Close your eyes. Imagine that you are in a plane filled with young men about to parachute to the ground, or you are in an army hospital surrounded by fields in Europe. It's almost impossible to imagine what it must have been like to see the invasion of D-Day during World War II.

But almost impossible doesn't mean it can't be done.

Bruno de Sa Moreira, the CEO of Histovery, was always interested in making history interactive. He has helped create 20 interactive, virtual exhibits throughout France. In 2018, his company came up with the idea to use a tablet and allow people to become interactive at the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, Normandy, France.

"But then, for the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019, we decided to create an exhibition that could come here to the United States," de Sa Moreira said.

The U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum, here in Cumberland County, is the second place in the U.S. to host one of de Sa Moreira's interactive exhibits.

D-Day: Freedom From Above at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum is designed around historic D-Day artifacts. The exhibit utilizes twelve physical panels to guide visitors through the experience, focusing on the D-Day missions of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first French town to be liberated during WWII. ASOM Curator Jimmie Hallis carefully chose the physical artifacts in the exhibit. Artifacts had to be related to D-Day and connected with the 82nd or 101st Airborne Divisions.

"I like artifacts to connect to a story, especially when that story hits close to home," Hallis said. "If I can tie it to the local community, it makes it really interesting."

One of the artifacts in the exhibit, and chosen by Hallis, is a parachutist coat and garrison cap that a Fayetteville native wore during the Normandy Invasion. Pvt. Robert W. Ryals was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He survived combat in Normandy, Holland and the Battle of the Bulge. Ryals passed away in 2011.

The virtual exhibit provides an immersive and interactive virtual reality experience of the events. The experience offers museum visitors the chance to encounter 3-D virtual relics, unpublished photos, excerpts of exceptional archival films and animated maps. The key to the interactive exhibit is the HistoPad tablet. By using the HistoPad, visitors can scan QR codes on the physical displays.

"Basically, the idea is to transform this into a time-traveling machine. So it's going to take you in the past and help you understand what this object in front of you in the windows of the museum is about," de Sa Moreira said.

"​​And this is something fun to experience because it's visual. What you have is primarily images, images of the past, of the characters of the scene going on, and by clicking on details, by manipulating the objects, you get answers to your curiosity. So basically, the trick is to increase the curiosity of the visitors."

Another interesting fact about the HistoPad is that people can leave real-time reviews.

"Since the opening of the exhibition in October, one visitor out of two is rating the experience. It's a very high percentage. And the ranking they gave is extremely high. It's 4.7 out of five," de Sa Moreira said.

Admission to the ASOM is free. However, there is a $5 rental fee for the HistoPad.

ASOM staff recommend you allow about 30 minutes to tour the entire D-Day exhibit. The exhibit is open until March 2022.

The United States Veterans Corps' (USVC) is "a group of military and first responder veterans performing 'hands on' community service with a mission deployment attitude," according to their website myusvc.com. Toys For Lil Troops Program, a part of USVC, is the Guinness World Record holder for the largest number of toys donated in 24 hours.

The goal of Toys For Lil Troops is to provide toys to the children of deployed and low-income troops. And USVC, with their Toys for Lil Troops program, plans to bring all their toy power to bear on behalf of Fayetteville area military and first responder affiliated children on Dec. 18. With the support of Skyfest, a North Carolina community festival that sports all variations of aerial displays, such as parachute demonstrations, flyovers, helicopter rappelling and memorable performances, Operation: Toy Drop is stacked for family fun success.

The event will begin with a flyover by the Bandit Flight Team during the national anthem.

Based out of Raleigh, the Bandit Flight Team flies vintage planes and describes themselves as "highly-trained, experienced pilots that combine their love of flying with an appreciation for vintage military aircraft."

Next, the All Veterans Group, a group comprised of active military and veteran parachutists, will do a demonstration jump and lay the foundation for the man of the season. Santa will be next to "drop-in," but Santa won't be alone; his elves and the Grinch will be parachuting in, too.

Toys wrapped in sacks will be dropped in from a Special Operations helicopter using special 5-foot parachutes specially sized for the task.

The American Bombshells will entertain the crowd during the aerial demonstrations and announce giveaway winners.

This is Operation: Toy Drop's third year; last year, the event was very different due to COVID-19 restrictions. Instead of folks walking around, it was a drive-up event.

Amelia Smith attended Operation: Toy Drop last year with her nephews and a friend's children. Even having to drive through the event, they had a great time. "It's really is an awesome event for anybody to take the kids to," Smith said. Smith explained that the USVC set up an organized and thoughtful event despite being set up to be driven- through. With limited information from each child, including age, volunteers could choose and distribute appropriate presents for each child.

Smith's group of kids could even hop out of the vehicle after the Grinch parachuted in to grab a few quick pictures.

This year will be much different; hotdogs, chips and drinks will be on offer for attendees, and visitors will be able to roam the event and experience all that is on offer.

Founder of the USVC and Toys For Lil Troops, Staff Sgt. Stan Pinkus will be in attendance with his family.

Pinkus, who has faced some health issues, was cleared to jump in with the parachutists for the event. The organization has a special surprise planned to honor him on his upcoming eightieth birthday.

Operation: Toy Drop will be held at Raeford Airport, located at 155 Airport Drive. The event is from 2 to 4 p.m. However, USVC President Andrew Ladner recommends attendees be on time. While the organization has secured what Ladner described as an "18 wheeler" of toys, they do go fast.

"Be on time; the toys go fast! So, while the event says 2 p.m to 4 p.m., it starts at 2. My advice is to show up when it is says to show up," he said.

On Nov. 24, I wrote about how our local elected officials in Fayetteville and Cumberland County could learn a lot about cooperation and teamwork, recently demonstrated by our Cumberland County Legislative Delegation led by Chairman Rep. Billy Richardson.

Undoubtedly, congratulations are in order to him and the other members of the delegation, Sen. Kirk deViere, Sen. Ben Clark, Rep. John Szoka, Rep. Diane Wheatley and Rep. Marvin Lucas, for their hard work and perseverance in passing North Carolina's first budget since 2018. Thanks to their efforts Fayetteville and Cumberland County will receive $412 million for projects and programs that will impact the residents of Cumberland County for decades. This money will address local infrastructure needs and funding for health care, K-12 education, broadband expansion, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville State University expansion projects, expanded medical research, etc. The tax policy portion of the new budget is pro-growth and lowers personal income tax and corporate income tax rates. And, thanks to the perseverance of Szoka and Wheatley, who were co-sponsors of House Bill 83, North Carolina Veterans' military pensions will no longer be taxed. HB 83 is a massive win for both our veterans and our state. According to Szoka, North Carolina will become more attractive to military retirees from all over the country and aid in retaining retirees here in our community. Another major budget highlight and a massive win for Fayetteville is the $59.6 million earmarked for the North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction History Center. Here we have another example of teamwork, cooperation and perseverance by project Chairman Mac Healy, Co-Chair Mary Lynn Bryan, and members of the North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction History Center's board of directors.

This state-run venue will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to our community; create jobs, and infuse millions of dollars of economic growth and development. Undoubtedly, at $412 million, this community has never achieved success of this magnitude.

