Warm weather and sunshine invite us to venture outdoors to enjoy friends, good food, a favorite beverage and great music. With the easing of COVID restrictions, we are seeing the local summer concert scene flourish with opportunities to entertain fans of all kinds of music – from classic rock to jazz. On July 17, local audiences can venture over to the Gates Four Golf & Country Club Pavilion and enjoy a Rockin’ in the 80s party with the Jan Michael Fields Band.

Fields is a charismatic performer known as one of the top vocalists in the southeast. His stellar voice and ability to work the stage are just as relevant today as in the 80s when he was the frontman for the international touring act, Sidewinder. A consummate professional, Fields’ dedication to his craft earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 for outstanding contributions and support of the North Carolina music industry.

“I started beating around on pots and pans when I was about 6 years old. That’s where my love for music started,” Fields said. “I started with the drums as my first musical instrument and played in the high school band. Then, I joined the school chorus, because I always loved singing and performing. I remember when MTV played ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ by The Buggles, and it made me want to be in a band even more,” said Fields Band.

Since he was 18 years old, Fields knew that music was something he wanted to pursue as a career. In 1985, he joined the band Sidewinder, which toured up and down the east coast, as well as parts of the Midwest and Canada. The COVID pandemic put a halt to live performances, but the band is ready to hit the stage and entertain audiences.

After the Fayetteville show at Gates Four, the band will perform at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh later this year. The Jan Michael Fields Band has been performing hits of the 70s and 80s for 7 years, completing several hundreds of shows across the region.

“We really enjoy bringing music to people and watching them sing along, smile and unwind. I have a great group of guys behind me that make what I do possible,” said Fields.

Tickets for Rockin’ in the 80s with the Jan Michael Fiends Band all concert dates are available for purchase online at www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com. Tickets are $60 per person and include the concert, food and lawn seating (bring your chairs).

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with food served from 6-7:30 p.m. A complete line of beverages will be available at three convenient full-service cash bars serving Healy Wholesale beer, wine products and mixed drinks. Concierge table service will be provided for VIP tables inside the Pavilion. Fayetteville's own Mash House Brewery will also have a large selection of their custom craft beers available.

For VIP Tables, group rates or more information, call 910-391-3859. Tickets are limited in order to keep the concert attendees comfortable and socially distanced.

Cumberland County Schools want to keep children healthy over the summer break. The Child Nutrition Services is providing free meals to children. The meals are being served at various locations throughout the county Monday through Friday through July 30. There are no income requirements or registration, and anyone 18 or younger can receive free meals from 11 a.m. until noon at the following locations: Douglas Byrd High School, 1624 Ireland Drive; Cape Fear High School, 4762 Clinton Road; Jack Britt High School, 7403 Rockfish Road; Seventy-First High School, 6764 Raeford Road; and W.T. Brown Elementary School, 2522 Andrews Church Rd.
Parents may call any of the 14 recreation centers in Fayetteville, Hope Mills and Stedman to request meals. They must do so by 9 a.m. and pick up the meals at the front desks the same day between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Meals must be reserved by phone. For more information visit the CCS website at www.ccs.k12.nc.us. or call 910-678-2502.

The Cumberland County Animal Services Department has been recognized with the Transformational Change Award from Best Friends Animal Society, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. The department received the honor for having the largest improvement in their “live release rate” (the number of animals leaving the shelter in a positive outcome) for shelters intaking 2,000 to 10,000 animals per year.
“This award recognizes the hard work on the part of our department, rescue groups and other partners. We are proud that over 80% of the shelter animals we received left and went to forever homes or to other organizations that help find new owners. We will continue to work to maintain a low euthanasia rate,” said Animal Services Director Elaine Smith.

Animal Services is a member of the Best Friends Network, which comprises more than 3,300 animal shelters, spay/neuter organizations and other 501(c)(3) public charity rescue groups across the country working to save the lives of dogs and cats in their communities.
"It's incredible to see so many shelters around the nation taking dramatic steps to increase lifesaving,” said Brent Toellner, senior director, national programs for Best Friends Animal Society. “Whether it be through new programming, progressive leadership or better collaborative partnerships, these groups are showing that lifesaving success is possible regardless of a shelter’s size or location.”

I see you’ve written another book. What’s this one about?”

“It’s called 'Mountain Folk.' It’s a historical-fantasy novel set partly in North Carolina during the Revolutionary War.”

“It’s a what?”

I’ve had some version of this conversation many times in recent months. Having spent most of my journalism career writing about government and politics, and authoring books of economic and political history, people assume any new project of mine would fall into the same category.

When they learn I’ve written a novel — and particularly when they discover it doesn’t just have an historical theme but also includes dwarfs, elves, magic, and monsters — they grow concerned. Am I having a midlife crisis, or indulging some childhood whim?

Not at all. While I greatly enjoyed writing "Mountain Folk," and hope that my readers will enjoy it as a rollicking tale of frontier life and high adventure, I admit there is more than just simple escapism going on. Perhaps it’s just because I was in the 4-H Club growing up, but I believe I can summarize my reasons for writing the novel in four words: History, Heroes, Heritage, and Humanity.

First, I hope to encourage a greater understanding of and appreciation for our country’s history. According to one recent survey, only a third of Americans possess enough historical knowledge to pass the U.S. citizenship test. Most can’t say which countries were on which sides in World War II, or why Americans declared their independence from the British empire.

Second, I want to rescue, refresh, and expand the concept of American heroism. Yes, historical figures such as George Washington, Daniel Boone, and Abraham Lincoln were imperfect in real life. We should come to know as much as we can about them, warts and all.

But we can and should still admire the important contributions these old-school folk heroes made to the growth and development of our country, even as we properly integrate a broader variety of tales into the story of America. In "Mountain Folk," one of the main characters is a Cherokee heroine named Nanyehi who as a young woman led her people to victory in battle but later in life became a legendary peacemaker.

