The Fayetteville History Museum will be hosting a Facts or Foolishness Scavenger Hunt through April 23. This self-guided hunt will include clues throughout the museum and the museum annex.

“We love to do scavenger hunts through the museum to make it a bit more interactive and provide a special activity for parents to bring their kids to do while they are off on spring break,” said Catherine Linton, Museum Specialist, Fayetteville History Museum. “We do something like this for Cumberland County spring break every year.”

The scavenger hunt is best suited for elementary and middle school-aged children, although younger kids are encouraged to join in on the fun.

Participants can pick up a clue sheet at the museum’s front desk.

“The scavenger hunt will have clues all around the museum and annex, and it is up to the participants to decide if the clues are ‘fact’ or ‘foolishness.’ Once completed, the answers will be revealed, and they can pick up a spring break prize while supplies last,” Linton said.

The Fayetteville History Museum has two floors of exhibits, ranging from prehistory to the present.

Artifacts from Revolutionary War hero Marquis de LaFayette’s visit to Fayetteville in 1824 are displayed on the first floor.

Fayetteville owes its name to the man who fought alongside General George Washington throughout the war and was the only city named for him that he visited on his tour throughout the U.S. years later.

Across the hall, in the Cape Fear River Gallery, visitors can learn about the ship stores industry and how the Cape Fear River played a pivotal role in the creation and continuation of Fayetteville.

Visitors can then venture upstairs to find Civil War exhibits, World War I and II exhibits, the role baseball played in Fayetteville and information about black artisans in the area.

The creation of Fort Bragg is also included in the information found at the museum.

Participants in the scavenger hunt will be looking through all of these exhibits to answer the clues given to them. According to Linton, one such possible question could ask for a “fact” or “foolishness” about LaFayette’s visit to Fayetteville.

“We are hoping people come out to enjoy the museum and what downtown has to offer during spring break," she said. "Hopefully, we get some new visitors to the museum, and returning visitors learn something new about our history.”

The Fayetteville History Museum, located at 325 Franklin St., is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 910-433-1457 or visit www.fcpr.us/facilities/museums/fayetteville-area-transportation-and-local-history-museum.

The museum and scavenger hunt are both free to the public.

Most states have still failed to recover the jobs lost during the depths of the COVID crisis in 2020. North Carolina is not, however, one of those states.

From February 2020 to February 2022, we experienced an employment increase of 1.5%, representing a net gain of 67,600 jobs. That ranks us 6th in job growth since the onset of COVID. Only 10 other states are in positive territory over the past two years: Utah (5.1%), Idaho (5.1%), Montana (3.1%), Texas (1.7%), Florida (1.7%), Arizona (1.3%), Georgia (1.2%), Tennessee (1.2%), Arkansas (0.9%), and Colorado (0.3%).

If we measure the recovery not by employment but by overall output, our state still fares well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, North Carolina’s real GDP has grown by an annualized average of 1.7% since the start of 2020, faster than the Southeast (1.1%) and the nation as a whole (0.8%).

There’s no question our state suffered mightily during the COVID crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people lost jobs or incomes. Millions suffered unprecedented restrictions on their personal liberty. And more than 23,000 of our fellow North Carolinians lost their lives.

Whatever you think of the public-health benefits of the stringent executive orders Gov. Roy Cooper imposed during the first few months of the COVID crisis, they certainly had a substantial dampening effect on the state’s economy. I assume the governor would grant the existence of such a downside, arguing that achieving North Carolina’s lower-than-average death rates was worth the cost. Others might question whether the state’s mandates were really the main cause of those lower death rates.

As an economic matter, though, North Carolina clearly bounced back more strongly from the COVID recession than most states did. Why? I'll offer three possible (and not mutually exclusive) explanations.

First, our state and local governments were comparatively well-prepared. During much of the past decade, lawmakers had prudently increased state savings while making North Carolina a more attractive place to work, invest, and create jobs by reforming our tax code, regulatory process, and infrastructure programs. These policy decisions served as the equivalent of a giant neon sign with the words “Do Business Here!” and a giant arrow pointing to North Carolina.

So even as some industries were swooning — and some businesses such as downtown restaurants were closing their doors for good — other industries were in a position to expand once the worst of the crisis was over.

They were already in place in North Carolina or looking closely at the state for their next major investments.

A second explanation might be that our economy's exposure to a pandemic-induced downturn was somewhat lower than those of our peers because of differences in structure. A smaller share of our population lives in urban centers, for example. And tourism, while an important part of North Carolina’s service sector, doesn't make up as large a share of GDP as it does in, say, our neighbor South Carolina.

Finally, our state has what many households and businesses are looking for in COVID’s aftermath. Remote work has finally come into its own, freeing up some workers to choose homes and communities based on quality of life rather than proximity to downtown employment districts. While cross-state relocations don’t yet constitute a flood by historical standards, North Carolina is one of the most popular destinations for those looking to reinvent themselves — and their businesses — in more a more congenial clime.

To say North Carolina is bouncing back is not to say everyone is coming along for the bouncy ride. Too many displaced workers remain on the sidelines of the labor market. Beyond a couple dozen urban and suburban counties, many other parts of the state continue to face major economic development challenges. Furthermore, increased reliance on remote work brings costs as well as benefits. Some restaurants and service businesses catering to office workers may turn out to be unsustainable in their current form.

Nevertheless, things could be worse. In most of the country, in fact, they are.

The Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce is holding an expo and a luncheon with a question-and-answer session for military spouses on April 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will take place at the Rudolph Jones Student Center at Fayetteville State University.

“The lunch and the expo is free to military spouses; male or female, veterans, members of the Gold Star community, anybody who is or has been married to someone in the military is welcome to come to this event for free,” said Claudia Black, events coordinator and sales specialist for the Chamber. “We are really trying to cater to the military spouses.”

Bronwen Pence, the wife of Fort Bragg Garrison commander Col. Scott Pence, will be moderating a question-and-answer session during the luncheon.

“We will have a panel of four ladies from throughout different branches of the military. The panel will be giving spouses some insight on what military life is like, anything they feel might be helpful to the spouses,” Black said.

The panel will include U.S. Army Special Operation Command-wife Kimberly Weimer and Garrison-wife Nikki Loehr.

The panel will also have a newer military spouse so that the question-and-answer session can be diverse, Black said.
Paul Mitchell will be providing makeovers throughout the day for the spouses, and Five West Media will be on hand
to create headshots for the
attendees. Spouses can receive professional headshots digitally.

Breakout sessions will occur during the morning, the first being a mental wellness session. It will include office yoga and a discussion with a mental wellness doctor talking about stress and how to cope with spouses deploying.

The second breakout room of the day will be geared toward extreme couponing, a subject Black said was very well received during the last military spouse event.

An expo will also be available throughout the day. Thirty-eight vendor booths will be set up in the halls of FSU, and spouses are more than welcome to come and go. If spouses can’t attend the whole event, they can still come to the expo.

Guests walking through the expo will be able to get free gifts and talk to the vendors. Those who come to the luncheon will also receive a swag bag.

“We have a lot of great swag bags to give out,” Black said.

“We still have room for more table sponsors. A business can sponsor a table. They get one seat at the table, and then we put seven military spouses with them, so they get some one-on-one time with the spouses. The business can decorate the table with signage,” Black said.

“We really want these seats to be filled with military spouses. That’s the whole goal of this, for them to have a fun day and be pampered and hopefully learn some stuff.”