Why and how did this happen, you may ask? Because, today, we are fortunate to have in place a dedicated local elected Cumberland County legislative delegation that understands the importance and value of teamwork. But, what about tomorrow? With the new district changes and the prospect of an additional Congressional District, our Cumberland County delegation and many of our city and county elected leadership will change, producing some new faces. Like many others, my question and concerns are whether these elected newcomers will embrace the same spirit of teamwork and cooperation when it comes to "doing the right things, for the right reasons" for the residents of Cumberland County; this is a very valid concern. After all, now that we have gained $412 million for improving our community, we must be confident that the people responsible for spending it are competent. They must have the talent, intelligence and common sense to execute their duties prudently and for their intended purposes.
The haunting question is, will future leadership follow the bipartisan examples of our current leadership by working and cooperating to better the city, county and state? Or will they retreat to the safe havens of their self-serving "what's in it for me" silos? Only time will tell. We have much at stake here. Cumberland County is losing population, and more importantly, we are losing our young professionals to other more progressive cities. Making the community better and serving all the citizens of Cumberland County diligently and honestly should be the highest of all priorities. No one political affiliation has all the knowledge, talent or intelligence needed to move a community into prosperity. It takes everyone. It takes teamwork. As demonstrated by our current bipartisan legislative delegation, it takes working together for a common cause.

Now is the time to pay attention to those seeking elected leadership positions. The 2022 elections have been delayed again until May 17, 2022. We should start now vetting candidates and ultimately vote for those who have a platform to better the quality of life in our community and not be just elected placeholders. We must elect honest and trustworthy leaders who understand the importance of transparency and citizen involvement. With $412 million, we have an excellent opportunity to transform Fayetteville and Cumberland County into a prosperous "Can Do" community, but only if we all work together. We must demand that our city and county elected officials work together. We must demand positive, cooperative actions and not empty promises.

The future of the Fayetteville and Cumberland County communities is in our hands. As demonstrated over the last decade, you can be assured that we will ultimately get the kind of leadership and local government we deserve. Let's all hope that we deserve the best.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Today Mr. Science ponders some of the mysteries of the universe to explain them in 25 words or less. Or maybe more. Some mysteries are more profound than others. Climb on board to take a look at things through a glass darkly.

First Mystery: What are the actual lyrics to "Louie, Louie," the favorite song of teenage boys in the late 1960s? Louie first embedded himself into the consciousness of American youth in the version that the rock group the Kingsmen sang in 1963. Louie was written by Richard Berry way back in 1957. The song is about a Jamaican sailor who is pining for the girl he left behind. The soundtrack on the Kingsmen's version is mumbled, challenging to understand, and open to various misinterpretations. Teenagers in the 1960s, to put it mildly, chose to believe the lyrics were a bit off-color. Upon learning what the teenagers thought the lyrics were, adults freaked out at what those wild and crazy teens were singing. When teenagers knew their parents thought the song obscene, this led to an exponential increase in its popularity. The secret words in Louie were passed back and forth among high school students across the fruited plains. Concurrently with Louie's popularity, Ray Charles's song "Shake Your Tailfeather" enjoyed the same reputation for containing dirty lyrics. I personally witnessed classmates trading the secret lyrics of Tailfeather for the secret lyrics of Louie.
The popularity of Louie led to an actual FBI investigation to determine if the Kingsmen were corrupting the morals of America's youth. The thought of middle-aged white Brylcreamed FBI agents wearing white shirts with skinny black ties having to listen to the repeated playing of Louie, Louie to determine if it was obscene gives me great comfort. For a while, radio stations refused to play Louie while he was under federal investigation. After a lengthy probe, the FBI concluded that Louie, Louie was not criminal, or at least the words could not be understood well enough to prove a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Once Louie's name was cleared, he went on to play at the University of Washington Huskey's football games for decades. International Louie, Louie day is celebrated on April 11 each year. As to actual lyrics, no one really knows. As stated at the end of many 1950's horror movies – "There are some things that man should not know."

Second Mystery: Why did Timmy keep falling into a well on the TV show "Lassie"? Was he a clumsy child? Did his parents Ruth and Paul Martin, tire of his weekly misadventures? Did they throw Timmy into a well only to be thwarted by Lassie repeatedly retrieving Timmy from a watery death? Did Timmy keep jumping into wells in a desperate cry for attention from his bickering parents, who were focused on ending their shell of a marriage in divorce? After Ruth left the farm, Timmy and Lassie, why did she change her name to Maureen Robinson and end up Lost in Space with the evil Dr. Zachary Smith? Once again, there is no definite answer. However, posing questions is the first step to enlightenment.

Third Mystery: Where do the lost socks go? What do they do when they get there? It is commonplace to put an even number of socks into the washing machine only to find that you now have an uneven number of socks after the spin cycle has ceased. Should you take it personally when your socks disappear one by one? Are the socks trying to tell you something? Do you have foot odor so intense that your socks commit sockicide in the dryer? Do you need Odor Eaters Expanded Fit Insoles? Are your feet so sweaty that a mere Odor Eater Insole will not stop the smell? Do you need to go hardcore and use Odor Eater Foot Powder, Odor Eater Charcoal Foot Scrub, and Odor Eater Stink Stopper for Kids and Teens? What will you do to stop the silent tragedy of lost sock syndrome in its tracks? It's up to you. Aren't you glad you use Odor Eaters? Don't you wish everybody did? The sock you save may be your own.

Fourth Mystery: How did this writer's Mom predict the Coronavirus more than 20 years ago? In an amazing example of mother's Christmas precognition, while decorating our Christmas tree this year, we found a COVID-19 ornament that my sainted mother made decades ago. A picture of this ornament adorns this column. It is the spitting image of the Coronavirus with the addition of a tail. The tail clearly anticipates a variety of the 'Rona that has not yet been discovered. It seems likely that the ornament represents the Upsilon variant of the Coronavirus, which is currently lurking in the lungs of some unvaxxed true believer. The mystery is how did Mom know way back in the 20th Century that the 'Rona was coming? The only answer can be that moms know everything.

If you still have a mom, give her a hug. She sees you when you're sleeping. She knows when you're awake. She knows if you've been bad or good. But she loves you anyway. Merry Christmas.

Randy Fiveash, Interim President and CEO of the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is a born leader. This is evident by the number of high-powered positions he has held within the tourism industry over the past 40 years.

Hailing from Macon, Georgia, Fiveash is a graduate of Mercer University where he majored in political science with a double minor in history and psychology. He went on to earn a Master’s degree from Central Connecticut State University. Fiveash and his wife, Shari, have five children who live across the United States.

His first position in the tourism industry was in Myrtle Beach. Fiveash went on to serve as executive director of the National Tourism Foundation and served in CEO positions with the Convention and Visitor Bureaus in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Arlington, Texas, Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Branson, Missouri. He was responsible for handling an annual multi-million-dollar budget as part of his job as Connecticut’s Tourism Director where he served for 13 years. Before his stint in Connecticut, Fiveash was Commissioner of Tourism for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In Kentucky, he led a successful, research-based “Kentucky Unbridled Spirit” state-branding effort, with legislative, citizen and industry support and involvement.

