Diet plays an important role in maintaining healthy cholesterol numbers. Although the level of cholesterol in a person’s blood is partly due to factors related to heredity, the foods one eats also affect cholesterol levels.

When doctors discuss cholesterol with their patients, they may refer to total cholesterol, bad cholesterol and good cholesterol.

What does that mean? Total cholesterol is the combined number of cholesterol in the blood, and should be below 200.

Good cholesterol is known as HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and ideally it should be above 60. Bad, or LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, should be below 100, says the Cleveland Clinic.

A person who has a poor lipoprotein profile may be instructed to alter their diet. Learning which foods might help is an important tool in managing cholesterol and triglyceride numbers.

Oats and more. Individuals likely have heard that oatmeal is good for helping reduce cholesterol numbers. Oatmeal has soluble fiber, which lowers LDL cholesterol by reducing the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. Oat bran and other high-fiber grains also are good to enjoy.

Legumes and produce. Eggplant, okra, kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, pears, apples, and more also can be effective at lowering cholesterol levels. These foods tend to be lower in calories and saturated fats but high in soluble fiber.

Nuts. Almond, walnuts and other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids can lower cholesterol levels by raising the levels of HDL cholesterol. Nuts like almonds also are high in vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that can keep the body healthy in a number of ways. Since nuts are high in calories, it is important to eat them in moderation.

Fatty fish. Eating fish over other meat-based protein sources helps reduce caloric intake. It also means the body gains the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids that lower LDL and triglycerides in the bloodstream.

Sterols and stanols. Sterols and stanols are components of plants that gum up the body’s ability to absorb cholesterol from food, says Harvard Health. Companies add them to foods like margarine and granola bars as supplements.  Roughly two grams of plant sterols a day can reduce LDL by 10%.

Avocados and olives. Both of these foods are good sources of fiber and also monounsaturated fats that can help improve HDL and lower LDL levels. Substitute olive and avocado oils for lard and butter when cooking to improve cholesterol levels.

Certain foods can be beneficial for improving cholesterol numbers.

Focusing on the positive can help people feel less restricted by healthy eating plans.

A new school year presents a wealth of opportunities for incoming students. Students returning to the same school can build upon the previous year’s successes, while students transitioning from elementary school to middle school or middle school to high school can embrace the excitement and accept the challenges posed by continuing on their academic journeys.

It’s not uncommon for all students to experience some first day jitters, but that nervous excitement might be especially pronounced for transfer students.

The transition to a new school is made simpler for many students when they make it alongside classmates they’ve known for years. Transfer students have no such security blanket, but can embrace the following strategies as they prepare to begin the school year in a whole new environment.

Attend student orientation sessions. Orientation sessions can benefit any student, but may be especially useful for transfer students. Orientation sessions typically include a campus tour, a rundown of both academic and social activities and a chance to meet the school staff, including teachers and coaches.

Transfer students who attend these sessions also may meet fellow classmates, who typically serve as guides on campus tours or in other capacities which requires them to interact with session attendees. This can be a great opportunity to connect with individuals who could serve as a familiar face come the first day of school.

Schedule a visit with a guidance counselor. Guidance counselors can be invaluable resources for transfer students.

Parents can come along and discuss the student’s interests in a direct conversation with a counselor, who can fill the family in on all that’s available on campus. That can include academics and extracurricular activities.

Dive in socially. Though it’s not always easy to transfer to a new school that already has its own social networks, the best way to meet new people is to make a concerted effort to engage socially.

Student-athletes may have an advantage because the team atmosphere provides a ready-made social network. However, extracurricular clubs also provide that benefit and do so without the added pressure of competing for a spot on a team.

Don’t go it alone. Students should recognize that the transition is not something they need to do on their own. If students transferred because their family moved, then others in the family, including parents, are likely to experience their own ups and downs as well.

Speak with parents and siblings if the transition does not get off to a smooth start. Such openness can open the door to new strategies and help to alleviate some of the stress that can accompany a transition to a new school.