The expo and luncheon are free to military spouses, but Black said guests should register before the event. To register, visit www.faybiz.com.

Excitement is boiling. Here comes Arbor Day. That celestial holiday got me pondering what the Vikings thought about trees. Voila: today’s lesson is about the Vikings’ sacred tree Yggdrasil. What? You say you have never heard of Yggdrasil? Well, listen my children, and you shall hear of the midnight tree called Yggdrasil.

The Yggdrasil tree is the pillar of Viking theology. It was so big it not only held up, but also connected all the elements of the universe. The Yggdrasil was like the Dark Matter that our modern-day astronomer theologists believe in. Yiggy, as his friends called him, was Norse for Odin’s Horse. Yiggy’s top branches reached somewhere far above the rainbow where only Elon Musk could fly.
His roots went all the way into the underworld land of the dead. Yiggy was quite the tree. He was a veritable eco-system with a Dragon named Nidhogg and a bunch of snakes at the bottom, and an enchanted eagle at the top. There was also a pesky squirrel named Drill-Tooth who ran up and down the trunk causing mischief by repeating insults from the Dragon and the eagle to keep things stirred up.

Odin was the King of the Viking Gods who hung out with the other lesser gods in a party treehouse called Asgard at the top of Yiggy. Yiggy’s roots dipped into the bottomless Well of Urd. Three bodacious goddesses called Norns were lounging around, deciding humanity’s fate. The Norns would cut Runes into Yiggy’s bark which dictated what would happen on Earth. This aggravated Odin because he couldn’t read the Runes. Odin cyphered that if he hung himself from a branch of Yiggy, stabbed himself with a spear, and stared into the Well of Urd he would come to understand Runes. After spending nine days hanging around, Odin had a moment of clarity. Eureka, he understood the Runes! But knowing the future does not always lead to safe and restful sleep.

With Runic knowledge comes the Viking’s version of the end of the world — Ragnarok, in which the gods and man come to a bad end. If the Vikings are right, this is what is in store for us. The Norns bring on the world’s worst cold weather — The Great Winter, which lasts three years. Famine and pestilence stalk the land. Cannibalism becomes the new fad diet.

The Two Big Bad Wolves Hati and Skoll, who have been chasing the moon and sun like a dog chasing a car, finally succeed in their quest. They chow down on all celestial bodies, including the stars. The sky turns black and empty. Even Yiggy starts to shake. Another giant wolf named Fenrir breaks his chain and runs wild on the land chomping hapless humans.

Remember Cecil the Sea Sick Sea Serpent? His evil twin, the giant sea serpent Jormungand, rises like the Kraken from the ocean depths and swamps the land.

The waves break loose the good ship Naglfar — the Nail Ship. The Nail Ship is so named because it is constructed of dead humans’ fingernails and toenails. Not sure what the Vikings were smoking when they came up with this, but you can probably buy it in California. The crew of the Nail Ship is a rowdy bunch of giants, led by Captain Loki, who start acting like drunken homicidal psychopathic sailors on extended shore leave. Fenrir the wolf is so big his upper jaw touches the sky as he eats everyone in his path. Jormungand spews venom all over the world, poisoning everything. Sort of like Putin in Ukraine or the former guy on Fox.

About this time, the sky cracks open, plopping a bunch of Fire Giants onto the Earth, ready to duke it out with Odin and
his boys.

The Viking Gods versus the Fire Giants. Odin gets eaten by Fenrir the wolf. Odin’s son Vidar goes ballistic and shoves his magic shoe into Fenrir’s mouth. While Fenrir is choking on the shoe, Vidar cuts Fenrir’s throat. Fenrir then expires. Thor and Jormungand get into it, resulting in the deaths of both of them. What is left of the world then collapses into the ocean, leaving nothing behind but a giant pool of dirty, bloody, reeking water.

The end.

So, what have we learned today? The Vikings were much weirder than we give them credit for. There is a new movie coming out at the end of April called “The Northman” which is supposed to be historically accurate.

Go see the movie if this column has not turned you off to Vikings. If someone yells Ragnarok in a movie theater, hurry up and finish your popcorn, as time is about up.
Reading Runes is fundamental. Ragnarok and Roll is here to stay.

The Spring Lake Police Department will host the annual Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run April 23 at 9:00 a.m. at Veteran's Park.

“We are known as the Guardians of the Flame and we support the athletes who have intellectual and physical disabilities in life,” said Napolean McCormick, Evidence Sergeant and Special Olympics coordinator.

“Everyone knows about the Olympics that occur every four years, but the Special Olympics summer games occur annually during the first week in June in Raleigh and the funds that we raise goes toward the equipment, uniforms, and other resources they need to help host their games,” he said.

McCormick added that many of the police officers attend the summer games and the officers present the medals to the athletes at their games.

The Spring Lake Police Department’s fundraising goal is $10,000.

“Yes, our goal is $10,000, but I will be happy if we get $7,000 so we can get our name on the back of the Special Olympics t-shirt,” said McCormick. “If we get our name on the back of the shirt it shows that Spring Lake is heavily involved with Special Olympics.”

The run is approximately two and a half miles long.

“The runner will start at the flag pole at the intersection of Main Street and Ruth Street,” said McCormick. “Then they will continue up Main Street through town; circle the roundabout on the bridge; go across the bridge; turn left and run towards Lillian Black Elementary School; make a right on the street at the stop sign and run around the back of the school and come back to the flag pole.”

He added, “If you are walking you will round the bridge and turn around and come back to the flag pole.”

The Special Olympics is a worldwide movement that was founded in the 1950s by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of former President John F. Kennedy. She observed that individuals with intellectual and physical abilities were treated unfairly so she decided to take action. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her efforts.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics North Carolina began in 1987 and raises more than 1.3 million for Special Olympics North Carolina each year and serves nearly 40,000 athletes.

“We are asking for donations or to purchase a Special Olympics t-shirt or beach towel for $20,” said McCormick.

“If you would like to get your name on the Special Olympics t-shirt, you can do this by becoming a corporate sponsor.”

“It is not a race, it is a symbolic thing showing the community that we are supporting Special Olympics and these athletes,” said McCormick. “We are asking everyone to come out and support this worthy cause.”

Join the Spring Lake Police Department as a “Torch Run Warrior.” Runners will receive a certificate of participation.
Sponsorship information is available at www.sonc.net.

There is no entry fee. Registration starts at 8:15 a.m. on the day of the run.
For more information call 910-237-9470.

Cool Spring Downtown is bringing poetry to Fayetteville. In celebration of National Poetry Month, the organization will host Poetry in Motion, featuring poet Nick Courmon on Friday, April 22.

The event will take place onboard downtown Fayetteville’s “Can Do” Caldwell Banker Trolley and depart from Bright Light Brewing Company at 7 p.m., then again at 8 p.m.

International poet and spoken-word artist, Nick Courmon, will bring his poetry to a moving stage as ticket holders enjoy a relaxing ride around the city, perhaps with a beer in hand.

“In celebration of National Poetry Month, we want to highlight one of the many talented local poets in Fayetteville,” said Lauren Falls, director of marketing and events for Cool Spring Downtown District. “We are excited to have Nick Courmon perform his pieces on the ‘Can-Do’ Coldwell Banker Trolley.”

A native of Greensboro, Courmon’s poetry focuses on social issues, mental health and African American history. Widely published, Courmon has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, and his work can be seen in BROAD magazine, and Teen Ink magazine, to name a few.