In addition to his many executive director and CEO positions, Fiveash was a delegate to the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism and has served in numerous leadership positions.

These include the boards of Destinations International, National Tourism Foundation and the Mississippi River Development Association, Travel South USA, Discover New England, South Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri Convention and Visitor Bureau Associations, the Southwest Tourism Society and more.

“I am fortunate to have been in great locations and have great experiences in all [of these] places,” Fiveash said.

He was named the Interim President and CEO of the FACVB in May. Fiveash’s wife, Shari, took a job as the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce in Fayetteville. The FACVB contacted Fiveash and asked if he would come and help.

He will serve as the Interim President and CEO of the FACVB for an undetermined timeframe.

“I will stay as long as they need me to and get the job done,” Fiveash said.

FACVB’s goal is to help FACVB represent Fayetteville and Cumberland County as the strategic marketing arm of the community, for conventions, meetings, sporting events and leisure travel.

“The great thing about Fayetteville is its diversity in people and things, from a lifestyle [and] quality of life standpoint. We have already made friends,” Fiveash said. “Everyone is very open and extremely welcoming. People are willing to give you advice, livability is phenomenal.”

He has accomplished a lot in the seven months he has been President and CEO at FACVB.

“I have been given relatively free reign to make changes and updates,” Fiveash said. “We never really knew who our customer was so a primary objective was to figure that out.”

Using foundational tourism research and market survey, the FACVB is finding out who visits Fayetteville and who lives here. Stakeholders for the city share the demographics that make up their customers.

The research will produce helpful and competitive data and is scheduled to be completed by Jan.1.

There are some upcoming special changes to the organization.

FACVB is hiring a new advertising team and are tracking research-based marketing. There is also rebuilding beginning at FACVB from a staffing angle; they are building a team.

When able to, Fiveash is an adjunct instructor, teaching students about tourism.

“I’ve been lucky that I have lived in places I have been able to teach,” Fiveash said.

At a luncheon meeting at the Highland Country Club on Dec. 3, Fayetteville Exchange Club President Steve Milburn gifted five checks to five charities.

The Exchange Club of Fayetteville is a group of local individuals and business owners that focus on youth programs, Americanism and community service within their communities.

Milburn presented the first check to John Bantsolas, representing the Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland County.

He is the chairman of the board for representing the Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland County.

"Thank you all very much for your generosity," Bantsolas said as he received the giant check.

The following organization representative, Mark Pezzella Falcon's Children's Home stood to accept a check.

He explained that there are 101 children at the Falcon's Children's Home from Cumberland County.

"This is going to make a big difference, Pezzella said.

Fayetteville Urban Ministry's Jessica Cooper stood to accept a check from Milburn.

The Fayetteville Urban Ministry has been working to support the Fayetteville community for more than 40 years and currently is composed of four programs that "provide faith, hope, love and security to the lives of thousands of Cumberland County residents," according to their website, fayurbmin.org.

Executive Director of Operation Inasmuch, Craig Morrison, was then gifted a check.

"Thank you, everybody, appreciate your support," Morrison said to the crowd.

Operation Inasmuch is a religious-based community that provides support and resources to the local homeless community.

Milburn presented the final check to Tara Martin, development and marketing director and a recent addition at the Care Clinic. The Care Clinic is a free medical clinic that provides free primary health care to eligible adults who are uninsured or have low incomes.

The Cumberland County Foundation will amplify The $5,000 donated to each of these charities with an additional 40 cents on the dollar.

The Cumberland County Foundation is a community organization that receives donations on behalf of Cumberland County. They then provide "essential funding to programs that enhance the quality of life of every corner of Cumberland County," according to their website, cumberlandcf.org

The North Carolina Supreme Court decided last week to suspend candidate filing for all offices for the 2022 primary election that was originally scheduled for March. The primary election will now happen on May 17, 2022.

Any candidate whose filing has been accepted will be accepted in the May primary, subject to any court rulings that would impact that candidate's eligibility, according to the Supreme Court order. Dates for a new filing period have not been set.

Locally, four people have filed for the Fayetteville Mayor seat. Sixteen people have filed for the nine Fayetteville City Council seats.

The delay in the primaries are due to lawsuits over redistricting maps for congressional and state legislative districts. The lawsuits claim that the Republican-drawn district maps were unlawfully gerrymandered.

"This order is a transparent assist to Democrats who benefit from electoral uncertainty and false narratives at the direct expense of the North Carolina people," the North Carolina GOP statement said shortly after the Supreme Court announced their decision.

North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Bobbie Richardson said she was grateful for the pause.

"Halting candidate filing and delaying the primary election are important steps towards ensuring North Carolina voters have the freedom to elect their representatives. Voters don’t need help from legislators to decide who represents them," Richardson's statement said.

Approximately 7,540 wreaths will make their way to the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake, on Dec. 18. The wreaths will be placed on the graves at the cemetery for National Wreaths Across America Day.

What started as a quiet tribute from a wreath maker to the veterans at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992, National Wreaths Across America Day has grown in size, encompassing more than 2,500 locations in all 50 states.

"My favorite part (of the day) is seeing the joy and hearing it in the loved ones' voices when people thank us for remembering and honoring their loved one," said Ann Provencher, Wreaths Across America coordinator for the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery.

Provencher has been with the organization for 11 years. This year is her third year as coordinator. The local chapter of Wreaths Across America was started by Gold Star families in the area. As more help was needed, Rolling Thunder North Carolina Chapter 1 stepped in to help. Provencher also serves as the Chapter 1 Chairman of the Board.

"It is often said a person dies twice. First when they leave this world and again when they are forgotten," she said. "Too many of our heroes no longer have family in the area, or the family members have health issues that prevent them from being able to be there in person or no living family to visit them. It's our duty to make sure they are remembered."

Wreaths Across America's mission statement is to remember, honor and teach. They remember veterans from the Revolutionary War to present and honor veterans by laying wreaths at cemeteries across the United States. The organization teaches future generations about the cost of freedom and "the importance of honoring those who sacrificed so much to protect those freedoms," according to their website, www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. The organization's website offers downloadable activities for kids to learn the importance of honoring the nation's veterans.

Wreaths are laid on veterans' headstones as part of the National Wreaths Across America Day ceremony, which will take place on Dec. 18 at noon at the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery; mask-wearing is encouraged for this event. This year, the ceremony will welcome Lt. Gen. Walter Gaskin, Secretary for the North Carolina Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, and the Hon. Ronald J. Rabin, retired U.S. Army Col., as guest speakers. Once the ceremony is over, attendees are invited to help place the wreaths on headstones. There is a specific way to lay the wreath, Provencher explained. The wreaths are placed at the bottom of the headstone with the ribbon at the top. The person laying the wreath should say the veteran's name out loud and pay their respects. Some of the wreaths are donated for a specific veteran by family members, and Provencher said they work hard to make sure the family members are the ones who lay the wreaths on their veteran's headstone.

Wreaths Across America is always looking for volunteers. The Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery Wreaths Across America committee currently has five people, but Provencher said more are always welcome.

"Just think of what we could do if more people were helping," she said.