Third, I use elements of history and folklore to explore what it really means to be an American. Our country is different from most others in a key respect: we do not share a common ethnic heritage. During centuries of migration — some voluntary, in search of a better life, and some involuntary, the consequences of removal or the slave trade — America has become a dynamic, sprawling, sometimes-brawling society encompassing many different peoples, religions, values, and cultures.

The resulting diversity can be vibrant and powerful. But Americans still require a common creed to unify us, and a common set of institutions to convert abstract principles into practical governance. Freedom is central to that common creed, or so I argue in the pages of "Mountain Folk."

Finally, although my novel has many non-human characters, I actually use them to illustrate the inescapable realities of human nature. We are all fallen creatures. We yield to temptation. We make mistakes. Even the best of us, if entrusted with great power, may end up abusing it, insisting all along that our noble ends justify ignoble means.

“We always have a choice — a choice whether truly to live according to our principles, or simply to survive by abandoning them,” one of my fairy characters says towards the end of the book. “With that freedom to choose comes the responsibility to accept the consequences. I accept mine. I will not submit. I will not be complicit to tyranny. If that robs me of my home forever, so be it.”

Now, "Mountain Folk" is hardly a history textbook or a philosophical treatise. There are heroes, villains, thrilling rescues and epic battles. Daniel Boone even fights a giant, fire-spitting salamander! But there’s a serious purpose underneath — a fact that should come as no surprise to longtime readers of my column.

Do things seem a bit odd to you lately? Do you find yourself being a chip off the old blockchain? Confused? Puzzled by the latest developments?

Well, Bunky, you have come to the right place. Mr. Science is here today to explain life to you. After both of my faithful readers finish this column, all will be understood. As Alex said in “A Clockwork Orange,” the meaning of life will be “As clear as an unmuddied lake. As clear as an azure sky of deepest summer. You can rely on me, friend.”

Let us begin by noting a couple of recent curious art world events which in the first blue light of morning seem unrelated and hard to understand. Life is controlled by the Prime Directive that there are no coincidences, everything is related to everything else. The Prime Directive, like gravity, is not just a good idea, it’s the law.

Herein lies the tale of when Beeple met MetaKovan. An artist named Beeple sold an NFT for $69 million. This was good news for Beeple and the Christie Auction House which handled the sale. Right now you are probably asking yourself, “Self, who is Beeple, what is an NFT, and who paid $69 million for a JPEG computer image?”

As Samuel L. Jackson said in "Pulp Fiction," “Allow me to retort.” Beeple turns out to be the nom de plume of Mike Winkelmann who lives just down the road from us in Charleston, South Carolina, which incidentally is also the home of the world-famous Purple Buffalo night club. Beeple is a computer geek who is also an artist.

He created the digital artwork called “Everydays: The First 5000 Years” as a Non Fungible Token, which abbreviates into NFT. An NFT is essentially a picture on the internet similar to cats playing the piano on Facebook. But unlike the musical cats which anyone can copy, an NFT original only shows up in one place on the owner’s computer screen. The original digital image uses the same magic that Bitcoin’s block chain uses to keep track of who owns which Bitcoin. Mr. Science does not understand how Bitcoin works. It just is, at least for the time being until it vanishes into the digital ether.

The new proud owner of Beeple’s masterpiece is an art patron named Vignesh Sundaresan who also goes by the superhero name of MetaKovan.

MetaKovan made his money in the crypto currency market which is where “Everydays” was born. MetaKovan explained he would have paid even more for the “Everydays” JPEG as it represents the first digital art asset which will become a part of art history. So now you know about NFTs. Aren’t you glad you stuck around? But wait, there is more in the bonus round below.

Also, from the Art Desk comes the news that over 15,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org urging Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to buy and eat the "Mona Lisa."

The petition is quite simple: It says “Nobody has eaten the 'Mona Lisa' and we feel Jeff Bezos needs to take a stand and make this happen.” Why you might ask, should Jeff Bezos purchase and devour the "Mona Lisa?"

Signers of the petition have offered a number of reasons: “Who else is gonna eat it?," “I’m signing to draw attention to how ridiculous and dangerous this level of capital accumulation is. No one should be that rich," “It should be rolled up like a froot roll up and swallowed whole”, “There are billionaires in Asia who can’t even afford to eat a de Kooning, and here is the richest man in the world refusing to eat a perfectly good da Vinci," “Come on Jeff, you know you want to," “Mona Lisa is just the appetizer before the Sistine Chapel," "I believe this will truly help the world."

This list goes on and on. There is a ground swell of support for Jeff to eat the "Mona Lisa." The USA Today article estimated Jeff has a net worth of $201 billion and the estimated worth of the "Mona Lisa" today is about $850 million. Mere pocket change for Jeff. It is definitely doable if the French government will cooperate. If France won’t sell, Jeff can just buy France, allowing him to own the "Mona Lisa." Then it’s break out the Texas Pete hot sauce and chow down on the
"Mona Lisa."

To the untrained eye, these events may seem insane. However, consider what Deputy Barney Fife said when Andy and Helen got trapped in a cave. Barney told Thelma Lou the reason he didn’t like caves is because of bats.

Barney: “Bats. Do you know what they do? They fly in your hair and get tangled up in there and lay their eggs and you go crazy. You want a head full of bat eggs? Well, I don’t.”

Clearly what has happened is too many people have been going into caves. They have gotten their hair full of bat eggs. Barney was right all along. The world has gone crazy.

Today’s lesson: Wear a hat. Avoid bat eggs in your hair. Remain calm and save the "Mona Lisa."

I don’t know about you, but I find our national politics more confusing than ever. We tend to pigeonhole people by what we think they believe and by their political registrations, but in reality, human beings and our politics are much more nuanced. The venerable Pew Research Center, which bills itself as “a non-partisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, trends, and attitudes shaping the world,” has come up with 9 political categories to describe Americans in 2021.

This year, as Up & Coming Weekly is celebrating our 25th anniversary, I am incredibly proud that 2021 also marks our 24th Best of Fayetteville celebration of the Best of the Best people, businesses and organizations in Fayetteville, Fort Bragg and Cumberland County. For a quarter of a century, we have showcased this community and told its stories. We have championed its successes, supported its causes and celebrated our diverse community's quality of life and uniqueness. 