Cool Spring Downtown, a non-profit organization dedicated to sustaining the arts and entertainment district in downtown Fayetteville, is excited to host this unique event and invites anyone and everyone over the age of 21 to come out and enjoy.

Falls wants ticket holders to “experience the vibe as you take a ride on the ‘Can-Do’ Trolley through Fayetteville and savor the powerful poetry from Nick Courmon. Alcohol will be available for purchase, and you’ll be able to bring your drink on the trolley.”

National Poetry Month, founded in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, is intended to celebrate the lyrical expression of experience by honoring the presence of poetry and poets in our everyday lives.
Cool Spring Downtown District wants to bring that effort to Fayetteville and introduce poetry to those unfamiliar with the art form and its established presence in the city.

“We would like for those who participate in the Poetry in Motion event to get plugged into the poetry scene in Fayetteville and are also encouraged to join in on the fun events Cool Spring Downtown District hosts,” Falls said.

In addition to Poetry in Motion, Cool Spring Downtown’s Fourth Friday Fayetteville will also be in full swing from 6 to 9 p.m.
This event is free and open to the public every fourth Friday from March to October. On these evenings, Downtown Fayetteville plays host to live performers, musicians, artists, makers, food trucks and vendors along Hay and Person Streets.

“Our mission for Cool Spring Downtown District is to continue building the arts and entertainment in downtown Fayetteville. We strive to program inclusive events that cater to a broader arts community in downtown Fayetteville,” Falls said.

Tickets to the Poetry in Motion trolley are $25 and can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com/e/poetry-in-motion-tickets-304081896137.

The “Can-Do” trolley leaves from Bright Light Brewing Company, located at 444 West Russel St.

For information about Nick Courmon and his poetry, visit www.ndcpoetry.com/.

Fayetteville Comic Con is coming to the Crown Complex Convention Center from April 23 to 24 and promises two days of fun for self-proclaimed geeks of all ages.

Fayetteville stands out because it draws people interested in all pop culture, not just comic books.

“We're just fans who found that Fayetteville has an amazing collective of people interested in superheroes, movies, anime, cosplay, gaming, video gaming, tabletop role play (and more),” said organizer Keith Gibbs.

“We're more of a homegrown community of geeks and nerds, and we think that there's a little bit of geek in everyone.”

The guest list includes 30 voice-over actors, comic book legends and stars of television and screen, ready to meet fans, sign autographs, participate in Q&As and pose for photographs.

Anime fans can meet Joshua Seth, one of the voices behind “Digimon Adventures,” and Wayne Grayson, a favorite from “Yi-Gi-Oh!”
Guests representing "Power Rangers: Wild Force,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin” and several actors from action and horror movies will also be there.

The Fayetteville convention is one of the most interactive iterations of Comic Con, according to Gibbs, because attendees can participate in multiple events during the show. There will be a spoken-word rap battle, a cosplay lip sync contest and specialty panels with topics chosen by fans.

Attendees will also have a chance to compete in a trivia game show called Nerd Slam, where they can test their knowledge of geek culture. Contestants will be selected from the audience in a lottery-style drawing similar to “The Price is Right.”

Attendees who come dressed as their favorite characters (known as cosplay) will have the chance to enter costume contests. Kids will have their own competition on Saturday.

“We really like to celebrate the families who bring their kids in on the first day, so everybody walks (the) stage,” Gibbs said. “But that's really designed just to encourage cosplay among kids so that it's more of a celebration.”

Adults will have a chance to enter one of two contests on Sunday. One is geared toward people who purchase pre-made costumes, and the second contest, the Master Class Competition, is for cosplayers who have crafted their own regalia. They will have a chance to win a $500 first-place prize for their craftsmanship.

Cosplay is a big part of all Comic Cons, and the Fayetteville convention will be no different. Several local cosplayers will have interactive presentations that will educate and entertain onlookers, including an experience in creating a mythical land through set dressing and prop building.

Special guest Karen Whitfield, who has been cosplaying since the late 1970s, will chat about her experience traveling to conventions as Bronze Batgirl with Adam West and Burt Ward, the actors better known as Batman and Robin from the 1960s television series.

Since it started, Rocky Melvin, a cosplayer from Goldsboro, has attended Fayetteville Comic Con. He is debuting a new “Transformer” costume this year: Blue Angel. Melvin has been working on it for two years and spent one year training to wear the gear and learning to walk on stilts. He is 6’4” but will be an astonishing 10 feet tall when he is suited up.

“I absolutely love getting in costume just to see kids’ (faces) light up and not know if what they are seeing is real,” he said.

Wrestling will be returning to the Fayetteville Comic Con this year. The 2-6 Wrestling Academy will present live wrestling with Fayetteville-based performers and stars from the independent circuits on the East Coast.

There will be many opportunities to shop for those looking to score unique souvenirs. More than 90 vendors will display and sell items like vintage toys, prop weapons and comic books, plus artisans showcasing handcrafted items and artwork.

Fayetteville native Joe Covas, a comic book and pop culture fan artist, looks forward to sharing his work at the event.

“I think what makes Fayetteville (Comic Con) special for me personally is that it's my home. Having a venue for fans of pop culture and comic books means a lot to me because growing up here, there wasn't anything like this,” he said. “It's also a great way to help support many of the local artists and offer them exposure.”

The Fayetteville Comic Con started in 2015 as a one-day event but has expanded to a twice-yearly, two-day convention in the spring and fall. Gibbs expects upwards of 10,000 people for this year's spring show.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for young adults 13 to 20 and are valid for one day of admission. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Visit https://fayettevillecomiccon.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

With laser-eye focus, combat gear secured and tails wagging, eight military working dog teams launched into their real-world scenario based training lanes for one common purpose — to earn the title Military Working Dog Team of the Year.

The first Military Working Dog Team of the Year Competition was hosted March 24 by Fort Bragg’s Public Health Activity at the Medical Simulation Training Center on Fort Bragg. Each dog and handler team, specializing in either narcotics or explosive detection, competed in different tasks throughout the cloudy and drizzly day, challenging them on their knowledge and skills.

Two teams came out on top — Cpl. Taylor Reed and military working dog, Gert, for narcotics detection and Cpl. Jericho Arengo and military working dog, Serif, for explosives detection. Both teams are from Fort Bragg’s 550th Military Working Dog Detachment.

“I am still astounded being named the Fort Bragg Explosive MWD Team of the Year,” said Arengo. “There were a lot of great MWD teams competing for the title. It was not an easy competition.”

Arengo added that he and his canine partner worked well together, despite a few deficiencies that they will continue to work through as a team. However, he definitely made sure Serif got a lot of extra treats, belly rubs and free time to run around to be a dog as celebration.

“We’ve never had anything like this,” said Reed, Narcotics MWD Team of the Year. “We had the opportunity to practice hands-on (training) in a simulated and controlled environment on what we need to know how to do as dog handlers. The entire event was far above and beyond any training I could have dreamed of and it was executed perfectly. I feel very honored and prideful of our detachment.”

In total, three military installations across the country were represented: Fort Bragg, Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

“It’s always nice to get camaraderie with our Army counterparts,” said Senior Airmen Devon Reynolds, whose canine partner is a 2-year-old German shepherd named Bruno from the 633rd Security Forces Squadron, JBLE. “We don’t get to work with them all that often, so when we do it’s a great opportunity to learn from each other and have a little fun while we’re at it.”

Each team was tested on their ability to detect the scent of either narcotics or explosives, how to administer first aid to both humans and dogs, how to use radio communications, how to operate in a chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear and high yield explosives environment, and assemble/dissemble their weapon — all the while tending to and protecting their four-legged partner.