A new school year can be a nervous time for transfer students. However, various strategies can help to make the transition go more smoothly.

The year 1963 was a time that reflects many differences when compared to today.

For example, the cost of a gallon of gas was thirty-one cents. Phones were attached to walls. A computer weighed as much as a small car. Teenagers lit up their bedrooms with lava lamps. The song, “Surfin’ U.S.A.” by The Beach Boys, topped the music charts. The most popular TV show was “The Beverly Hillbillies.” “Cleopatra” was the top grossing movie. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Many things have changed since 1963, but a few things have remained the same.

In 1963, the Paul H. Thompson Library at Fayetteville Technical Community College opened its doors for the first time, and for 60 years, the Library has been a center of learning for our community.

The majority of work that occurs at the Paul H. Thompson Library is serious work, but the Library is about to have some fun, in celebration of the 60th birthday.

All are invited to drop in on Sept. 6 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Paul H. Thompson Library, located at 2221 Hull Road on the Fayetteville campus of FTCC.

At noon, enjoy the best 1960s-themed birthday party ever held in honor of a library. Participants will win great prizes and be given the opportunity to “strain the brain” to complete a scavenger hunt.
Guests can also visit archival displays and see if anyone in our pictures from long ago is recognized. We’ll also have a display of 60s-themed books on cooking, culture and history.

FTCC students, faculty and staff are invited to dust off their tie-dye shirts and platform shoes to enter the 60s costume contest. This free event is open to the public.

The Paul H. Thompson Library provides access to many campus and online resources that can help students with their classroom assignments.

In addition to books and periodicals, book displays, study rooms with high-tech white boards for team collaboration, desktop computers, laptops, electronic databases, and much more are available at the Paul H. Thompson Library.

Open archives are available on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. where students can look through photographs, yearbooks and other archived materials.

In addition to the Paul H. Thompson Library, FTCC’s Student Learning Center is available to students interested in receiving additional academic assistance to make the learning experience a successful one.

Other campus resources include the All American Veterans Center, the Career Development Center, the Fitness Center, computer labs, and disability and accessibility support services.

The staff members of the Paul H. Thompson Library at FTCC’s Fayetteville campus are pleased to celebrate the 60th birthday and invite you to join the celebration and discover how Fayetteville Technical Community College helps students enrich lives and reimagine futures.

If you have questions about the Paul H. Thompson Library at FTCC, please contact Director of Library Services, Mary DiRisio, at drisiom@faytechcc.edu or 910-678-7351.
If you have questions about FTCC in general, email contactus@faytechcc.edu.

The history and life stories of Black builders and architects in North Carolina are subjects of a traveling exhibit coming to the Museum of the Cape Fear beginning Sept. 6.

The museum, located at 801 Arsenal Ave., will host Preservation North Carolina’s traveling exhibit “We Built This: Profiles of Black Architects and Builders in North Carolina.”

On display until the end of the year, the exhibit is part of a multifaceted education program that acknowledges and celebrates the Black builders and craftspeople who constructed or designed many of the state’s most treasured historic sites, according to a museum news release.

Spanning more than three centuries, “We Built This” provides more than two dozen personal profiles and historical context on key topics including slavery and Reconstruction; the founding of historically black universities and churches; the Jim Crow era and segregation; and the rise of Black civic leaders and professionals.

The exhibit includes the story of Cicero Richardson, who was a brick mason in Fayetteville. At the age of 13 or 14 years, Richardson was determined to learn brick masonry.

In 1832, with his Certificate of Freedom, he traveled alone 100 miles from New Bern to Fayetteville to begin an apprenticeship with Fayetteville brick mason Jacob Harris (1799-1847).

The Harris family was a prominent free Black family in Fayetteville. Richardson later married Jacob’s oldest child, Sarah Ann. The Harris family, including Richardson, migrated to Ohio in the 1850s to escape restrictive laws and increasing hostilities toward free Black people in North Carolina.