Downtown Fayetteville streets are no longer free for parking. For the first time in more than 20 years, parking kiosks, which replaced meters, have been positioned around town. All on-street parking in the downtown area, including handicap parking spots, will follow standard 2-hour or 3-hour limits and are in effect from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays. On weekends those parking spots are free including baseball game days and other downtown events. Rates are $1.00 per hour, with a $5.00 daily maximum in the two parking decks and lots. All "Park Fayetteville" parking locations are free on Saturdays and Sundays unless there is a Special Event taking place. In addition, parking is free before 9:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. More information, including how to acquire an app, is available at Parkfayettevillenc.com

The Sandhills Jazz Society is back after more than a year on a COVID hiatus. The Come Together City Music Festival will take place July 10 at J.P. Riddle Stadium in Fayetteville featuring some of North Carolina's finest jazz and rhythm and blues artists.

Scheduled to appear are Reggie Codrington, Von Demetriz, George Freeman, Dez Humphrey and Buddy Mcleod.

The Sandhills Jazz Society shares a musical vision that encompasses a wide spectrum of jazz, blues, world, creative and improvised music, including evolving forms of jazz and the technologies and media that influence jazz as an art form. The result is an entertaining evening for audiences who enjoy jazz, blues, funk and soul, and everything that falls in between.

Founded in 2018, the Sandhills Jazz Society is a community-based nonprofit arts education organization in Fayetteville. Members strive to promote interest in jazz music across multiple generations. The goal is to bring awareness to jazz and other music genres and strengthen the arts community by offering performances, collaborations, workshops and other educational opportunities.

Tickets for the Come Together City Music Festival can be purchased on the website for $25 dollars or $35 on the day of the event. The gates will open at 4 p.m. will performances scheduled to begin
at 6 p.m.

This event will happen rain or shine and all ticket sales are final. Outside food and drink are not permitted but there will be several food vendors at the festiv al.

J.P. Riddle Stadium is located at 2823 Legion Road. For more information about this event and future events visit the website at www.sandhillsjazz.com/ or call 910-987-2426.

Pictured Above : Von Demetriz

The World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their newly reimagined Spread Game Tour to the Crown Coliseum on Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. This new tour is a basketball event like no other. Ankle-breaking moves, jaw-dropping swag, and rim-rattling dunks are only some of the thrills you can expect from this fully modernized show. Part streetball from the players who defined it, part interactive family entertainment, the new tour will show off the best of the Globetrotters in a dazzling exhibition of talent and game.

The Spread Game Tour is the rescheduled event from the March 2020 game that was cancelled due to COVID. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at CapeFearTix.com, at the Crown Complex Box Office and at Leisure Travel Services on Fort Bragg.

This tour introduces new premium fan experiences with unprecedented access and interaction, including celebrity court passes, meets and greets with players, and in select markets, the #SQUADZONE, where fans have the opportunity to feel like part of the show.

For over 95 years, the Harlem Globetrotters organization has been committed to spreading joy through their artful athleticism and unparalleled basketball skill. The Globetrotters have always been global ambassadors of goodwill. The reimagined team is even more committed to bringing their voice to social justice conversations while inviting communities all over the U.S. to come together and recognize the power of our commonalities and celebrate our differences. The Globetrotters’ mission, to spread game and bring family entertainment to the world, continues to drive them today.

The originators of basketball style, influencers on today’s game, and skilled athletes of the highest order, the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 124 countries and territories on six continents since their founding in 1926. Proud inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, their mission to spread game and bring entertainment to the world continues to drive them today. The Globetrotters are innovators of the game who popularized the jump shot, slam dunk, and invented the half-court hook shot.

For nearly a century, the Globetrotters have exhibited Black excellence on and off the court, entertaining, inspiring and advancing the racial progress of today. The Harlem Globetrotters International, Inc. is a subsidiary of Herschend Enterprises, the largest family-owned themed entertainment company in the U.S.

For more information about the Harlem Globetrotters, visit the Globetrotters' official website  www.harlemglobetrotters.com  and follow them on social media.

This year, as Up & Coming Weekly is celebrating our 25th anniversary, I am incredibly proud that 2021 also marks our 24th Best of Fayetteville celebration of the Best of the Best people, businesses and organizations in Fayetteville, Fort Bragg and Cumberland County. For a quarter of a century, we have showcased this community and told its stories. We have championed its successes, supported its causes and celebrated our diverse community's quality of life and uniqueness.

We’ve all heard the saying “Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” Well, that’s exactly how I feel about working here at the Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper. And, it is this time of year that I like the most. This is the time for the Best of Fayetteville readership survey - a time when we reach out to our readers and ask them what and who they love and appreciate most about this community. Do they have a favorite restaurant? Who has the best car wash? What is your favorite theater, nonprofit organization, entertainment venue or veterinarian?

This is your chance to tell us who is the Best of the Best in Fayetteville. The voting takes place during July. So please pick up a copy of the Up & Coming Weekly, fill out a ballot, mail it to us, or visit our website, www.upandcomingweekly.com and vote online. Either way, make sure you VOTE!

After all the votes are in, verified and counted, we publish a Special Best of Fayetteville Edition of Up & Coming Weekly showcasing the winners. The Special Edition will be presented at the Best of Fayetteville Party, where we congratulate and celebrate the winners. This Special Edition will be on our website for the entire year.

The ballots are out, so make sure you VOTE! And on September 29th, you can pick up the Special Edition announcing the winners — the people, organizations and businesses that YOU have designated "Best of the Best."

About Best of Fayetteville: Best of Fayetteville is sanctioned and audited. We do not use nominations, and Up & Coming Weekly does not pre-sell advertising ads to nominate, promote or influence specific businesses or organizations for Best of Fayetteville. However, we encourage businesses to promote themselves and encourage their customers, friends and family to cast a ballot on their behalf. Up & Coming Weekly does no pre-ballot advertising sales. Nor do we sell or require businesses or organizations to participate with advertising purchases for pre-contest special sections to get their business officially printed on the ballot.