“I like how there’s so much variety while going through the training,” said Pfc. Gabriel Franco, 550th MWD Detachment. “You get a lot more experience and knowledge out of the competition so that we will be prepared
if anything actually was to happen
for real.”

When coordinating the competition, Capt. Heather Weaver, the officer in charge of the event and assigned to the Fort Bragg PHA, said they had direct backing from her command team and their soldiers worked very hard as the main support. The detection, bite and medical lanes had graders from 3rd Special Forces Group, First Year Graduate Veterinary Internship captains and 4th Security Forces Squadron. The 550th MWD Detachment provided detection aids, weapons and basic dog needs like trailers and water. All the units working together provided an Army, Air Force and Special Forces perspective to the scoring of each lane.

“We were looking for a competition to show us the most well-rounded MWD-handler team,” said Weaver. “These handlers also compete in the Expert Soldier Badge annually, but we wanted a way to tie in detection/bite work and daily tasks asked of these teams, Army Warrior Tasks, and medical training.”

Weaver added that she frequently provides training to the 550th MWD Detachment teams and 4th Security Forces Squadron from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

“Instead of becoming confident and complacent in our training, we wanted to see what the handlers would do in real-life scenarios without my direct guidance,” Weaver said. “This allows us to gauge where the most frequent gaps of knowledge lie, and it also allows us to come up with a course of action to close those identified gaps.”

With the partnership between the different units, not only competing together but also supporting the event, many of the competitors agreed that they learned a lot.

“I learned things I didn’t even know I didn’t know,” laughed Pfc. Sheridan Reagin, 550th MWD Detachment. “I definitely put myself to the test. The most challenging was the medical lane. I went in thinking I knew a lot about first aid, but then I sort of panicked.”

The medical lane started off with a patrol walk through the woods when suddenly, simulated artillery rounds went off and there were human and dog causalities. The competitors rushed to their assigned lane and began to administer first aid to either the human or dog training aide.

“The dogs that we worked on, they’re so realistic,” added Reagin, looking at Max, her 5-year-old German shepherd partner. “I feel like if I get efficient on the training dog, I will be able to remain calm and perform first aid on my dog if needed. It was a different experience tending to the human casualty than the dog. There’s that added emotional connection with Max. He’s my buddy.”

The Advanced Canine Medical Trainer, K9 Diesel, is a full-body simulator used by handlers and veterinarians to practice medical aid. The fur covered robot dog whines, growls, breathes, bleeds, has a pulse, makes airway obstruction noises, has a real-time sensor that is customizable to different scenarios and reacts to treatments administered — it looks, reacts and sounds like a real dog.

Teaming up with the Fort Bragg Veterinarian Clinic across the parking lot from the 550th MWD Detachment has its perks for the local teams that train monthly on different medical scenarios and utilize the K9 Diesel quarterly.

“We are very fortunate to have (the vet clinic) so close to provide their expertise,” said Reagin. “We are our dog’s primary caregiver, we can’t just call for a medic. It’s up to (us) to apply first aid until (we) can get (them) to the vet.”

With both winners coming from Fort Bragg’s 550th MWD Detachment, the event solidified that the training is being retained and that handlers are able to apply their knowledge when challenged, said Weaver.

Arengo added that having both winners from the same unit correlates with the excellent training opportunities and trainers available at Fort Bragg.

“The 550th Military Working Dog Detachment holds their handlers above the standard,” Arengo said. “That says a lot about the detachment.”

In a lawsuit filed last month, Cumberland County alleges that Chemours and its predecessor companies have, over the past few decades, “secretly pumped millions of pounds of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,” or PFAS, into the air above its Fayetteville Works facility in the southern part of the county.

Chemours, a spin-off of the chemical company DuPont, is the maker of GenX, one of the PFAS substances, among others, referred to in the lawsuit.
Cumberland County alleges that Chemours and DuPont have been polluting the air, groundwater and surface water with PFAS for decades with a “blatant disregard” for residents in the county.

“As has been widely reported, defendants have used the environment surrounding theFayetteville Works facility as a dumping ground for hundreds of chemicals while assuring the EPA and state agencies that they were doing no such thing,” the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit alleges that from the early 1970s until 2015, when DuPont owned the Fayetteville Works site, the company “discharged millions of pounds of PFAS.”

Among these PFAS, the lawsuit alleges, was a chemical called C8, a substance previously produced by DuPont that may be related to health issues such as birth defects and cancer, when exposed at high levels, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

In 2005, DuPont agreed to pay $16.5 million in EPA fines for violating a requirement to “report to EPA substantial risk information about chemicals they manufacture, process or distribute in commerce,” according to the regulatory agency.

In 2009, DuPont began production of GenX as a replacement to phase out C8. While C8 has ceased, the production of GenX at the Fayetteville Works site continues, but there is limited information on the effect of GenX in humans, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

In an emailed statement to Carolina Public Press, Chemours said the company was disappointed by Cumberland’s decision to file a lawsuit.

“Our discussions with the county have included offering different alternative water systems to qualifying county properties,” the company said.

“We are also working collaboratively with the county and (the Fayetteville Public Works Commission) water to connect impacted Cumberland County residents to public water where feasible.”

In 2020, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners voted to allocate $10.5 million in an effort to find an alternative water source for Gray’s Creek, an area south of Fayetteville where GenX was found in N.C. Department of Environmental Quality testing in some residential wells groundwater.

Last month, commissioners were expected to finalize an agreement in which Fayetteville PWC would provide water to the area, but County Manager Amy Cannon requested more time to work on the contract with PWC.

Since the Chemours facility is located off State Road 87, south of PWC’s water supply and further down the Cape Fear River, the GenX contamination attributed to Chemours does not affect the PWC, a spokesperson for the utility said.

The company has also supplied bottled water to students and faculty at Gray’s Creek Elementary, the company’s statement said.

On behalf of Cumberland County, the lawsuit against Chemours was filed by Crueger Dickinson LLC and Baron & Budd, P.C. Commissioners decided on these firms last June. According to the contract with the attorneys, the firms will receive 25% of any possible recovery for damages.

GenX effects on humans

GenX is used in products such as food packaging, nonstick coatings and firefighting foam, according to DHHS.
The substance is part of a larger group of chemicals called PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” due to their durability and virtual inability to be broken down.

Exposure to high levels of some PFAS, according to the EPA, may lead to health issues in humans such as high blood pressure in pregnant women, developmental effects in children and increased risk of some cancers.

For GenX specifically, the link isn’t as clear.
A study published by the EPA last year suggests that livers in animals may be sensitive to GenX. Other potential effects in animals include developmental issues and some cancers.

More studies in people are needed to determine the chemical’s effect on the human liver or other organs, according to DHHS.

A small, limited study from DHHS found that GenX may not stay in the human body for a long time.
Chemours stands by the safety of the chemical, according to their website.

“If incidental exposure were to occur, it’s rapidly eliminated from the body,” the company claims.
Continued research on the effects on humans is ongoing among scientists, including those at N.C. State University’s GenX exposure study.

State investigation

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has been investigating allegations of GenX contamination from Chemours since June 2017 when the Wilmington StarNews reported that the chemical had been found in drinking water in the lower Cape Fear River.

In February 2019, DEQ filed a consent order against Chemours requiring them to address current and prevent future GenX contamination.
Last year, DEQ found Chemours responsible for the contamination of groundwater and water supply wells in New Hanover County and possibly Pender, Columbus and Brunswick counties as well.