People are needed to help set the event up, clean up after and deliver the wreaths to the cemeteries. This year, the wreaths will be picked up at the Spring Lake Fire Department at 9 a.m. on Dec. 18 and conveyed to the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery. Trucks will be needed to help deliver more than 7,500 wreaths. Provencher stressed the importance of having enough vehicles to carry the wreaths to their destination. Rolling Thunder North Carolina and the local highway patrol will be escorting the convoy to the cemetery. Additional wreaths will be taken to the Main Post Cemetery at Fort Bragg.

To locate a veterans cemetery where National Wreaths Across America day ceremonies take place, visit the organization's website and type in the name or location of the cemetery. Wreaths can be sponsored individually or through a sponsorship group. Sponsorship groups can be created by contacting Trish Gardner at tgardner@wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Wreaths Across America hosts events throughout the year to help fundraise for National Wreaths Across America Day. This year, the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery Wreaths Across America group will be offering a weapon raffle. Tickets can be purchased at the ceremony on Dec. 18 and throughout the coming months. The winner will be announced at the second Annual Golf Tournament, held Apr. 2, 2022, at Anderson Creek Club Golf Course. For questions regarding the golf tournament, call Bobbi Younker, Golf Tournament Chair, at 301-752-0093.

"One of the most asked questions we get is, why we utilize donated funds toward wreaths to place on veterans' graves instead of using it for living veterans," said Provencher. "I will share this response from Gold Star Mother Diana Unger Pitts:

"I have thought about this over the 15 years my son has been gone. For me, it's amazing to see the living veterans' tears as they are able to place a wreath on their fallen brothers’/sisters' grave, say their name and salute them. Telling me, I promised I would never forget them. It's knowing a mother who understands her son is here, and she and her family will honor him all year while a young man just like him, killed in action many decades ago, has no living family. The mother chooses to place a wreath on that young man's grave instead of her son's because she wants to be sure she is doing [this] for his mom. Never forgetting her son's sacrifice.

It's coming together as friends and family for the love of freedom, country, sacrifice and honor that our military provides."

The Fayetteville Fire Department has been re-accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. On Nov. 16, Fayetteville Fire Department members appeared before the commission, and the agency has been for a third consecutive time as an accredited organization. Accredited institutions protect only 12% of the United States population. Fayetteville is one of only twenty-three accredited fire departments in North Carolina.

"As a result of this process, over three cycles of accreditation, we have identified the need for and procured additional staff, apparatus, equipment, and fire stations," said Battalion Chief John Bowen, FFD's accreditation manager.

The CFAI program is a comprehensive self-assessment and evaluation model that enables fire and emergency service organizations to examine service levels/performance.

"The citizens of Fayetteville are receiving faster, more efficient service as a result of our lessons learned from the accreditation process, and for us, that alone makes it worth the effort," Bowen added.

Accreditation assures colleagues and the public that the department has definite goals and objectives appropriate for the jurisdiction served.

Once a month, military families can take a break and enjoy a day to themselves at Rick’s Place. The Rick Herrema Foundation focuses on strengthening relationships and building community for military families through fun, quality activities. They host events and fun days at Rick’s Place, a 50-acre park, to not only offer kids a place to have fun but show military families to know they aren’t alone.

“Every month, we try to give back to families that give the most,” Vicky Jimenez, director of programs at RHF, said.

At this special holiday-themed event, not only will hayrides, inflatables and other fun activities be available, there will also be some special winter activities. There will be hot cocoa and cookies, for decorating, and Santa Claus will be posing for pictures.

Local food trucks are scheduled to be on-site and offer free lunches to everyone attending the event.

Jimenez told Up & Coming Weekly that, on average, 250 families come to their monthly Fun Day events.

However, last week she noticed that over 500 families have pre-registered.

Those numbers are great, especially since each family will also be helping an at-risk community while having fun, she said

“It’s the season of giving. We made it through another year with all of the ups and downs we’ve had,” Jimenez said. “We wanted to give back.”

The Rick Herrema Foundation is partnering with the Military Luggage Company and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers to help donate 187 backpacks to local at-risk and homeless veterans.

They are asking families attending the Holiday Family Fun Day to donate the following needed items to be put into the backpacks: new socks, toiletries, hygiene products, chapstick, warm blankets, winter coats, winter gloves, warm hats, new shoes, warm scarves, over-the-counter cold medicine and handheld first aid kits.

True Patriot Inc. Off-Road Outreach will give out the backpacks on Jan. 10 as part of the “Backpacks for Patriots” event at Operation Inasmuch.

This RHF event and others require volunteers. There are many volunteer opportunities, such as helping with significant events such as the Family Fun Day, but there are also hands-on opportunities like carpentry, working with horses and general labor.

To become a volunteer, contact the volunteer coordinator at volunteer@rhfnow.org.

The family fun day will take place on Dec. 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pre-registration is required to attend and is open only to military families.

To register, visit rhfnow.org/event/ricks-place-holiday-family-fun-day/.

The park is located at 5572 Shenandoah Drive. For more information, visit rhfnow.org/events or call the Rick’s Place team at 910-444-1743.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart has designated Fayetteville State University a Purple Heart University, making FSU the first university in the University of North Carolina System to receive the honor.

"FSU has a long legacy of educating those who serve in the Armed Forces. At FSU, we lead HBCU's in military-connected student enrollment, and this honor demonstrates our deep appreciation to our military students. Our university sits right in the same city with the largest U.S. Army base in the country, and it makes us proud that our students reflect that and support that as well." Siobhan Norris, Associate Vice Chancellor for Military Affairs, said.

'The Carols' intimate, endearing, packed with comedy

The quaintness of the Gilbert Theatre is perfectly matched for its current holiday musical, "The Carols." This play is intimate, endearing and packed with comedy.

"The Carols" is set in 1944, when WWII is raging, and Christmas is just around the corner. With too few men in their small town, the Carol sisters have to figure out creative and "progressive" ways to continue their town's holiday musical tradition — the play "A Christmas Carol." They enlist the help of their boss at the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall and a drifter in the form of a Jewish comedian to bring a ridiculous and hilariously amusing version of "A Christmas Carol" to life.

While this play is a little left of tradition from the typical Christmas musicals and ballets, it is a welcomed journey into the antics of three quirky small-town gals in the 1940s. It combines the humor of "I Love Lucy" with heartfelt moments akin to Charlie Brown. The music, which found itself bouncing between Christmas tunes and big swing bands, added a rich depth to the story and the interlaced humor throughout.

The sisters, Lily, Silvia and Rose Carol, are played by Eden Kinsey, Molly Hamelin and Megan Martinez, respectively. Kinsey's singing and intermixed monologues were a great addition to the play, particularly when matched against Silvia's budding dream of becoming the next feminist heroine in the county and Rose's desire to land a man and her inability to pronounce words with silent letters correctly.

Both Hamelin and Martinez develop their characters well. Martinez's far-off looks, slap-happy smiles and general embodiment of a Marilyn Monroe-like character often stole the show. The interaction between the three characters was part of the magic that makes this show worth seeing.