After the ballots are verified and tallied, there is only ONE winner in each category. At this time, winners are allowed to purchase advertising and marketing packages in the Best of Fayetteville Special Edition to thank their customers and supporters. The Best of Fayetteville Special Edition is a valuable component of the program because it is used all year long to promote the Fayetteville community to visitors, guests and newcomers to Fort Bragg and Cumberland County. This is the most effective way for the winners to capitalize on their Best of Fayetteville achievement. Also, in recognition, these unique marketing programs are significantly discounted so winners can take full marketing advantage of the honor. Winners have only one opportunity to participate in these advertising programs – and it's only after they've won.

In addition to a beautiful wall plaque awarded to each Best of Fayetteville winner, they are authorized to use the official Best of Fayetteville logo in all their advertising and marketing. Best of Fayetteville is an exclusive designation. The way we implement and manage the program is what has made it credible and sustainable. Is the survey perfect? No. However, the survey results speak for itself, recognizing the Best of Fayetteville as one of this community's most respected and prestigious achievements and awards.

We launch the Best of Fayetteville readership survey during July to avoid conflicting with The Fayetteville Observer's Reader's Choice Awards, their annual advertising sales promotion. The Reader's Choice advertising-based program should not be confused with the Best of Fayetteville Awards program. If you have any questions about whether you're participating in the Best of Fayetteville readership survey or someone else's advertising program, take a good, long look at the ballot. If it refers to nominations, names and ads pre-printed on the ballot, it is NOT the Best of Fayetteville.

So, what are you waiting for? Cast your vote and let your voice be heard! Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

There are rising local concerns over the lack of media coverage and traditional news reporting in our Fayetteville and Cumberland County communities.

We have few journalists in our community dedicated to being purveyors of truth. History has proven without a doubt that any community, city, state or nation that lacks accurate and honest news media coverage cannot maintain freedom or democracy.

News journalists and the media are true protectors of democracy. Without media watchdogs and transparency in government, we invite and nurture gross mismanagement and cultivate a culture of corruption that ultimately leads to devastating consequences for citizens.

For a recent and unfortunate example of this, one needs to look no further than the Town of Spring Lake. Last week, Mayor Larry Dobbins and the Spring Lake Board of Aldermen received a notification warning from the Local Government Commission that the town's fiscal management was suspect. It noted that the town was in violation of the General Statutes of North Carolina and ran a risk of being taken over by the state if they cannot come into compliance.

For over a decade, several honest and frustrated Spring Lake citizens saw this coming. They looked on helplessly as they witnessed firsthand the town's management incompetence and irresponsible behavior of its self-serving elected officials. Spring Lake residents experienced firsthand the consequences of not having a voice in government or news media oversight that could have uncovered and reported on the town's business, policies and procedures. Or lack of. Without constant oversight, monitoring and reporting of their actions and policies, local government officials will always constitute a lack of transparency to local citizens, giving government staff and elected officials free rein to use and abuse their authority. They are confident their actions will never be divulged, nor will they be held accountable. This creates a frightening "culture of corruption" and a significant threat to democracy and fundamental freedoms.

The situation in Spring Lake did not develop overnight. It took years for town officials to get confident and comfortable knowing that the news media void could keep the general public from knowing what was going on inside the town hall. Spring Lake leadership took advantage of this situation to the town's detriment. The scary thing about it was they were all in concert with the negligence. Local media and dedicated and honest leadership at all local government levels could have prevented this.

I love Spring Lake, and I know many good, decent and honest people who live there, have businesses there, and have tried relentlessly to make Spring Lake the proud gateway to Fort Bragg it once was. However, without a news media outlet and local government transparency and accountability, it cannot happen.

Perhaps some of our readers are thinking, "why doesn't Up & Coming Weekly create a newspaper in Spring Lake." Well, we did. And, it had a talented editor and was successful. Perhaps too successful. The Spring Lake Beacon was delivered every two weeks in U&CW. It lasted about two years until the Town of Spring Lake decided not to support it. This caused the Chamber of Commerce (which was closely affiliated with the town and located in the Town Hall) to not support it. This lack of endorsement discouraged the local businesses from supporting it.

At that time, we tried to make a difference by providing Spring Lake businesses and citizens with local news and views while advocating for open government and transparency. We were rebuffed. We hope the current situation in Spring Lake will be resolved quickly, amicably, and result in honest, caring, and dedicated people stepping up to rebuild Spring Lakes' reputation and take its rightful and respectable place in the leadership of Cumberland County. We also hope that this unfortunate and dire situation in Spring Lake serves as a subtle warning to Fayetteville, Hope Mills and other communities of the consequences when no local newspaper or reputable media keeps the public informed of what is going on in their government.

It should also make all citizens skeptical of any elected county commissioner, city mayor or councilperson, town commissioner, or local government staffer who is opposed to the free press, news media, open meetings or the concept of transparency in government. The media, sometimes referred to as the "Fourth Estate," is America's watchdog of democracy at all levels of government.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Shout for joy! With summer fully upon us the social horizon is beginning to look better than it did at the beginning of 2021. Canceled shows and concerts from last year are finding their way back to local venues, outdoor (and most indoor) attractions are up and running.

As exciting as that is, recent conversations with a couple of recording artists suggest the (cringe!) new normal will be a little different. Danny Gokey, who many know from his top 3 slot on American Idol alongside Adam Lambert and winner Kris Allen a dozen years ago, opened up recently about life and touring after the pandemic.

Danny is a devoted family man, and enjoys time with his wife, Leyicet, and their four children. When the shutdowns punched the music industry right in its touring gut last year, he found himself able to spend more consecutive days at home than he has since he walked off the Idol stage in 2009. And he liked it. In the last year, he's collaborated on recordings with several top artists including Koryn Hawthorne, Belonging Company and bilingual recordings with Evan Craft and Christine D'Clario.