After the Civil War, Jacob Harris’ sons, Robert and Cicero (named after Cicero Richardson), returned to Fayetteville to teach with the American Missionary Association.

Robert Harris would become the founding principal at the Howard School (1867) and the State Colored Normal School (1877), the predecessors of Fayetteville State University.

For more information about the exhibit, contact David Reid at david.reid@dncr.nc.gov or 910-500-4242 at the Museum of the Cape Fear or Demetrius Haddock at info.rjcaah@gmail.com with the River Jordan Council on African American Heritage.

The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The museum operates under the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Visit the museum website at https://museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov/ for more information.

The Greater Fayetteville Chamber presents the State of the Community event Aug. 31 at the Crown Expo Center. This highly informational annual event will assemble Fayetteville and Cumberland County leaders under one roof to discuss current conditions and future developments throughout the region.

During this event government officials, lawmakers, and administrators will present topics such as economic development, healthcare, education, military, local government, and the positive impact of collaborative partnerships such as Cape Fear Valley Health, the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County Schools, and the Longleaf Pine Realtors.

Nat Robertson, president and CEO of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber, states “Our goal is to bring the most up-to-date information to our members and the best way we have found to do that is from the representatives themselves. It is imperative that our members educate themselves on the state of our community so they can better prepare themselves and their businesses on what is coming next”.

The keynote speaker for this event is Josh Dobson, the NC Commissioner of Labor.

Dobson is the 18th labor commissioner in the State of North Carolina. He served for eight years in the state House of Representatives representing the 85th district covering Avery, McDowell and Mitchell counties in the western part of N.C.

He also previously served as chair of the house appropriations committee and the chair of the house health committee. Additionally, speakers for the 2023 State of the Community will include: Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin; Dr. Toni Stewart, Chair of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners; Dr. Marvin Connelly, Superintendent of Cumberland County Schools; Melissa McKinney, President of the Board, Longleaf Pine Realtors; Daniel Weatherly, Chief Operations Officer of the Cape Fear Valley Health System.

Greater Fayetteville Chamber State of the Community will take place on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Crown Expo Center located at 1960 Coliseum Drive.

Tickets are $30 for individual general admission member tickets. A table of eight reserved seats is $300. Non-member general admission tickets are $75.
Sponsorship opportunities are available at www.FAYBIZ.com

If you’re interested in helping the Chamber to support their mission “to help people live, work, and thrive in Fayetteville” log onto www.faybiz.com to sign up and become a member today.

The Cumberland County Department of Public Health is partnering with the public school system to hold evening clinics for back-to-school and COVID-19 immunization clinics for schoolchildren and teenagers in grades kindergarten through 12.

Students who participate will receive free backpacks and hygiene kits, according to a news release.

Walk-ins will be accepted each day until the clinic reaches capacity. No walk-ins will be accepted after 6:30 p.m. Insurance will be collected, but vaccines are free for children under 18 through the Vaccines for Children program, the release said.

Students should bring an ID card, a copy of insurance information and immunization records, if available.

Outreach clinics for students entering grades seven and 12 are scheduled:

• 4-7 p.m. Sept. 5, Mac Williams Middle School, 4644 Clinton Road.
• 4-7 p.m. Sept. 7, Lewis Chapel Middle School, 2150 Skibo Road.
• 4-7 p.m. Sept. 14, Douglas Byrd Middle School, 1616 Ireland Drive.
• 4-7 p.m. Sept. 19, Spring Lake Middle School, 612 Spring Ave., Spring Lake.

A late-night clinic for students entering grades kindergarten, seven, and 12 will be held from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Cumberland County Department of Public Health, 1235 Ramsey St.

All students entering seventh grade are required to obtain a Tdap and meningococcal conjugate vaccine before starting school. As of Aug. 1, 2020, a booster dose to protect against meningococcal disease is required for adolescents entering 12th grade or by age 17.

A full list of immunizations required before entering kindergarten and seventh and 12th grades under state law can be found on the Cumberland County Schools website.