This was an exceptional pairing with Karen Williams, who played Miss Betty, a middle-aged grouch who runs the VFW hall, and Evan Bridenstine, the Jewish comedian Melvin Shaatz. Bridenstine was missed on stage when a scene did not call for his presence. While Bridenstine's character on stage was a comedian, it was clear that the actor himself knew how to deliver a line. At the back of the stage, providing all of the piano accompaniments for the show, was Katherine Anderson playing Teddy. Teddy has little to no lines in the show except for a few comedic lines at the end.

While the play touched on heart-felt moments and serious topics, the show's true star was the humor. The neurotic and sometimes strange behaviors of the characters, embodied by the various actors, left the audience thoroughly entertained and laughing the whole way through. The serious moments paled in comparison to the main characters' tomfoolery. "The Carols" is definitely a show for those who prefer their holidays a little lighter and find the prospect of laughing through the holidays better than crying.

Untraditional Christmas show is a hoot

We've all heard the traditional classic Christmas songs and stories. They warm our hearts year after year.

But there is a new holiday show in town – "The Carols" at the Gilbert Theater.

The musical takes place in 1944 during World War II. All the men are away overseas taking part in the war. The three Carol sisters want to put on "A Christmas Carol," but they find themselves needing actors. They put up signs and nab Melvin, an entertainer passing through the town.

They convince Miss Betty, a Scrooge-like woman, to participate in the sisters' show.

Teddy plays the piano and the three Carol sisters star in their show. Eden S. Kinsey, who plays Lily, is the lead actress in "The Carols." She alternates acting with the cast and talking to the audience, moving the music forward.

Molly Hamelin plays Sylvia. Sylvia is interested in politics, especially Eleanor Roosevelt.

Sylvia goes as far as writing to Mrs. Roosevelt and inviting her to their Christmas show.

All the actors are talented, but Megan Martinez, who plays Rose, steals the show. Rose is a boy-crazed young lady who wants to get married.

She is silly, and her happiness is infectious. She had the audience laughing often.

Rose is quirky. For example, she doesn't believe in silent letters in words, so instead of "ghost," she pronounces it "Ga-Host." The moment you forget that fact, Barnes will mispronounce a word again, making the audience laugh.

The musical production highlights the cast's many talents. The Carol sisters' voices blend beautifully together. Lily and Melvin do a number in which they both sing and dance. It is unique because Lily tap dances, a highlight in the show for Kinsey. The Gilbert Theater, located downtown, is the perfect venue for "The Carols."

It's intimate, and you can sit so close to the stage that you feel like you are a part of the show.

The hairstyles and clothing are just the right fit for the play's era. Jennifer Childs wrote the book and lyrics for "The Carols."

The music is by Monica Stephenson and was originally staged by Robyne Parrish in Pennsylvania.

This untraditional Christmas show is a hoot.

It is the perfect way to feel the Christmas spirit with friends and family.

Snatch up some tickets and enjoy the show.

Veteran Cumberland County Commissioner Glenn Adams is the new chairman of the board. He succeeds Charles Evans. Both gentlemen face challenges in 2022. Adams' four-year term expires in the coming year and Evans will be spending a lot of his time campaigning for election to Congress. He is running as a Democrat for the newly created 4th Congressional District.

Adams was first elected to the board of commissioners in 2014 and served once before as chairman. Commissioner Tony Stewart has been selected as vice-chair for 2022.

Disney On Ice presents Mickey's Search Party at the Crown Coliseum on Dec. 16 through Dec. 19. Mickey and his friends go on an adventure to find Tinker Bell. Captain Hook's treasure map, which he used to capture her magic, guides Mickey to find Tinker Bell. With the help of Miguel from the Pixar movie Coco, the group crosses the Marigold Bridge, where they find the magical Land of the Dead. Here skeletons dance over the audience in a beautiful cultural celebration of family.

Mickey and friends also visit the wintery world of Arendelle, where Elsa is building an ice palace. The audience can sing along as a kaleidoscope of crystals turns into her home.

An enchanted chandelier will come to life over the ice as Belle is lifted into the sky. Then the audience will witness the power of teamwork when Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Jessie recruit the Green Army Men and plan a daring rescue in Andy's room.

In hopes that the pirates can impress Captain Hook, they flip, tumble and twist. Some of the pirates even walk on stilts. The audience will experience the fiery wrath of Te Ka on Moana's daring sailing voyage, and with the help of Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, Mickey's Search Party becomes an all-out celebration.

Getting ready for performance and saying y takes time and work. "Depending on the show and the variety of talent/skills being featured, training and building the show can take roughly two to three months," Jamie Hathaway, who plays Bo Peep, said.

Another performed trains x days a week to keep up with the physical demands of the performance.

"I typically practice on the ice or train in the gym six days a week," Sarah Dalton, the performer playing Moana in the show, said.

"I, like most of my cast members, came from a competitive background. We try to stay as limber and fit, specifically cardiovascularly, as possible. I love to run around the different cities, go to yoga/pilates studios and develop my upper body strength with friends. The show incorporates aerial elements, so we've taken the extra steps to hold ourselves while being lifted in the air."

Jaime Hathaway fell in love with the show when she was just about five years old.

"I remember how happy it made me feel, and the outside world ceased to exist for those two magical hours," said Hathaway. "I love being a performer and having the ability to distract someone in the audience. Even if it's only a few minutes, it is worth it to me."

Dalton also recognizes the memorable experience Disney on Ice is for small children.

"I get to be excited over an adorable child in the front row singing her heart out to Moana with someone else. Those shared experiences are some of my favorite aspects of this job," Dalton said.
Tickets for the show are on sale now at www.crowncoliseum.com.

Why are we the way we are? Can we blame it on somebody else, like the British colonists, for instance?

By “we” I don’t mean just you and me. I don’t even include us necessarily. I am thinking about folks who live in North Carolina and the surrounding regions.

You know the kind I mean. Hard-nosed, sometimes rebellious, resistant to direction from those who think they know it all, suspicious of people in charge, unwilling to give up individual choice to some kind of group direction.

It is not just those anti-vaxxers who will not accept an infinitesimal risk to themselves or their children in order to reduce to great risks all of us face from the ongoing series of COVID epidemics. It is not just them whom I am talking about.

Nor is it just the Republicans. Or the Democrats.

Lots of us on both sides of the political divide share a common resistance to authority. How do we explain it?

Writing in The New Yorker on Oct. 4, the author and columnist Joe Klein gave it a try, writing, “The divide between maskers and anti-maskers, vaxxers and anti-vaxxers is as old as Plymouth Rock. It is deeper than politics; it is cultural.”

For his ideas, Klein credited a 1989 book, “Albion’s Seed: Four British Folkways in America,” by David Hackett Fischer. This book, Klein says, “explains how the history of four centuries ago still shapes American culture and politics.”

Focusing on the South, Klein says the original settlers were, “a wild caste of emigrants from the borderlands of Scotland and England. They brought their clannish, violent, independent culture, which had evolved over seven centuries of border warfare.”

According to Fisher, these emigrants came from “a society of autonomous individuals who were unable to endure external control and incapable of restraining their rage against anyone who stood in the way.”

Fisher writes that the Scots-Irish in the southern hill country were “intensely resistant to change and suspicious of ‘foreigners.’ In the early 20th century, they would become negrophobic and antisemitic.”