Known for amazing dancing during his shows, when I caught up with him in early March last year, he was out of breath from rehearsing for his Spring tour. However, before the tour could even launch, it was canceled as venues around the country closed their doors. More recently, a decidedly more composed man sat down with me for a few minutes as we talked about his abbreviated Spring 2021 tour which stopped in Dunn, North Carolina.

When I asked Danny what he thought about touring life going forward, he didn't hesitate. “I'm not going to do as many shows,” he said. “I was doing 120 dates a year, and I'm not going to do that any more.” As a Gospel Music Association Dove Award Winner with at least three Grammy nominations, I asked Danny how he planned to make up the difference from his previous level of touring income. “I don't think it's about making it up,” he quickly answered. “It's about deciding what's most important,” and indicated connecting with fans is important, but family takes priority over that.

The sentiment was echoed by Colton Dixon, another American Idol alumnus, who became a father to twin girls Dior and Athens during the pandemic-related shutdowns. Colton recently missed a local tour date due to a COVID outbreak among tour crew, and seemed almost relieved about it when we spoke just before Father's Day. Going forward he says, “I'll be more selective about what dates I agree to.”

While you might not see Colton nearby this summer, you can catch a performance of his latest single, “Made To Fly” on ABC's “Good Morning America” on July 9. The song begins with a nod to his own father, who he says was a strong and positive influence in his life. And as we begin to see less of him and other favorites in concert in the near future, we can likely count on the fact that's what's happening in their homes. As fathers, mothers, husbands and wives, the artists we know and love are having more and better influence in their own homes.

 Pictured Above: Danny Gokey (Photo Coutesy www.facebook.com/DannyGokeyOffical/)

Pictured Left: Colton Dixion (Photo Coutesy www.billboard.com) 

The Fayetteville Public Works Commission received an American Public Power Association Sue Kelly Community Service Award June 22 during APPA’s National Conference in Orlando, Florida. The award recognizes “good neighbor” activities that demonstrate the commitment of the utility and its employees to the community.

PWC partnered with the city’s downtown district to bring Prismatica, an interactive, public art installation, to light up the downtown after the city reopened following the COVID-19 shutdowns. “Prismatica-Powered by PWC” celebrated and highlighted the value of public power for a month and increased foot traffic by 30 percent, lifting both the economic outlook of businesses and the spirit of Fayetteville’s community.

“PWC exemplifies the power of togetherness - the power of collaboration with their actions. They not only supply our growing region with quality/reliable infrastructure, but they believe in being good neighbors; and dedicating their resources to support the community,” said Bianca Shoneman, President and CEO, Cool Spring Downtown District, Inc.

Annually, PWC employees have a strong commitment to the United Way of Cumberland County. In over 20 years, PWC employees have given more than $2 million in support of United Way. With donations projected to be down in 2020 because of the pandemic, employees stepped up and increased support by 9 percent with a $156,000 campaign.

“PWC’s efforts and commitment to improving lives are evident in their work and through interaction with their staff,” says Amy Navejas, President, United Way of Cumberland County.

“Their efforts stand out as they go above and beyond to encourage workplace support of those in need not only through generous financial support totaling over $2.2 million, but through volunteerism and dedication to numerous community events.”

Throughout the years, PWC has remained service-driven and continues to implement various programs that greatly benefit its community. Other initiatives recognized by the APPA Award include:

•Increasing awareness of bidding opportunities to keep more dollars in the local economy through its Building Business Rally initiatives.

•Establishing a local Line worker program with Fayetteville Technical Community College, addressing concerns of an aging workforce, and need for line workers. PWC provides resources to the program including donating/setting the poles for the class pole yard.

•Increasing renewable energy production, engaging customer participation in affordable renewable energy and lowering demand costs/customer rates by building NC's first Public Power Community Solar Project. The project provides Fayetteville’s transient military community, including renters, the ability to participate in solar energy without long-term rooftop solar investment.

The American Public Power Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. The APPA represents public power before the federal government to protect the interests of the more than 49 million people that public power utilities serve, and the 93,000 people
they employ.

A Fort Bragg paratrooper assigned to the 20th Engineer Brigade died during an accident while en route to a training range on Thursday, June 17.

Corporal Mojave Littlejohn, 21, a native of Roseville, Michigan, was a horizontal construction engineer, in 161st Engineer Support Company (Airborne), 27th Engineer Battalion (Airborne), 20th Eng. Bde. Littlejohn was involved in a collision while operating a military truck, resulting in his death.

“Cpl. Littlejohn was an exceptional Soldier, friend and paratrooper,” said Lt. Col. Shawn Polonkey, commander, 27th Eng. Bn. “He had a larger than life personality, a razor-sharp wit, and an ever-present sense of optimism. He was incredibly proud to be a paratrooper, and unmistakably loved his family, his nation, and those with whom he served.”

Littlejohn, a competitive weightlifter and fitness enthusiast, enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 2019. He was assigned to the 27th Eng. Bn. in September 2019 after completing Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and graduating from the U.S. Army Airborne School.

He conducted airborne operations at Sicily and Luzon drop zones and served hundreds of hours behind the controls of bulldozers, excavators, graders and other heavy engineer equipment.

“Cpl. Littlejohn was an integral part of the many important missions undertaken by the company, performing commendably,” Polonkey said. “We will keep this Rock paratrooper, his family, and his friends in our thoughts and prayers.”

The incident is under investigation.

Pictured Above: Cpl. Mojave Littlejohn 

The Paul H. Thompson Library at Fayetteville Technical Community College was awarded an $11,936 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to create a Makerspace Lab to serve FTCC students.

Makerspaces are collaborative work areas with a variety of equipment. At the Paul H. Thompson Library, the grant will be used to purchase a computer, a 3D printer, a Raspberry Pi computer and a Cricut cutting machine, as well as furniture and related supplies to support curriculum programs and to improve learning outcomes of students.

Library Director Laurence Gavin said the Makerspace Lab will be an active learning space where students will be able to work independently or in small groups to create, learn and share ideas to achieve their educational goals through access to a variety of educational technologies.