Anyone 18 or younger who does 0not have health insurance or whose health insurance does not cover immunizations can receive free immunizations through the Vaccines for Children Program.

For transportation to the Health Department for a walk-in visit to the immunizations clinic, call 910-433-3600.
State law says parents and caregivers have 30 calendar days from the first day of attendance to present the required immunization record and health assessment form for a child.

After 30 days, students will not be allowed to attend school until the required immunizations and health assessment form has been presented.
Anyone who cannot attend one of these clinics can get required immunizations at the Department of Public Health from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, the news release said.

Visit www.cumberlandcountync.gov/publichealth or call 910-433-3707 for more information.

Lawn chairs, blankets and cool beverages, oh my! The Gates Four Summer Concert Series is wrapping up its third year of live entertainment and family fun at the club’s pavilion on Sept. 1.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Concert-goers are encouraged to get there early, set up their chairs, and enjoy several pre-concert activities such as door prizes and wine tastings.

This event is free to the public, but if you’re in the mood to treat yourself, a few VIP options are available for purchase. These exclusive tickets give access to covered seating, food and libations courtesy of On After and H8ters Bar and Grill.

Anyone interested in VIP tickets can purchase them online at the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre website www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com or at Gates Four Golf & Country Club. Ticket prices range from $25 for covered seating to $40 for covered seating and drinks.

According to Greg Adair, GFSCS organizer and drummer for Rivermist, the concert series has grown in more ways than one as one of the only music festivals that runs a six-month season in the Cumberland County area.

This year boasts a mountain of significant sponsors, including Certified Heating and Air, Beasley Media Group, Jay Dowdy Home Services, and Healy Wholesale, Inc. According to Adair, it will get “better and better” as “word of mouth” of the concert series continues to bring in bigger crowds each year.

This year the GFSCS is again being presented by the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre, with local businessman Bill Bowman at the helm. Bowman is also the publisher of Up & Coming Weekly. The Fayetteville Dinner Theatre’s mission is to bring a “full evening of fun and entertainment that includes much more than great theater performed by talented professional actors,” a mission that has come to fruition with the continued success of the GFSCS.

Set to headline the season-ending show is none other than Fayetteville’s favorite hometown band, Rivermist.

The band is known not only to local audiences, but across the region and have received numerous accolades and awards to include: nominated for the Rising Star CAMMY (Carolina Beach Music Award), named 2021 CCMA (Carolina Country Music Awards) Vocal Group of the Year.

Starting in 2014 as a classic rock cover band, Rivermist has lost and gained members and even added new genres of music to its repertoire, earning them a whole new audience in the music scene and solidifying what Adair calls “Rivermist 2.0.”

“It seems like God had a plan for us, and we just kept making a way.”

The band consists of five eclectic members, all from different backgrounds but united in their love of “God, family, and country.” Adair, drummer and vocalist, is a proud son, father, new grandfather, and an organizer of the Gates Four Summer Concert Series.

Flowing on the keys and the mic, Allen Pier's raspy voice and melodic work on the keyboard provide the perfect note for the cover band’s classic rock hits and R&B and funk.
Cliff Bender plays lead guitar, and local music store owner Tony Harrison jams on the bass guitar.

New to the group, but a natural addition is Rick Starling who joined the group in 2022. Starling brought his experience as band director at Jack Britt High School and John Griffin Middle School.
Although the band plays secular music, Adair says, “We are all active in our churches,” a reason the GFSCS stays true to its family roots and is strict on making sure all bands that are booked adhere to playing family-friendly music.

Even though the band has quite a following on Facebook (8,000 followers), Adair admits that doesn’t quantify their success. That comes from their connection with their fans at concerts.

“When we see people, we are really into them, we hug them … we hug them at the end of every show or when we can see them before the show... and we are really thankful for them.”
With fans showing up at every show and having original songs on the music charts, Greg says the band doesn’t consider themselves famous. “We are just a humble bunch. We aren’t arrogant at all … we are really thankful and really humble.”