Other parts of colonial America were settled by different groups.

For instance, Klein writes about the Virginia-Cavalier tradition.

“The Virginia definition of freedom was complex, contradictory — and remains problematic. It was hierarchical, the freedom to be unequal. ‘I am an aristocrat,’ John Randolph of Roanoke said. ‘I love liberty; I hate equality.’ Freedom was defined by what it wasn’t. It wasn’t slavery. It was the freedom to enslave. It was a freedom, granted to the plantation masters, to indulge themselves, gamble and debauch.”

“Over time,” Klein continues, “this plutocratic libertarianism found natural allies, if strange bedfellows, in the fiercely egalitarian Scots-Irish hill country folk.

Neither wanted to be ‘ruled’ by a strong central government.”

Klein says things were just the opposite in New England. For the Puritans, “Everything was regulated.”

“Order was an obsession.”

Local officials reported “on the domestic tranquility of every family in their jurisdiction. Cotton Mather defined an ‘honorable’ person as one who was “studious, humble, patient, reserved and mortified.”

About a different group of settlers, Klein writes that the Quakers seem an afterthought, but their migration was larger in size than that of the Puritans or Cavaliers. And their version of liberty seems most amenable today. It was ‘reciprocal freedom,’ based on the golden rule.

Fischer notes the Scots-Irish practiced the opposite: “Do unto others as they threatened to do unto you.”

The Scots-Irish, Virginia, Puritan, and Quaker legacies are very different and are, perhaps, diluted over the almost 300 years since these immigrants came. But the influence of each continues.

The Scots-Irish influence in our region is still tenacious, which explains why the “Do unto others as they threatened to do unto you” rule is widely practiced by people across the political spectrum.

A $35.8 million project that will make driving and walking safer along a congested stretch of Raeford Road in west Fayetteville begins in February. A 2.1-mile section of the busy highway between Bunce and Old Raeford Roads will receive raised medians, additional turn lanes and a new storm drainage system. Sidewalks will be constructed on both sides in that locality. Intersections with no traffic signals will redirect cross-street traffic into right turns only.

"This will be a big safety enhancement and a major investment in one of the city's busiest corridors," said Drew Cox, a DOT engineer.

The construction contractor, Highland Paving Co. of Fayetteville, will be required to keep a minimum of four lanes open between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. when traffic volumes are higher. The project is scheduled for completion by the fall of 2024. Additional details are available on NCDOT's website.

"Blessings are cyclical; they will always come back in a cycle," says 22-year-old Victor "Vic Blends" Fontanez.

Fontanez recently amassed 10 million followers on Tik-Tok's video platform and sat with mogul Nick Cannon for an in-depth interview.

During this interview, Fontanez discussed his motivation for inspiring millions with videos during which he cuts random strangers' hair while getting to know them.

In his interview with Cannon, Vic Blends wore a blue Fayetteville State University hoodie as an ode to his hometown, Fayetteville. The South View High School graduate believes the community is the foundation that built his career.

"We all have big dreams, hoping to be globally known for what we do, but that starts with first being a pillar in your community," Fontanez said.

Last year, Fontanez, along with The Two-Six project, founded by 24-year-old Morehouse College graduate Grant Bennett, provided free clothing, toys, food, and haircuts to more than 1000 families in the greater Fayetteville area with their annual Christmas Giveback.

For Fontanez, the giveback furthers the notion that his purpose is far greater than haircuts.

He is grateful for the amazing career and abundance of opportunity but feels it is worthless if it is not used to make an impact.

Christmas Giveback returns this year at Segra Stadium, home of the Houston Astros affiliate, Fayetteville Woodpeckers, on Dec. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Giveback will provide free haircuts, toys, clothing, food and entertainment for the community. In addition, there will be resources to assist with rent and utilities, baby needs and free cell phone service.

"I want to show kids you can do great things, regardless of your occupation," says Fontanez.

So, this year, he has partnered with another Fayetteville native, Grammy-nominated musical recording artist Morray.

In an Instagram caption, Morray writes: "I love giving back to my people...I remember when I didn't have it, and I never want anyone to feel like that so we going up yall!! 2-6." He never forgets where he came from.

Before Thanksgiving, Morray was spotted filming a music video in the same apartments where he shot the video for his megahit "Quicksand" with a crowd from his hometown. Back in August, the Morray partnered with Cora's Community Foundation to host Everybody's Family Reunion and NZone Social Venue. They distributed over 800 bookbags before the start of the school year.

Through collaborative efforts with community partners like Cora's Community Foundation; Empact One Foundation; Serenity's Grace; and Lifeline Assistance Group, Fontanez and Bennett plan to expand on the impact of the Christmas Giveback event. This year's event is sponsored by Adidas, Nike, Jordan Brand and Yellow Crayons, to name a few. Entertainment for the entire family will include music by D.J. Ricoveli, face painting by Falcon Focus, and a number of surprises.

For those that want to donate to Christmas Giveback, drop-off locations will be set up at the Cool Spring Downtown District’s office 222 Hay Street and Rude Awakening Coffee House at 227 Hay Street. Follow @vicblends, @twosixproject, @djricoveli, and @undergroundkeem on Instagram for more information.

Salute to everyone involved with the Christmas Giveback and every activist getting active. Peace.

It's amazing how a line, a chorus or even an entire song seems to know us better than we know ourselves — or better express what we're feeling, at the very least. The best songwriters probably have the gift of teaching.

After celebrating several dozen Christmases here on earth, I thought I'd heard songs about the Christmas story and season sung from every possible angle. But then the song, "I Need Christmas" from Daniel Doss came along.

Not a big name — he had some nominal success in Christian music circles in the mid-2000s and is well known around the Nashville area — but his new Christmas song is just what I was looking for this year. It’s not even new.

He wrote and released it himself last year, but it landed on my desk on the first day of November 2021. As the song begins, the words identify with the weight we've collectively carried the past couple of years:

I need reason again to sing

I need peace here on earth

I need His joy in this world

Like I never have before

But then it gets personal, acknowledging the questions, pain and struggles that seem to never go away.

When the early Christians celebrated Christmas, the focus was on the birth of Christ and the true gifts He brought into this world: love, joy and peace.

For centuries, we've crowded the season with all sorts of extra traditions and expectations. 2020 gave us a taste of a simplified Christmas. There were no parties, gifts arrived in Amazon boxes and many church services and family gatherings were celebrated through phone or computer screens.

Despite sadness over the loss of connection, the slower pace we gained opened my eyes all the more to the true meaning of Christmas. And now — Christmas 2021, I was ready to be reminded that Jesus — Creator of the entire universe — chose to live in the world He created as one of us.

In the Daniel Doss song he reminds us of His humanity:

Jesus had problems, He had family

And sometimes those were one and the same

He had friends and, He had betrayers

But showed us how to love them anyway

He had vision, He had dreams

No one understood and not many believed

He had loved ones that passed away

Oh it’s good to know He understands our pain

That's what we need to hear. That's what we need to remember. Jesus has been showing us the way from the very beginning.