The grant funds were provided by the Institute through the federal Library Services and Technology Act, which aims to help libraries deliver relevant and up-to-date services for their communities. The State Library of North Carolina administers the grant program in this state and funds projects in libraries across the state that advance excellence and promote equity by strengthening capacity, expanding access and community engagement.

The Paul H. Thompson library received one of 47 competitive grants awarded to North Carolina libraries for fiscal year 2021-2022 from a federal allotment of $4.8 million. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.

Through the LSTA Grants to States program IMLS provides funds to State Library agencies using a population-based formula. State libraries may use the appropriation to support statewide initiatives and services; they may also distribute the funds through competitive subgrants to public and academic libraries. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

For more information about North Carolina’s LSTA program visit the State Library of North Carolina’s LSTA web page at https://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/services-libraries/grants-libraries/lsta-grant-information or contact the State Library’s Federal Programs Consultant at 919-814-6796.

The Jack Britt Outdoor Track and Field team placed two athletes in the 2021 North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 4A Mideast Regional Championship Meet. Brian Marquis Jr. finished second in the 800-meter run at the regional championship, taking home the silver medal for Jack Britt. James Stover finished 3rd, taking home the bronze medal. Their finishes qualified them both for the State Championship. This was the first time Jack Britt has ever had two men's runners qualify for the Mideast Regional Championship in the same season in the 800-meter run. Both athletes were teammates in the 4 x 400-meter race which placed 4th overall, finishing two-tenths of a second behind the bronze medal team and also qualifying for the State Championship meet.

Pictured above: Brian Marquis Jr. (left) and James Strover (right) 

Looking for just the facts? Here they are.

The United States is facing an accelerating downward trend in our national birth rate, resulting in the slowest population growth since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The recent Great Recession of the 2000s made the decline even more pronounced, with the birth rate for women in their 20s falling 28% since 2007. It is rising among women in their 30s and 40s, but not enough to offset babies not being born to 20-somethings whose fertility is generally the highest. Our birth rate is below replacement level for native-born Americans.

North Carolina is not immune to this trend. Our birth rate’s most recent peak was in 2007 when 131,000 bundles of joy arrived to North Carolina families. Post Great Recession in 2013, only 119,000 babes arrived, a 9% decline. According to Carolina Demography at UNC-CH, that is about 20 fewer births each year for every 1000 women under 30.

Several western European nations including Spain, Italy, Greece and Luxembourg have birth rates well under 2 per woman of childbearing age, well below the replacement rate. Asian nations including China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan are also facing declining birth rates. The implications for all of them, and increasingly for us, as well are clear and stark. The United States is now an “aging economy,” with more people 65 and older than people younger than 15. Senior benefits such as Social Security and Medicare pose significant financial burdens on workers, generally younger people, who will struggle to meet senior needs. In addition, seniors consume fewer goods, which limits growth in domestic markets. And since wealth is more concentrated among older people, wealth disparity also grows.

So, what is causing slowing birth rates?

Every woman has her own story, of course, but there are trends, made possible by reliable contraception available for less than a century. Increasingly, women are delaying motherhood until they complete their educations and are settled in careers, often meaning well in to their 30s and sometimes 40s. This has been true for decades for upper middle class and highly educated women, and it is now the case for women throughout the nation, especially in urban areas with employment opportunities and thriving economies.

Young women also worry about affording children, a kind of parental sticker shock. They report concerns about the high costs of housing and child care, sometimes piled atop existing student debt. They also acknowledge that children, however wanted and loved, can and do derail careers that have taken years to prepare for and build. They understand that this happens to mothers far more often than it happens to fathers.

Other declining birth rate nations are approaching the problem with various financial incentives — one-time payments for a new baby — a so-called baby bonus, monthly stipends for children, free school lunches, generous maternal and paternal leaves, subsidized day care and tax incentives. Hungary exempts women with 4 or more children from paying incomes taxes for their lifetimes. Some of this may be helping, but no European country has reached a replacement birth rate. The only nations that have are emerging economies, many in Africa.

The United States sports a poor record of family support, both financially and in safety net services. Our attitude has been “these are your children, so care for them yourselves.” That is true, of course, but we maintain that stance at considerable risk to all of us. Like European countries and some Asian nations, we must find ways to support young families, lest we find ourselves with too few of them to drive and maintain our economic health.

Fort Bragg’s Child and Youth Services is offering free summer sports clinics to military affiliated children.

The clinics will offer four different sports: football (ages 6–12), soccer (ages 5–14),
basketball (ages 5–14) and baseball (ages 6–12). A current sports physical and CYS registration is required for participants.

“There will be three clinics per sport and a capacity of up to 10 children per class,” said Evelyn Eggins-Alston, program operations specialist for CYS.

The clinics will take place at the Polo Field for football and soccer; baseball will be at Armstead Field; and basketball will be at Tolson Youth Center located on Fort Bragg from Monday through Thursday 9-11 a.m. and 5-7 p.m.

“The summer sports clinics taking place this summer offer an opportunity for our military families to involve their CYS-registered children to do outdoor athletic activities,” said Elvia Kelly, Fort Bragg Garrison spokeswoman.

“During the pandemic last year, many services were closed or cancelled, including the sports clinics. The goal this year is to help our youth get involved with our sports program as an avenue to learn or improve new skills and, ultimately, for the children to have fun in the process.”

Although June clinics have commenced, the July schedule offers football and soccer clinics July12-15, and basketball and baseball clinics July 19-22.

“This year we decided to conduct a free clinic so that our families would be reintroduced to our sports program,” Eggins-Alston said.

The Youth Sports Program will provide 12 coaches in total for the clinics. As per new guidelines, masks will not be required while actively participating and equipment will be sanitized between classes.

For more information, please contact the Youth Sports & Fitness Office at 910-396-5437.

“While the Child Youth Services sports clinics are held during the summer, military-connected families can involve their children in upcoming sports or other activities throughout the year,” Kelly said.

Parents can learn about current programs offered by the Youth Sports & Fitness program by calling 910-907-5832, visiting the website https://bragg.armymwr.com/programs/cys-services-sports-fitness or by visiting the Tolson Youth Activities Center on Fort Bragg.