Despite his musical success, Adair says his favorite role is “grandpa,” but he says his children often pick about having a “rockstar dad.”

The band maintains a consistent schedule, ensuring fans have the opportunity to rock out and grab a laugh and a hug on the way out. While they consider themselves a cover band, they have a collection of harmonious and inspiring original songs. They just released a new song, “Right Place, Right Time” available on their website, www.rivermistband.com, Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, and Pandora.

Tour dates, merchandise and booking information can also be found on the band’s website. They have a full schedule for the rest of the year with plenty of opportunities for fans to catch a show.

At the final GFSCS show of the season, Rivermist will hit the stage at 7 p.m. with a set full of songs to fit everyone’s musical palate, crossing several genres of music over several decades.

Concert-goers can expect smooth harmonies and electric energy from the band as they end the summer concert series dancing under a radiant Carolina sky.

Local families are heading to Cross Creek Mall after the opening of the Main Event last week.

With the tagline “The Most Fun You Can Have Under One Roof” Main Event is a 38,000-square-foot entertainment complex that delivers on that promise with a pro-level bowling alley, virtual reality, laser tag, billiards, arcade games and more.

The founders of Main Event opened their first center in Lewisville, Texas in 1998. In 2022, Dave & Busters, a similar entertainment chain, acquired the company. While Dave & Busters caters more to adults, Main Event has a family-oriented focus. Their goal was to give families somewhere other than traditional bowling centers to spend quality time together. They introduced a place where families could come together and enjoy various activities conveniently located under one roof. They wanted to create a haven for families seeking fun and entertainment.

Guests will be satisfied with the value they receive from the various activities offered, such as happy hour promotions, eat and play packages, as well as hosting birthday parties, private gatherings, and corporate events.

Additionally, complimentary Wi-Fi is provided for guests’ convenience. Main Event also offers a comprehensive selection of food items, including burgers, pizza, desserts and other options.

The operating hours are from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays through Thursdays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

For more information visit https://www.mainevent.com/

With the heat hitting record highs, it’s good to know places to check out that will keep you out of the sun. There are plenty of indoor fun centers, and many of them are locally owned. Here is a list of locally-owned, fun, family-friendly fun centers to check out in Cumberland County.

Axes & Armor Hatchet House

Axes & Armor is Cumberland County’s first indoor axe throwing facility. Their mission is to bring the thrill of urban hatchet throwing to the community. They not only offer axe throwing but also a rage room, splatter rooms, and football bowling.

Axe throwing tickets range from $23 to $36 per person, depending on the day of the week and how long the session is. There are also military, educator and first responder discounts available.

Axes & Armor have two locations in Cumberland County — one in Fayetteville and one in Spring Lake. The location in Fayetteville is at 4005 Raeford Road and can be contacted at 910-491-1233. The location in Spring Lake is at 409 N. Bragg Blvd. and can be contacted at 910-491-8144. For more information, go to https://www.axesandarmor.com/.

Bravery Kids Gym

Bravery Kids Gym is an inclusive indoor play facility that offers a fun, safe and stimulating learning environment to promote childhood development through play. This kids’ gym is geared towards the development and therapeutic needs of children with special needs as well as typically developing children; however, the center is open for children of all abilities. Children and adults will have access to all equipment from

Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

An all-day pass is $15. There are discounts for military members, teachers and therapists with a valid ID. Memberships are available as well. You are recommended to bring your own grip socks.
Bravery Kids Gym is located at 886 Elm Street. For more information, go to braverykidsgym.com or call 910-779-0623.

Epic Fun Park

EPIC is a whole new way to play, party and eat. They bring together a number of attractions for all ages and give something to enjoy for all. They have a ropes course, arcade games, climbing walls, zip lines, dodgeball, a sports court, and plenty of trampolines. With 14,000 square feet of Wall to Wall Inflatable Fun, this is a definite addition to Fayetteville’s bucket list.

Each individual must sign a waiver before using any attraction. Children 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult, and socks are required for all activities. Ticket prices range from $15 to $30, depending on age and time at the facility.