So celebrate the sweet little baby in the manger, but don't stop there. Follow the baby who grows into a man showing us how to treat others with kindness, correct others in love and honor relationships at home and everywhere we go.

Follow Him as He teaches us to trust God and His plan for man-kind. It's a journey, and somewhere along the way you'll look up and realize you've reached the point — as in the song — that we have a responsibility and say: I’ll be Christmas this year. I'll remind everyone.

We are surrounded with the joy of the holidays, gatherings, parties, celebrations decorating and food. The thought of tasty morsels and delicate treats tempt us in every turn with commercials, magazines and social media. The famous Lucille Ball bonbons in the chocolate factory episode comes to mind as she struggles to keep up with the assembly line while devouring countless bonbons. An exaggeration but if you think about it, we tend to gobble down the once-a-year treats in a similar fashion. The average amount of calories consumed on Christmas day is from 5000 to 7,500 and that does not include the added daily consumption.

The Holiday season is a challenging time to watch your diet but there are ways that you can have your cake and eat it, too. With a mindful approach to eating and continuing with exercise, you can enjoy the holidays and not face the extra pounds in January. A little holiday strategy can help you not to fall into food overdrive.

Attending a holiday party? Holiday parties are enticing with lavish displays of goodies high in calories during your mealtime. Eating something before you go lessens the desire to fill the plate.

Avoid grazing at parties. It is easy to rationalize if you did not get a plate then you are not eating as much with the one bite pickup approach. The one bite pickups quickly become more than the serving you would have enjoyed if you had gotten a plate. The joy of baking and receiving baked goods are a seasonal highlight and easy to take the approach that just one will not hurt. By the end of the day, one has turned into two or three with mounting calories.

Enjoy your treats by cutting down on the amount you eat and try to eat them earlier in the day. While dining at home limit your portions by eating off a smaller plate such as a salad plate and, if you are dining out, take home a portion of your meal or the next day’s lunch or dinner. When ordering a dessert, opt to share with a friend or spouse. There can be a tendency to skip meals during the holidays because you are so busy. Skipping meals adds to more caloric intake when you finally eat. Carry a protein bar with you while you are on your shopping excursions and avoid that tempting drive-through for the fast food. Take a healthy food choice as your contribution to a holiday party or family gathering.

At the hors d’oeuvres table, instead of eating that ham or turkey in a roll, pick up that protein and dip it in a sauce or roll it up with a veggie. Try to avoid continuous taste testing while you are preparing a meal or making holiday treats.

Liquid calories in signature holiday drinks, hot chocolate and eggnog are large contributors to added calories. Enjoy your beverage with just one mindset. Drink water in a fancy glass with seasonal fruit.

In addition to diet challenges, your fitness routine may take backstage during the season, but you can put pep in that step with a little creativity. Park further away in the shopping center and walk briskly to and from. Take the stairs when they are available or brisk walks for lesser distance and time. Runs during the holidays can be fun with themed runs and you can dance around the house to holiday music.

Live, love, life and embrace the season by having your cake and eating it, too.

The 82nd Airborne Division and the 82nd Airborne Division Band and Chorus are set to host their annual Holiday Concert at the Crown Coliseum on Dec. 10. This event marks a return for the in-person performance of the Holi-day Concert; as last year, the event was an all-virtual event. In 2020 the concert was recorded in the Crown Coliseum with no live audience and released over social media.

"We are thrilled to be bringing this event back for a live audience this year," explained Sgt. 1st Class Tyler Goodwin, band member, 82nd Airborne Division Band and Chorus.

The Holiday Concert will feature several holiday classics. Goodwin explained that his favorite pieces scheduled for the event are "White Christmas," the "Armed Forces Ser-vice Medley," and the "Nutcracker Suite."

"This really gives the amazing vocalists in the Chorus the chance to demonstrate their talents on a classic piece of music," Goodwin said of "White Christmas." While the "'Nutcracker Suite'" is a "beautiful arrangement [that] takes a new twist on some classic melodies and showcases virtuosity from within the band."

Goodwin also explained that the "'Armed Forces Service Medley' is another favorite because "honoring all who have served past and pres-ent in this manner is an amazing experience and allows for a musical tribute that is both entertaining and sophisticated."

Organizers and band members hope the community will walk away from the event with an appreciation of the 82nd Airborne Division.

"The legacy of the Division is rich with history and important military milestones and a concert like this is meant to showcase the diversity and values that all paratroopers live by and promote," Goodwin said. "In addition, we want to celebrate the opportunity to share in the enjoyment of the holidays and live music after such a tumultuous almost two-year period."

The 82nd Airborne Division Band and Chorus will be accompanied by four accomplished country musicians: Craig Morgan, Michael Ray, Abby Anderson and Natalie Stovall.

"This has been a challenging year for so many, and we've asked a lot of our paratroopers and their families," said 82nd Airborne Division commanding general Maj. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue. "We've invited some of the best talent Nashville has to offer to play alongside our band and chorus as a way to give back to our families for all they've given the nation."

A world-renowned fiddler and Grand Ole Opry on-air personality, Natalie Stovall, will serve as hostess for the event. Stovall was also a contestant on season 13 of NBC's"The Voice." While Stovall did not win the competition, she has continued to reach audiences through solo and group performances.

Craig Morgan, originally from Tennessee, is a U.S. Army veteran. Morgan served as a forward observer and started his musical career in 2000. He has charted 17 times over the years. His song "That's What I Love About Sundays" topped charts for four weeks in 2006. Also, in 2006, Morgan was awarded the USO Merit Award for his tireless support of U.S. soldiers and their families. Morgan told American Songwriter Magazine, "Because I have been there, I can appreciate that and have the ability to communicate with them a little differently."

Michael Ray originated from Florida and began his country music career in 2010. His most recent album, "Whiskey in the Rain," was released in September of this year.

Country music personality, Abby Anderson, debuted her musical career at the age of 16 on the Glen Beck show and moved to Nashville after graduating high school in Texas when she was 17 years old. Anderson has performed at the Country Music Awards and has received multiple musical accolades.

Santa will also be at the show and sitting for photos with children from 4 to 6 p.m. The country music performers will be in attendance at a meet-and-greet and take photos with fans from 5 to 6 p.m.

In accordance with Cumberland County mandates, ticket holders must show their COVID-19 vaccination card or a negative COVID-19 test from 72 hours before the event. Masks will be required while in the venue. All tickets are free and available to Fort Bragg soldiers, their families and the general public.

Tickets will be distributed to soldiers and their families through their units. To inquire about and reserve tickets, the general public is asked to contact WKML 95.7 at www.wkml.com or call 910-496-2000.

Higher wages and bonuses may turn around recruiting and retention issues in the Fayetteville Police Department. The starting salary for officers who enter the Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy will be $41,500 beginning Jan. 3. When the recruits graduate and begin field training the salary goes up to $43,500. The current starting wage is $38,000. It used to be that potential officers weren’t paid during academy training. New recruits will also receive $4,000 bonuses if they make commitments to spend at least two years on the force.

City council was briefed on Dec. 2 by Police Chief Gina Hawkins and Captain Todd Joyce who oversees recruiting. Joyce told the council that of the 433 authorized positions for sworn officers, there are 57 vacancies. Joyce said last year’s COVID-19 pandemic created a significant setback, but that “2021 has been the most diverse year in our hiring.”