The registration deadline for clinics is noon on the Friday prior to the start of the clinic.

The Family Child Care Program at Fort Bragg is looking for in-home child care providers who live on post. The FCC offers free training, certification and assistance for providers.

“The only providers that can actually be a part of the program are those that live in government owned or leased housing located on the post,” said Evelyn Eggins-Alston, Child and Youth Services program operations specialist for Fort Bragg.

The program offers extended hours — whole day, part day, extended, overnight, weekends and hourly care in a comfortable home setting.

“FCC is an integral part of our childcare system available at all Army garrisons,” said Eggins-Alston. “It provides quality home-based care for children 4 weeks to 12 years of age.”

The program began in the early 1980’s and the certifications are transferable to other installations. It allows flexibility for the parents seeking childcare while alleviating some of the strain on regular Child Developmet Centers, where waiting lists are not uncommon.

Those interested in becoming certified can go into the FCC director’s office located on the 4th floor of the Soldier Support Center on Fort Bragg or call 910-396-3823 for information.

“They’ll have an interview and then will be provided paperwork and a welcome packet,” Eggins-Alston said. “There will be a background check and then will come the training they need. We will make sure their training is maintained and includes CPR, food handling, fire and safety, and more.”

CYS oversees the program, but providers do enjoy some autonomy in how they run their service. The providers are free to choose what age group they are comfortable providing care for, and the limit for children per home depends on the ages in each house. Providers are their own entrepreneurs, but FCC does provide oversight tours and regulatory guidance and conducts four mandatory annual inspections and unannounced monthly visits, Eggins-Alston said. FCC offers subsidies along with some start-up bonuses for interested childcare providers.

After the providers' week-long training and in-home inspections, they will create a contract with the parents on the hours and pay.

In-home providers are independent of the Child Development Centers. “The way they get paid is they make a contract with the parents... we do have policies they can look at and decide how much they want to charge the parents, then what we will do at CYS, we offer 15% cost savings compared to our school programs for the parents.”

The more qualified providers with the Child Development Associates will be eligible for a one-time $300 starting bonus and an additional monthly $50.

Parents looking for childcare don’t have to live on post to take advantage of the service, but all children in care must be registered. For more information on registering children for care on post visit https://public.militarychildcare.csd.disa.mil/mccu/ui/#/

“There shouldn’t be any children in the home that aren’t registered, because the children in the same house need to have the same immunizations as the other children," Eggins-Alston said.

In-home providers offer flexibility that Child Development Centers, which have set hours, cannot.

“Some parents are dual military or single parents, and they may need longer hours other than what our centers provide so the in-home provider can choose to go longer or more flexible hours,” Eggins-Alston said. “Maybe those that need weekend care, or during deployment, this program is there to pick up the slack where we can’t.”

Thank you, President Biden.

That’s not something I say often — but last week, the President was in North Carolina to discuss COIVD-19 vaccines. While we do not agree on many issues, I appreciate the President coming to our state and highlighting our role in the success of Operation Warp Speed to make vaccines available to anyone who wants them.

I believe issues like recovering from the pandemic should always be bipartisan and focused on helping you and your family.
Another bipartisan issue should always be caring for our troops, their families and veterans.

I say it a lot, but being Fort Bragg’s Congressman is truly an incredible honor that I take very seriously. Our men and women in uniform, as well as their families, sacrifice for our freedoms every day. In Congress, I am working to make sure our troops have the support and resources they deserve and made real progress on several fronts in recent weeks.

First, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a final rule to allow service members to pursue medical malpractice claims in the military. This is thanks to my Rich Stayskal Act which was signed into law in 2019. I am thrilled to see this rule issued after more than 3 years of work on behalf of soldiers like Rich.

I first met Sgt. 1st Class Rich Stayskal, a Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient from Pinehurst, in 2018 after his stage 4 lung cancer had been misdiagnosed by the military. Unfortunately, due to an outdated law, Rich and other service members were not able to have access to medical malpractice claims like other Americans.

While we were successful in changing the law in 2019, it took the Defense Department until this month to issue this rule. Now with $400 million of funding, claims can begin to be processed by the Department as early as next month.

Nothing can right wrongs that were made, but this law is a huge step toward providing relief to heroes who deserve it. And I pray the deterrent effect will prevent medical malpractice in the future.

Also last week, I introduced the Vanessa Guillén Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act. As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan legislation that seeks to end sexual assault in the military, hold violators accountable and support survivors.

Sexual assault is an affront to the values of our military and the nation it defends. We must accept that what we have tried in the past has not worked — as in the tragic case of Spc.Vanessa Guillén who was sexually assaulted and murdered at Fort Hood in Texas last year.

We owe it to victims like Vanessa and their families to do everything we can to end sexual assaults in the military. Our men and women in uniform sacrifice every day to keep us safe and we have a responsibility to ensure all service members are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Finally, another bill I introduced to help families at Fort Bragg also made a big step forward last week. After hearing from many of you about the inconvenience and hardship of having to travel several hours to have court cases heard, I joined with Congresswoman Deborah Ross and Senators Burr and Tillis to introduce a bipartisan bill to allow all court cases stemming from Fort Bragg to be heard in the Eastern District's courthouse in nearby Fayetteville.

Last week, the bill passed both the Senate and the House and headed to President Biden’s desk for his signature. This common sense bill is a good example of how government should work — we saw a problem, found a solution and Republicans and Democrats worked together to pass a new law.

Pictured Above: Congresman Richard Hudson talks with veterans at Memorial Day event (Photo courtesy https://husdon.house.gov)

While I wish we could get Republicans and Democrats together to solve problems more often, I am committed to bipartisanship and continuing to stay focused on the issues that matter to you.

We have a lot of work to do to grow our economy, slow inflation and out-of-control spending, address rising crime, secure our border, and defend our Second Amendment and the right to life. As I work on common sense solutions, rest assured I will always show up to work for you.