As a result, the state required Chemours to sample the drinking water in those downstream communities. On March 28, DEQ sent the company a letter requiring the company to expand their plan for sampling within the counties.

In their emailed statement, Chemours said they are continuing to comply with the state’s consent order.

“We are committed to continued engagement with Cumberland County as we implement the terms of the consent order agreement,” the company said.

The Gray’s Creek community in Cumberland County could receive federal funding to help address the GenX contamination of some residential wells.

The county Board of Commissioners unanimously agreed Monday to apply for North Carolina’s drinking water reserve and wastewater reserve grant.

The grant, which has two rounds of funding in the spring and fall, is financed through federal allocations to the state as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality will administer the funds and determine which applicants are awarded grant money.

If accepted, the county could receive up to $15 million to fund construction of a new central water distribution system in the Gray’s Creek area in southern Cumberland County, according to county documents.

The state’s grant is meant for at-risk water systems for which, among other purposes, the applicant’s intention is to connect residences in disadvantaged, underserved communities to a different water system.

According to water sampling from DEQ, some residential wells in Gray’s Creek are contaminated with GenX, a chemical substance produced in the nearby Chemours plant.

GenX is a trade name for one unregulated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance, or PFAS, used in manufacturing nonstick coatings, among other purposes, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last month, Cumberland County filed a lawsuit against Chemours and its predecessor company, DuPont, for allegedly releasing millions of pounds of PFAS into the air above its Fayetteville Works facility in the decades following 1970, as reported by Carolina Public Press.

To determine how GenX affects the human body, more studies need to be done, according to DHHS. A small, limited study from the state agency suggests the substance, which DuPont started producing in 2009, may leave the human body quickly.

Previously, the county had allocated $10.5 million for providing an alternative water system for Gray’s Creek. A pending contract is in place with the Fayetteville Public Works Commission, but the board has not yet finalized and approved that agreement.

The county has until May 2 to apply for the state grant.

If DEQ doesn’t accept Cumberland County’s application, the department will automatically consider the application for the next round of funding in the fall.

The state could grant a low-interest loan to supplement funding if Cumberland County accepts, according to DEQ.

If funding is still available after both application rounds, DEQ will give more to accepted applicants in $5 million increments until all the money is exhausted. DEQ will reward applicants in increments in order of priority, which the agency will determine.

PHOTO CREDIT: Chemours' Fayetteville Works Plant Manager Brian Long, describes a newly installed mechanism for waste management and emissions reduction in late 2018. Melissa Sue Gerrits / Carolina Public Press

Cora’s Community Foundation is hosting “The Rollout,” an event that seeks to bring local and state politicians together with their constituents for a night of skating and fun.

“The Roll Out” will be held Tuesday, May 3, from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. at Round-A-Bout Skating Center.

“This event is an open invitation to all candidates, no matter their affiliation, to come under one roof and interface with the public. We want people to be able to put a face to the names on the ballot,” said Rakeem “Keem” Jones, Cora’s Community Foundation’s co-founder and executive director.

“The Roll Out” is part of an initiative to engage more voters aged 18 to 35 to register 1000 new voters.

“I want to engage the area where people don’t go. We already know where the voters are, so I want to engage the young dude from Murchison Road who maybe doesn’t know the importance of voting in local elections or voting at all,” Jones told Up & Coming Weekly.

“Now that I know how voting affects us, I want to be a bridge between candidates and the community in a setting not so formal. It’s hard to skate in a suit and tie,” he joked.

There won’t be any speeches on the night of “The Roll Out,” nor any big political ideas or agendas. Candidates will have on nametags and are encouraged to meet and engage in fellowship with potential voters.

“So far, the response from candidates has been great,” Jones stated. Any candidate interested can participate in this event, but they must RSVP by April 22.

“I want people to take away knowledge of the people they’re voting for instead of voting for the sign they see the most. I want people to ask the questions that help them make a more informed decision,” Jones said.

Though Cora’s Community Foundation does not endorse any particular candidate, Jones speaks a great deal about accountability when it comes to politics.

“If you don’t know who you’re voting for, you don’t know who to hold accountable,” he said. “You don’t have to be rude, but you can be informed and push back where it matters. This event is about bringing power back to the people.”

“The Roll Out’s” mission is two-fold. Along with the candidate meet and greet, the event also hopes to bring some awareness to the rising violence in Fayetteville.

Co-founder of Heal the Ville, Demetria Murphy, will attend to spread her message of peace and healing for the city.

Jones, whose sister was murdered in 2019, feels strongly about this message and is always eager to partner with those who seek to uplift the community.

Getting his start in social activism by leading a protest on Scarborough Road in 2020, Jones felt compelled to do more for the city of Fayetteville.

Jones founded Cora’s Community Foundation in 2021 along with his fiance Grace Pelt, Alexis McLaurin and Shea and Christian Mosely.

Cora’s Community Foundation, named after Jones’ late mother, Cora Denise Jones, is a grassroots organization dedicated to addressing systemic inequalities and providing solutions that benefit everyone.

Since forming in May of last year, the Foundation has led or participated in several outreach projects that directly empower, support or celebrate the people of Fayetteville.

Teaming up with big names in the community, such as Grammy-nominated Fayetteville rapper, Morray, celebrity barber Vic Blends, and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, to name a few, Cora’s Foundation has wasted little time in getting to work for its community, serving thousands thus far.

Jones is hopeful that the “The Roll Out” event will be equally beneficial to the community.

“Everyone likes to skate, and everyone likes to eat,” Jones said. “We want people to come out and have a good time, good food and a good vibe. We want people to get to know each other in a family-friendly atmosphere.”

Round-A-Bout Skating Center is located at Eutaw Shopping Center at 880 Elm St.

Candidates must RSVP by April 22 and can do so at 910-709-0826 or corascommunityfoundation@gmail.com.

For more information, contact Cora’s Community Foundation at 910-709-0826 or corascommunityfoundation@gmail.com.

Tis' the season! I was recently invited to support and sponsor a political event. Being totally transparent here, I agreed with a good bit of what the people stood for, but I felt a little like Jesus must have felt when the people around him wanted to push him into the political arena. Like they were searching for the wrong kingdom. Jesus was a hopeful sign to many. The world he worked and walked in was chaotic; the entire region was under the thumb of the Roman Empire, which cruelly and forcefully taxed them to fund their occupation.

To make matters worse, the religious leaders of the day were somewhat complicit in controlling the people in exchange for a sense of power bestowed on them by the oppressing government. Then along came this man who spoke up against the religious leaders, befuddled the occupying Romans, and went from town-to-town healing people of blindness and physical infirmity while attracting crowds as he taught about peace with God and man. Because of the signs he performed, the crowds grew larger. And as the crowds grew, those who followed him decided that he should have a place in power — that he should be king!

To them, it seemed natural and fitting that Jesus should be revered and honored among the masses. Why shouldn't he be worshiped on earth like he is in heaven? But Jesus wasn't interested in gaining glory and fame. He had no interest in the kingdoms of this world, just the people who lived within them.

"Now, when the people saw the sign that he performed, they began to say, 'This one is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world!' Then Jesus, because he knew that they were about to come and seize him in order to make him king, withdrew again up the mountain by himself alone" (John 6:14–15).
This all reveals something about human nature. Although the crowds wanted to make Jesus king, they weren't necessarily looking to revere him. They were looking out for themselves. They wanted to install a new kingdom—one brought on by force and political revolution. They wanted their immediate physical needs met, but they didn't necessarily consider the great spiritual revolution that needed to take place within.