AXIOS has noted that interest in law enforcement careers is down. Applications for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department were down 26% during the first four months of 2021 compared to the same period last year. Fayetteville City Council members were generally supportive of the local agency.

“We’re doing the best with what we’ve got,” said Mayor Mitch Colvin.

While crime is down for the most part, homicides are up. According to police files, the record for annual murders was 33 in 1993. So far this year there have been 44 homicides.

Collaboration was key to achieving a large budget for Cumberland County.

At a press conference at Fayetteville State University Dec. 1, Rep. John Szoka, Rep. Diane Wheatley, Rep. Marvin Lucas, Rep. Billy Richardson and Sen. Kirk deViere talked about the budget and how they were able to come together across political lines and parties and focus on Cumberland County residents first.

$412 million was allocated by the state to Cumberland County. More than $198 million will be going towards higher education. $64 million will support local government. $27 million will be used for veterans and the military. $19 million will be allocated the environment and natural resources. $11 million is being allocated to health care. $4 million will boost economic investment. Lastly, $87 million will go towards the funding of local projects.

Several of the elected officials said that this was a transformational budget for the county. Lucas said that after serving as an elected official for over a decade, this is the first budget he really felt proud of.

Richardson, the chairman of the Cumberland County Legislative Delegation, said that this budget did not happen by accident.

"We were the only delegation that stood together and said, we are going to put this state and this county first. We're not going to put the party first. We're going to put the state and our community first," Richardson said.

Despite some regrets on the state-wide level, locally many of the representatives agreed that the best thing to happen was getting this budget finalized for Cumberland County residents.

"I think everyone realized that with the opportunity of the amount of money that was here in the state, both from the federal dollars as well as additional dollars that were here at the state level, that this budget had to be a negotiated budget. It had to be a compromise," deViere said. "I believe, just like others around this table believe, that good government happens when you bring everybody at the table and they can have a conversation."

However, when it came to projects and line items left on the table, Szoka said that there weren't any that he can recall that were local.

"But we all coordinated with the commissioners, with the mayors and city councils and municipalities. And we talked to not-for-profits. We talked to economic developers and people, and most came to us with their ideas," Szoka said."There may have been something that's left out, but it wasn't for lack of any of us reaching out and trying to determine the true needs of the community."

Most of the funds are already in motion for use in the near future, like the bonuses for school teachers. Other funds may already be put towards a project or may have to wait until officials allocate it. When it comes to infrastructure and construction projects, it may be years until people see the outcome of those.

However, for the local delegation, one of the most exciting prospects is to see what will happen in the local community decades from now.

"Because of these projects and these programs, one day there will be a business that rises up in Cumberland County and will have an impact on this nation," Richardson said.

Segra Stadium is preparing to be jam-packed with tens of thousands of holiday lights for two weekends in December.

Fayetteville Holiday Lights, presented by the Fayetteville Woodpeckers and AEVEX Aero-space, invites people to walk through the baseball stadium to see not just light displays but different themes each night. Fayetteville Holiday Lights will be the first event of its kind at Segra Stadium.

Pete Subsara, the assistant general manager of the Wood-peckers, says that they found inspiration from their sister base-ball team, the Houston Astros. The Astros also do a holiday light display that runs for approximately two months. While it won't run for as long, Subsara hopes people will enjoy the new Fayetteville Holiday Lights event.

"We just want to bring something downtown that families and people visiting their loved ones can go do," Subsara said.

Each night will have a different theme. On Dec. 9, the Wood-peckers will host an opening night ceremony with an 18-foot tree lighting. Dec. 10 and 19, the Woodpeckers will feature fireworks around at 8 p.m. Local merchants and vendors will be selling their items market-style along the concourse, Dec. 11. On Dec. 12, Princesses Tiana, Belle and Cinderella will make an appearance. On Dec. 16, there will be drink specials. Dog Day is on Dec. 17; visiting fur parents should be sure to bring shot records, a requirement for the dogs to enter the stadium. Queens Anna and Elsa will make an appearance on Dec. 18. Santa will be in attendance each night and available for free pictures.

While the lights themselves are something to enjoy, Fayetteville Holiday Lights is also an event that gives back to families. Community members and organizations can participate in "Trees for Charity." Organizations will partner with a local non-profit of their choice to decorate a tree. Throughout the event, people who attend can vote on the best-decorated tree. The tree voted best decorated will receive $2,000 for their designated non-profit. The second place will receive $1,500, and the third place will receive $1,000.Following the event, the Wood-peckers will donate the trees to families in need during the holiday season.

Subsara says he is expecting 15,000 people total to attend the eight-night event.

Adult tickets are $10 and chil-dren’s tickets are $8 if purchased in advance. Tickets will go up by $2 if purchased on the day of attendance. All current or former military will receive $1 off their ticket with DoD ID at the Box Office. To purchase tickets for Fayetteville Holiday Lights or for more information on the event, visit their website or call (910) 339-1989.

Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom is set to host their fifth annual Christkindlmarkt This unique German Christmas Market offers attendees a selection of German-inspired food, local artists and makers, Weihnachts Musik — Christmas music — and community spirit.

The annual Dirt Bag Ales Christmas Market has changed and grown over the years.

“We started with 20 vendors the first year in Hayat’s Yoga Studio,” said Shannon Loper, the operations manager at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom. “That year we donated the beer."

This year there will be triple the number of vendors.

"There will be about 60 vendors taking part in the event this year,” Loper said.

What began as a small one-day event is now a weekend event like no other in the area.

"Five years ago, the German Christmas Market was a mutual collaboration with Hayat Hakim. Since then, we have carried on the tradition annually, growing it to a full weekend of events,” Vernardo "Tito" Simmons-Valenzuela, Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom, co-owner/head brewer said. “People come because it is the only event like it in the area.”

German music is a part of the experience and there will be several groups performing. The Fayetteville Bavarian brass band, Cross Creek Chordsmen and Fayetteville Barbershop will all add to the ambiance of the market. Vendors will be selling different wares including soaps, honey, metalwork, Christmas tree ornaments and more.“We strive to find vendors that fit with the theme and spirit of the event,” Simmons-Valenzuela said.

The special food offerings at the event will focus on German favorites such as schnitzel, brats and German potato salad. The food trucks scheduled for the Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom German Christmas Market are R. Burger, Vagabond, Street Fare, Household Six, Grazing Buffalo, Beefy Buns and Authentique.

Finally, what would a German market be without German beer? Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom will be serving Ein-bahnstraße-Hefewiezen, Märzen Attacks (an Oktoberfest Lager), a special vanilla, bourbon, and cinnamon cask-aged beer and a house made Gluvine. This event runs into the evening and the market will be lit to create a magical space.

Dirtbag Ales is located at 5435 Corporation Drive. Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom describe themselves as being “about great friends, a genuine passion for hand-craft-ed beer and breaking the status quo.”

The event will be at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom is located at 5435 Corporation Drive, just off Tom Starling Road. Dates and times of the event are Dec. 10 from 5 to 10 p.m.; Dec. 11th from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.