Fort Bragg will host its annual Independence Day celebration with a return to a pre-pandemic line-up that includes music, demonstrations, food and lots of family-friendly fun. The event was streamlined last year due to COVID-19 restrictions but returns with a full afternoon of entertainment leading up to headliner Foreigner before the evening culminates with a fireworks display.

“We know the community is excited to get out and celebrate together,” said Theresa Smith, Fort Bragg’s Special Events Coordinator. “The Fourth of July celebration has always been a popular event, and we expect this year will be no different.”

The celebration begins at 3 p.m. on the Main Post Parade Field. The event is free and open to Department of Defense ID card holders and guests with a visitor pass, which can be obtained at the All American Visitor Center, Smith said.

There will be food and drink vendors on site with an assortment of items available for purchase to include barbecue, ice cream, funnel cakes, Philly cheesesteaks and more.

Guests will enjoy a parachute demonstration by the Golden Knights. Returning this year is the popular Flag Ceremony, a long-standing tradition that highlights the nation’s states and territories, as well as the units that call Fort Bragg home, Smith said.

The musical line-up includes the 82nd Rock Band, local band The Fifth and Foreigner.

Local rock band The Fifth was formed in 2001 by former Cold Sweat vocalist Roy Cathey. The band has since built a strong and feverish following by touring the east coast and giving fans exactly what they want — a great show and a good time, every time. The band has enjoyed a string of successes including music featured in television ads for Dodge Ram and television promo ads for “The Voice” and “Grey's Anatomy.” The Fifth has seen a two-week tour in Japan, a Top 10 single ("The Gift") on WVRK-FM Rock 103 in Columbus, Georgia, and a Monster Energy sponsorship. Cathey said the group will release a new album later this year. You can find their music on https://www.reverbnation.com/thefifth. For more information of the band visit www.facebook.com/thefifthmusic.

The Fifth kicks off their set at 6:45 p.m. and Foreigner is scheduled to take the stage at 8:15 p.m.

Hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world, Foreigner has a musical arsenal that continues to propel sold-out tours and album sales.

Foreigner is responsible for some of rock and roll’s most enduring anthems including “Feels Like The First Time,” “Urgent,” “Head Games,” “Cold As Ice,” “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” “Hot Blooded,” “Juke Box Hero” and the worldwide #1 hit “I Want To Know What Love Is.” Foreigner has 10 multi-platinum albums and 16 U.S. Billboard Top 30 hits.

The group continues their success more than 40 years in the business with massive airplay and continued Billboard Top 200 album success. Audio and video streams of Foreigner’s hits are over 15 million per week.

Foreigner is Mick Jones (guitar), Kelly Hansen (lead vocals), Jeff Pilson (bass, vocals), Michael Bluestein (keyboards, vocals), Bruce Watson (guitar, vocals), Chris Frazier (drums) and Luis Carlos Maldonado (guitar, vocals).

Group founder and Songwriters Hall of Fame member Jones is the maestro whose songwriting, indelible guitar hooks and multi-layered talents continue to escalate Foreigner’s influence and guide the band to new horizons.

“Live music is at the heart of what we do and I’m thrilled to be back on the road and visiting so many places over the next year. Looking forward to seeing you all out there,” Jones says.

Lead singer Hansen says "I am so looking forward to getting our feet back on stage and the crowd in front of us! I have read and heard so much about how people want to get back to live music. It’s such a part of the fabric of who we are and we can’t wait to get out there and reclaim this piece of our lives. Can’t wait to rock it out!"

In June, Foreigner announced a year-long, 123-date concert tour across 16 countries. The Greatest Hits of Foreigner Tour takes the band to 72 cities in 42 U.S. states, including their Fourth of July concert on Fort Bragg.

“We will, of course, end the night with our fireworks display at 9:45 p.m.,” Smith said. “Fort Bragg is notorious for having the largest fireworks display in the area, and this year will be no different. We expect approximately 15 minutes of a vibrant fireworks display with an assortment of sizes.”

The Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program is bringing back tent city this year for those who want shade. Reservations are required and will be on a first-come basis. You must be a DOD ID card holder to rent space. A space costs $20 and a space and tent rental is $40.

Pets, glass bottles, grills are not allowed at the event. For a full list of prohibited items visit https://bragg.armymwr.com/application/files/9315/6105/4803/brgg-special_events-Prohibited_Items_Bag_Policy-4th_of_July.pdf

Guests are encouraged to arrive early and plan for heavy traffic flow. Parking is available with general and handicap parking designated. A parking map is available on the website.

“People can look forward to celebrating Fourth of July together with live music, local food vendors, beer, and unique Fort Bragg traditions,” Smith said.

For more information about the event visit, https://bragg.armymwr.com/calendar/event/july-4th-celebration/5184435/23521

Pictured below:

Foreigner (left) and local band The Fifth (right) will perform at the Fourth of July celebration on Fort Bragg. (The Fifth photo by Raul Rubiera)

The Cumberland County School District is partnering with Cape Fear Valley Health System to offer COVID-19 vaccination clinics at local high schools. Individuals ages 12 and older can get vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine while supplies last. “We are excited to offer the opportunity for eligible students and their families to take their shot,” said Shirley Bolden, CCS Director of Health Services.

“We encourage families to attend together, as getting vaccinated will help protect everyone from COVID-19.”

Appointments are not necessary for these walk-in clinics. The first clinics will be held July 14, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (first dose) and Aug. 4, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (second dose) at Jack Britt High School, 7403 Rockfish Road; 71st High School, 6764 Raeford Road; South View High School, 4184 Elk Road in Hope Mills, Gray’s Creek High School, 5301 Celebration Drive; and Douglas Byrd High School, 1624 Ireland Drive. A second series of clinics will be held July 15, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (first dose) and Aug. 5, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (second dose) at Terry Sanford High School, 2301 Fort Bragg Road; E.E. Smith High School, 1800 Seabrook Road; Pine Forest High School, 525 Andrews Road; Cape Fear High School, 4762 Clinton Road; and Westover High School, 277 Bonanza Drive.