In short, they didn't consider the cost of change. Following Jesus isn't something we do because it's somehow convenient for us. Following Jesus requires everything of us—and it will probably look more like a life of sacrifice than a life of power or ease. Jews who followed Jesus were challenged to accept him, not as a prophet or a Messiah, but as the son of God. The same crowd that followed Jesus obsessively, looking for signs, was eventually confronted by teaching that shook their understanding of this Messiah and what God expected from them.

Here's a challenge as we head into a season where we're asked to (and should) offer a vote for people vying for political titles: Be careful where you place your trust. People come and go from public office, but human nature hasn't changed much all of history. Let your hope rest in things eternal.

Lower back pain is a common reason people visit a healthcare provider. About four out of five people will experience some type of back pain. The causes of back pain can be numerous and either acute or chronic. It can come because of injuries, sprains, discs, sciatica, osteoporosis, age, job-related factors, etc. Proper diagnosis of back pain from a medical exam can usually identify the conditions causing the pain and medical treatment.

However, one form of back pain comes from our posture and not being physically fit. The spine may not be adequately supported because of a weak back and abdominal muscles. If you spend time sitting or riding, you may start to experience tightness in your hip flexors and weakness in your core, which begin to cause muscle imbalance. Working on your computer and looking at your cell phone can cause the upper back to become weaker and the shoulders to round forward. Other reasons that can contribute to poor posture are heavy purses and backpacks.

Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself as you passed a storefront window and noticed that you were slouching? If your parents ever taught you to sit up straight, stand straight or quit slouching those were words of wisdom. Our joints are surrounded by muscles that are controlled and produce our movements. If one muscle becomes tight on the side of a joint, it causes the other side to become weak. Muscle imbalances can result in injury with repetitive movement or overuse. The good news is that posture-related back pain can be improved.

Knowing how your muscle imbalance is created may help you find the reason, and that, in conjunction with some exercise, could help you eliminate or significantly reduce your back pain. Repetitive motions are one of the first reasons for back pain, and switching it up might be an effective way to start. Ask yourself if you sit the same way every day, carry your purse on the same shoulder, play sports while engaging one side and work out using the same muscles? If you are in a job that requires you to remain seated, look for opportunities to stand up and move around. Slouching while driving, especially on long trips, can contribute to back pain.

While driving on long trips, get out of the car and stretch or reposition your seat. Exercising in the same plane of motion moves the body through the same repetitive motion, such as running, cycling or doing the same bicep curl each time you work out. Frequent wearing of high heel shoes can also contribute to posture-related problems because it can change the position of your knees and cause tightness in your calves. Exercise that targets our core is beneficial for back health and lessens the chance of injury or pain.

A healthy back is a result of a stable and strong core. Core strength is not about six-pack abdominals because developing strong core muscles make a happy back. The core is any muscle that attaches to the spine or pelvis. Core exercises can include planks, bird dogs, reverse crunches, cat-cow, bridges and hamstring stretches. Stretching is also good for your back, such as the knee-chest stretches and group fitness classes that include barre, yoga and Pilates. Try to remember to lift by bending the knees and avoiding abdominal crunches because they stress the spine. Not all exercises help back pain; seek medical advice when in doubt. Live, love life with a healthy back!

The 16th Annual Eastcoast Stepshow returns to Fayetteville on Saturday, April 16, at the Crown Theater.

Founded in 1998 at Fayetteville State University, the show has grown in scope and reach over the past seventeen years and is dedicated to showcasing: "Steppin' at Its Finest."

Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and one of the show's founders, Ernest Smith, states the show's original concept, "Steppin' for Success," began as a mentorship program for children in the community.

"Different members would become instructors for kids attending Cumberland and Moore County schools in hopes that the kids would see us and aspire to go to college," he said.

The show, focused initially on local step teams in the panhellenic community, now features high-caliber step teams from all over the country and offers various entertainment for a full evening of family fun.

Richard Smith, co-coordinator for the event, says the show's main objective is to put on something "new and diverse for the community."

"With a variety of Greek performers and routines, we offer great choreography, great entertainment, and great fun," Richard Smith said.

For those not familiar with step, it is a "high energy series of synchronized rhythms and beats. Each step is performed in unison by all members. It's not dancing, and it's not cheerleading — it's somewhere in-between," Ernest Smith explained. "If you've never seen a show, you're in for a treat."

With step teams from Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, Richard Smith is especially excited about the diversity of The Eastcoast Step Show.

"Most local step-shows just have local teams. It's a passion for me to show how different stepping is all over the country," he said.

The event is hosted by comedian Emmanuel Hudson from "Nick Cannon's Wild n' Out." The show's coordinators have put together an evening that keeps everyone in mind. With comedy, seven collegiate step teams, one dance team, a middle school step team and music, there's plenty to excite everyone in the audience.

Ticketholders can also look forward to a special appearance by Grammy-nominated R&B artist Tank, performing some of his greatest hits to close out the show.

"The ladies love him," Richard Smith joked.

In addition to creating exposure for local entertainment, the show donates a portion of its proceeds to College and Alumni Fraternity & Sorority Step Teams to assist with their various endeavors throughout the year.

Due to scheduling conflicts and the difficulties of the pandemic, The Eastcoast Step Show hasn't been to Fayetteville in several years. Still, the community remembers it fondly, and the show is eager to return to its roots.

When guests walk away on Saturday night, Richard Smith hopes they " had a great and enjoyable night, full of variety."

Adding to that sentiment, Ernest Smith said he hopes to hear, "that was amazing; I can't wait to go back."

The show starts at 6 p.m. with doors opening one hour before showtime.

Tickets for the event are $25 to $65 and can be purchased at the following locations: The Crown Box Office, Leisure Travel Service-Ft. Bragg, FSU Box Office, and Page Talk- Lumberton NC.

Those interested can also purchase tickets online at capefeartix.com. For more information, call 803-619-0172.

Book Black Women, Inc. is hosting a Night With the Stars, Saturday, April 23, at 7 p.m. Three films will be screened during the event. Attendees should dress all in white.

"I read that the color white, in African cultures, symbolizes peace, good fortune, creation and the spiritual realm of the ancestors. I thought that was beautiful and falls in line with the Book Black Women brand," said Ayana Washington, founder of Book Black Women, Inc.

"Aside from that super deep aspect, I believe white in contrast with the green landscape is a gorgeous concept."

The venue for the event will be the backyard of the 1897 Poe House, located on Bradford Avenue in the Haymount Historic District. The house, owned by E.A. Poe, a local businessman and owner of the Poe Brick Company, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and is a part of the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex.

The three films being shown during the event are all directed and created by black women. The first, "Experience of Black Women of Cumberland County Vol. 1," was created by Michele Falls. In the documentary, Falls tells the story of thirteen local black women and their cultural, professional and personal experiences within Cumberland County.

In an interview with the Fayetteville Arts Council, Falls said, "This documentary is a love letter to myself as a child, and to my beautiful Black American baby girl. I began this project to better understand my Black heritage and to give my daughter a foundation I never had."

The second film, "The Race Against Race," created by Nattalyee Randall, is about her experience using running as an act of protest during the Black Lives Matter movement. The film has been accepted to four film festivals: DOC NYC, Trail Running Film Fest, Africa World Documentary Festival and Love and Hope International Film Festival.