Epic Fun Park is located at 1400 Walter Reed Road. For more information, go to www.epicfunpark.com or call 910-759-4744.

JP’s Jump Masters

JP’s Jump Masters is a military and locally owned facility here in Fayetteville that offers 20,000 square feet of fun. Half of the facility is a trampoline park. They have a variety of trampolines, such as dodgeball courts, basketball hoops and foam pits. The other side of the facility is a cafe and arcade. They have a gourmet coffee shop and an indoor/outdoor cafe.

Tickets can be bought online or in person. There are 30-minute jump tickets, one-hour jump tickets, all-day jump tickets, weekend all-day passes and weekday all-day passes available.

Waivers must be signed by anyone entering the facility. Waivers for minors must be signed by their parents/guardians. JP’s Jump Masters is located at 7005 Nexus Court. For more information, go to jpsjumpmasters.com or call 910-223-0200.

Stop Button Arcade + Bar

This hidden arcade is the place to go for drinks, games and fun. The arcade is open seven days a week and offers pinball, arcade games and console games. One of the best things about this place is that it’s family-friendly, so kids are more than welcome. However, on Fridays and Saturday nights after 9 p.m., only people who are 18 and older are allowed to stay. The bar offers local North Carolina beers, nerd-themed cocktails, and a full liquor bar. The only drawback is that food is not served here, but there are restaurants nearby.

Stop Button Arcade + Bar is open Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to midnight. On Friday, they are open from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. On Saturday, it is open from noon to 3 a.m., and on Sunday, it is open from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Admission is $7 from Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, it is $10. Anyone under 18 can get in for $5. There are also military and student discounts. To gain entry into Stop Button, you must have a valid ID that proves your age.

This arcade is over in Hope Mills at 4251 Legion Road #127. To find out more information, go to https://www.stopbuttonbar.com/.

Omni Plaza

Omni Plaza is the perfect place to take your family for indoor fun. Omni Family Fun Center is one of the largest fun centers in Cumberland County that is aimed at the entire family. There are over 100 games that people can enjoy, as well as exciting prizes available when you redeem your tickets. Next door is Mountasia Golf & Games, where indoor minature golf is in full swing. There are two 18-hole courses people can explore.

At Mountasia Golf & Games, children, twelve and under, can get in for $5 for 18 holes and $8 for 36 holes. Adults, 13 and older, can get in for $7 for 18 holes and $10 for 36 holes. One child under 3 is free with each paid adult. You can then finish your day out with a movie and popcorn at Omni Cinema.

No one under 16 years of age is permitted on Omni Plaza properties after 6 p.m. without adult supervision, and proper ID is required.
Omni Plaza is located at 3729 Sycamore Dairy Road. For more information about Omni Plaza, go to omnifamilyamusementcenter.com or call 910-864-1307.

Students are heading back to school, some entering the classroom for the first time. The American Red Cross North Carolina Region offers 10 ways to help make sure your student is safe as they return to school for the upcoming year.

“There are some special steps parents of younger children should take, especially if kids are going to school for the first time,” said Allison Taylor, NC Regional CEO of Humanitarian Services. “They should make sure the child knows their phone number, address, how to get in touch with their parents at work, how to get in touch with another trusted adult and how to dial 911. They should also make sure the child knows not to talk to strangers or accept rides from someone they don’t know.”

Here are more steps to follow to help your child stay safe:

• If your student rides a bus to school, they should plan to get to their bus stop early and stand away from the curb while waiting for the bus to arrive.
• Students should board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver or attendant has instructed them to get on. They should only board their bus, never an alternate one.
• All students should stay in clear view of the bus driver and never walk behind the bus.
• Cross the street at the corner, obey traffic signals and stay in the crosswalk.
• Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
• If children go to school in a car, they should always wear a seat belt. Younger children should use car seats or booster seats until the lap-shoulder belt fits properly (typically for children ages 8-12 and over 4’9”), and ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.
• If a teenager is going to drive to school, parents should mandate that they use seat belts. Drivers should not use their cell phone to text or make calls and avoid eating or drinking while driving.
• Some students ride their bike to school. They should always wear a helmet and ride on the right, in the same direction as the traffic is going.
• When children are walking to school, they should only cross the street at an intersection, and use a route along which the school has placed crossing guards.
• Parents should walk young children to school, along with children taking new routes or attending new schools, at least for the first week to ensure they know how to get there safely. Arrange for students to walk to school with a friend or classmate.

