope Fayetteville shows her a good audience!”

    Wells and Kastner agreed that the orchestra has flourished under new music director Stefan Sanders’ hand. “If you have not seen him or heard the FSO lately, I urge you to come out and see... what is happening,” Wells said. “We are blessed to have him lead us.”

    Sanders said he’s excited about “Americana” because it not only celebrates the nation’s history – it also celebrates its future through meaningful collaboration with the next generation of musicians.

    Kastner and Sanders are also busy planning FSO’s next season, which will be announced in April. “I think we’re going to have some real crowd-pleasers next year,” Kastner said. “I will say: There will be ‘Star Wars.’”

    “Americana” takes place Saturday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m. in Methodist University’s Huff Concert Hall. Arrive at 6:45 p.m. for a pre-concert talk to learn more about the historical context of the evening’s music. To purchase tickets, which range from $11-$28, visit www.fayettevillesymphony.org.

    Photo: Morgan Short

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