The final showing is "I'm a Star," directed by Alason Little. The episode follows a dancer preparing backstage for a dance recital, a future star. It is the fifth episode of the series Dogwood, a digital Yellow Beanie Project.

"I did not choose the films, if you can believe that," said Washington. "I let the artists come to me organically, and their films were presented to me. I know that sounds super artsy, but it's true. I started talking to friends about the type of event I wanted to put on, and they, in turn, put me in touch with incredibly talented black female directors."

A Night With the Stars is open to the public. Wine and theater-based snacks will be offered, and a red carpet will be rolled out with a Hollywood step and repeat backdrop for photos.

Tickets cost $40 for standard seating or $60 for VIP lounge seating. For tickets and more information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/a-night-with-the-stars-tickets-296378715717.

The Bright Light Brewing Company, located in the heart of downtown, is hosting two days of community fun, and the whole family is invited.

The Dogwood Festival weekend at Bright Light kicks off at noon on Saturday, April 23, and continues Sunday, April 24, starting at 1 p.m.

The site for many events throughout the year, the veteran-owned and operated nano-brewery takes pride in being able to celebrate Fayetteville and its citizens.

The goal for Bright Light Brewing Company is a simple one, fellowship.

"All we want is people to have a good time, enjoy the fellowship, enjoy the brews and have a desire to come back again," Mike Ray, master brewer and owner, said.

The Dogwood Festival, a regional event now in its 40th year, is a popular one. Featuring four days of local fun and flavor, the festival has returned after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

"We enjoy the Dogwood Festival," Ray said. "We see a lot of regular customers and quite a few new people. We think these festivals are fun for all, and people seem to really enjoy downtown get-togethers."

Showcasing food and talent native to Fayetteville and surrounding areas, the brewery is steadfast in its commitment to local business and sees the Dogwood Festival as an opportunity to provide even more support.

"We offer space for vendors who otherwise might not be able to grab an available space downtown. It also offers our customers a few more vendors to purchase from and having a good beer to go along with it," Ray said.

The event will host various local vendors on Saturday and Sunday, along with good food and good fun for the entire family.

In addition to shopping, there will be plenty to do, drink and eat over Bright Light's festival weekend.

"I think we try to leave an impression of being 'special.' From the brews to our staff, and family-oriented events, we try to be a standout amongst quite a few great breweries in the area," Ray said.

Kids in attendance can look forward to face-painting and a bounce house, while adults may choose to try their hand at some ax-throwing, courtesy of Axes & X's.

The Grazing Buffalo will have brats, burgers and fries on offer Saturday from 3 to 9 p.m. From 2 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, guests can enjoy hot dogs, "Baja California style," from the Baja Dogs food truck.

No stranger to the Bright Light scene, North Carolina musician Brooke McBride will be in-house entertainment on Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m.

"The main thing we hope people take away from us is they had a good experience and an enjoyable beer. Hopefully, the family-friendly atmosphere will have them returning and possibly be more part of our downtown," Ray said.

The Dogwood Festival Weekend at Bright Light will be held in their brewery taproom at 444 W. Russell St.
For more information, visit their website at https://www.brightlightbrewco.com/.

Every spring, the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival brings the community together to celebrate the diversity and uniqueness that make Fayetteville so special. This year the festival will be a four-day weekend event, with official festivities kicking off Thursday and continuing through the weekend. The festival will begin with Cork & Fork on Thursday, April 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Festival Park, and boasts new attractions to include the Carolina Ring Wars, Sweet Valley Ranch's Where Nature Meets Adventure alongside tried and true entertainment such as the BMX Bike Show and Airborn Arials.

The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Hours:
Thursday, April 21
6 to 10 p.m.
Friday, April 22
5 to 11 p.m.
Saturday, April 23
noon to 11 p.m.
Sunday, April 24
noon to 9 p.m.

Thursday, April 21
6 to 10 p.m.
Cork & Fork is signature event and includes an evening of chef-inspired gourmet creations paired with elegant complimentary wines. A silent auction will be held as a fundraiser for United Way of Cumberland County. Tickets are $40 per person and $75 per couple and are available online at www.faydogwoodfestival.com.

Friday, April 22
5 to 11 p.m.
Festival Park
ROCK 103 NIGHT
HOOBASTANK & MARCY PLAYGROUND
5 p.m. park opens
6 p.m. opening ceremony
6:30 p.m. Council Ring
8 p.m. Marcy Playground
9:45 p.m. Hoobastank
BOOM & BLOOM FIREWORKS
11 p.m.
Festival Park

Saturday, April 23
Noon to 11 p.m.
Festival Park, Plaza and Downtown Fayetteville
COUNTRY NIGHT
TYLER FARR, KAMERON MARLOWE &
DILLON CARMICHAEL
2 p.m. Jarett Raymond
4 p.m. Driskill
6 p.m. Dillon Carmichael
7:45 p.m. Kameron Marlowe
9:30 p.m. Tyler Farr

Sunday, April 24
Noon to 11 p.m.
Festival Park, Plaza and Downtown Fayetteville
TRIBUTE NIGHT
THE PURPLE MADNESS - A TRIBUTE TO PRINCE
2:30 p.m. Jarett Raymond
3:45 p.m. 87 & Pine
5:30 p.m. Will McBride Group
7:30 p.m. Purple Madness

ADDITIONAL ATTRACTIONS
Saturday, April 23, Sunday, April 24
Downtown Street Fair,
Midway (ALSO ON FRIDAY, APRIL 22),
Kidzone,
Downtown Stage Powered by Piedmont Natural Gas,
BMX Bike Show,
Sweet Valley Ranch... Where Nature Meets Adventure
Ring Wars,
Airborn Aerials
and much more!

Classic rock band Styx is playing the Crown Theatre on April 23 as part of the venue's 86th season of community concerts.

The band will perform the chart-topping radio hits everyone knows, like "Come Sail Away," "Renegade," and "Mr. Roboto," but hardcore fans need not worry. They plan to take a deep dive into their catalog to play lesser-known songs their longtime listeners will appreciate. With a career spanning more than 50 years, they will have no shortage of songs to choose from for the setlist.

The six-piece band includes James "JY" Young (lead vocals, guitars), Tommy Shaw (lead vocals, guitars), Chuck Panozzo (bass, vocals), Todd Sucherman (drums, percussion), Lawrence Gowan (lead vocals, keyboards) and Ricky Phillips (bass, guitar, vocals).

Gowan spoke with the Up & Coming Weekly on a stop in Boston during this tour. He joined the band in 1999 — nearly 27 years after they formed —and with 23 years under his belt, he is no stranger to the music or the fans, but he does like to be surprised by the setlist.

"My first five years in the band, I used to get really involved in what the setlist was going to be. And for the last 18 years or so, I take myself right out of that equation," Gowan said.

"I prefer to just be surprised by what the other guys decided we're going to play that night and walk on stage and play whatever's in front of me like a menu where someone else ordered it for me."

One thing he does know is that Styx will play new songs from their latest studio album, Crash of the Crown, which hit #1 on the Billboard rock chart within a few weeks of release. The band started writing the album in 2019, recording it during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. Little did they know, the album's theme of hope and survival would mirror the events of the world.

"If there's one theme that runs through Crash of the Crown, it's that it's an album of songs that hint at renewal, and most importantly, renewal after a cataclysmic event. You could put that to a lot of instances, but particularly though, I think the pandemic would be the most obvious one that people can (relate) to," said Gowan.

"It's funny that we wrote most of the songs — all but two of them — prior to the pandemic."

Even with 17 studio albums under their belt, Styx still tries to stretch their creative muscles to make new music that resonates with fans. Their distinct sound leans heavily on melodies and lyrics that fans can relate to, regardless of their age or how long they've listened to the band.

"The classic rock era is now so ingrained in people's musical vocabulary, and Styx being from that era, we need to come up with records that kind of straddle the difficult balancing act of being relevant to today but yet sounding authentic enough to stand alongside the classic records that Styx made in the past," said Gowan.

"(That's) the balancing act we're looking to achieve with the mission of Crash of the Crown."

Fans are undoubtedly excited to see live music after the hiatus of the last two years, and the band is just as eager to get in front of an audience again. They usually play around 100 shows a year, but the 2020 shutdown forced them to take a break from the stage. So instead, band members live-streamed at-home performances for fans and virtual conventions, which Gowan found was a great way to stay connected to the music he loves to perform and the fans.

Styx played a handful of shows in 2021, but now that venues are open to events, they have booked themselves solid for most of 2022.

They will also be on the road with REO Speedwagon and Loverboy this summer for what Gowan calls four hours of classic rock with all the bands' hit songs on the "Live and Unzoomed" tour, an obvious nod to the era of Zoom calls during the pandemic.

"It's going to be so great to re-embrace the epic adventure that we have at every single Styx show, with the audiences there that are probably starved of this (type of) entertainment for far too long," said Gowan.

"And we've been seeing that on the faces of the audiences. There's kind of an extra layer of emotion that we encounter when we come up and see these audiences that we haven't seen now for a couple of years. It's great to just kind of rendezvous again and reignite that flame — that musical flame that's connected us for so long."

Ask a fan of live music what they missed the most during the shutdown, and they will likely say it was concerts. Even musicians like Gowan are eager to be on the other side of a performance. Not being able to see live music was just as difficult for him as a fan because he likes to see his favorite musicians in concert. He believes a live rock show is the greatest form of entertainment, whether he is on stage with Styx or watching from the crowd as a fan.

"I remember the last show I saw before the pandemic was Elton John, and I was so grateful that I went to that show that I didn't put it off and go, 'oh, Nah, I'll be able to catch it a little further up the road,'" said Gowan,

"And that (show) carried me in a lot of ways through the whole (shutdown) — the desire to get back to that ourselves."

Gowan is eager to return to North Carolina this April and remembers the area from previous tours.

"I love being in the Carolinas in springtime. It's just a fantastic place," he said.

"(The) atmosphere is just so beautiful and particularly at that time of year. That's what I get excited about because I like to walk around if we've got any time at all, even an hour where we get away. I love to go, and kind of absorb the areas that we're in, and North Carolina's definitely high on that list for me."

Tickets are on sale now. General seating prices range from $55 to $100. VIP tickets are on sale for $225. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to crowncomplexnc.com.

Downtown Fayetteville will be swarming with cosplayers, comic-book lovers, artists and people of all ages this Saturday ahead of the annual Fayetteville Comic-Con.

"What you can expect from the nerd market is lots of vendors selling collectibles from comic books, anime, POP figures. There are going to be some people that sell items, such as crocheted items that are modeled after comic book characters," Lauren Falls, the director of marketing and events for Cool Spring Downtown District, told Up & Coming Weekly.

"It's just going to be a really good time to support small businesses in the area that are geared toward the comic book/anime community."

This year, some of the vendors at the Nerd Market include The Dragon's Lair, Game On! and Crime Alley Comics and Collectibles. In addition, Fayetteville Comic-Con will also be featuring a table at the Nerd Market to promote their event the following weekend, April 22 through April 24.

At last year's event, Falls said that around six to seven hundred people came out and participated in the Nerd Market. She hopes that more people will come out with the local Comic-Con being around the corner.

One feature of Nerd Market that will be back this year is the Cosplay Contest. The contest this year will be split between two age groups - one for kids and one for adults.

"A lot of people get really into the spirit of the Nerd Market, and they cosplay when they come out, and you get all different types of characters. We had somebody dressed up as a Halo character. We had several [dressed as] Batman," Falls said. "It's a really good time just to see the families kind of dress up, and it gives them another fun event to go to downtown that is geared towards the kids as well."

This event will be simultaneous with the Hoppin' Around Downtown Scavenger Hunt, the perfect event for younger kids. If kids want to look for Easter egg prizes in their favorite superhero costumes, downtown Fayetteville on April 16 will be the place to go. The scavenger hunt will occur at over 20 businesses, and Honey the Bunny will be hopping around to take pictures with the kids.

Scotty's All American Food Truck will also be available at the Nerd Market for anyone who wants a quick bite on the go. However, Falls also recommends that people stop and shop at the local downtown businesses.

"I also just want to encourage people while they're downtown at both of the events... to shop local," Falls said.

Nerd Market is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. at the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County at 301 Hay St. The Nerd Market and the Hoppin' Around Downtown Scavenger Hunt will be free and all ages are welcome at the events.

The PWC JayWalkers are asking people to pick up their golf clubs and swing on the greens for a good cause.

The Jaywalkers Alzheimer's Awareness Golf Tournament will be held at King's Grant Golf and Country Club on April 15. The fundraiser seeks to raise money to support the Alzheimer's medical treatment of Jay Reinstein and benefit the Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Before retiring as Assistant City Manager, Jay Reinstein was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in 2018 and has since been a tireless advocate for Alzheimer's Awareness.

Reinstein, along with his team, the JayWalkers, has participated in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's for the past four years, raising tens of thousands of dollars.

"Jay is about community and moving things forward. He wants people to get along and come together to make a difference, which makes it so easy for us to want to do this for him," Carolyn Justice-Hinson of the Public Works Commission said. "There is no cure for this terrible disease. Even if you don't know Jay personally, this fundraiser brings awareness and support to all people affected by Alzheimer's."

Alzheimer's is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and the most common type of dementia. It is a neurologic disorder that causes degenerative impairment to memory, thinking, and behavior.

Over 6 million Americans have Alzheimer's, 180,000 of whom live in North Carolina.

While there is not yet a cure for Alzheimer's, specific treatments and medications can slow the progression of the disease. However, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services do not grant coverage for all treatments and drugs that manage Alzheimer's Disease. The trials, treatments, and medications can become very costly without coverage.

"This fundraiser is not only to raise money for Jay's medical treatments," Event Committee Member Mark Brown said. "But to raise awareness and further research for all the promising treatments ahead."

Though serious in its objective, this fundraiser is chiefly about bringing people together to enjoy golf, beautiful weather, and each other.

"Jay loves people and camaraderie. This fundraiser epitomizes who he is," Justice-Hinson said.

Registration for the event is currently open, and those interested can sign up online or at 7:30 a.m. on site.

A shotgun at 8:30 a.m. kicks off the fun, and participants can play as individuals or on teams. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams will be awarded. In addition, participants can look forward to awards for the longest drive, closest to the pin, and a raffle.

The tournament will also feature a Hole-In-One contest where the top prize is a new car.

The event is open to all; no golf experience is necessary. "If you want to come out, pick up a golf club, and have fun for a good cause—we want you," Brown said. "We just want people to come out and have a good time."

The entrance fee of $100 covers both breakfast and lunch. Additionally, the tournament will move forward, rain or shine.

For information regarding registration, contact Mark Brown at 910-223-4224 or Elaina Ball at 910-309-6411.