Drivers, Slow Down!

Drivers should slow down as children head back to school. Know that yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is getting ready to stop and motorists should slow down and be prepared to stop. Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign indicate the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off.

Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety. This includes two and four-lane highways. If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping. Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.

Prepare for Emergencies

Know what the emergency plan is at your child’s school in case a disaster or an unforeseen event occurs. Develop a family emergency plan so everyone will know who to contact and where to go if something happens while children are at school and parents are at work. Details are available at redcross.org/prepare.

Take a First Aid Class

Learn and practice first aid and CPR skills by taking a course so you can help save a life. Download the free Red Cross First Aid app for instant access to information on handling the most common first aid emergencies whether it be before, during or after school. You can find it by searching for ‘American Red Cross’ in your app store or at redcross.org/apps

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission.

For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or www.CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross

Even after three shootings over the past three weeks, violent crime — except for cases of homicide — is down “across the board” in Fayetteville so far this year, says Police Chief Kemberle Braden.

Braden shared that assessment with City Council members on Aug. 7, then reiterated it at a special council meeting to discuss public safety on Aug. 16.

A spike in gun violence across Cumberland County has preceded recent conversations about public safety, including the updates Braden delivered last week.

Two of the recent shootings occurred Aug. 3. One, in the parking lot of Seabrook Park at 708 Langdon St., resulted in the driver of a Kia Optima crashing into the nearby swimming pool at Smith Recreation Center.
Braden said the incident followed an altercation that broke out during a vigil for family and friends of Lorenzo McLaughlin Jr., 22, who was shot to death July 29.

On July 30, police charged Devonte Tyrell McClain, 20, and his brother, Adriane McClain, 18, both of Fayetteville, with first-degree murder and felony conspiracy related to McLaughlin’s death. They are being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center under no bond.

The other shooting on Aug. 3 was at a Circle K gas station at 8191 Cliffdale Road. Police have not released additional information about the case.

Braden has said the investigation of the Seabrook Park shooting is ongoing.

Braden acknowledged preliminary year-to-date data for 2023 “doesn’t match the narrative of what we saw happen at Seabrook Park.”

According to Braden, homicides have increased slightly this year — 27 homicides last year at this time compared to 33 so far this year. He said last week that police have identified an offender in all but two of those cases and stressed the importance of considering the broader picture.

“We’re always going to be gauged on our number of murders,” Braden told CityView on Aug. 16. “But as we look at the other things — and murders are bad, there’s no doubt about that — are we having an effect across the board? I think we are.”

In the data he first presented earlier in the month, Braden cited a 9% decrease in crimes against individuals and 13.4% decrease in crimes against property. There also has been a 30% increase in weapons seized and an 8% decrease in stolen weapons compared to this time last year.

“When I say violent crime is down across the board … I’m talking about our most serious of events to include our shootings, shooting into occupied dwellings, aggravated assaults — both felony and misdemeanor,” Braden said. “And yes, we’re still out there working, solving every homicide that we can and trying to prevent any retaliatory violence that could result in a potential homicide in the future.”

At the same time, Braden said, there’s been a 61.5% increase in so-called crimes against society, which includes “victimless” crimes like drug possession and seizure of illegal weapons. He attributes the increase in these arrests to proactive police work that stops a crime from happening, such as by seizing an unauthorized weapon before a perpetrator can use it.

“I would say this is our officers showing that they’re doing more work out there,” Braden said. “They’re being more productive and more proactive, as opposed to waiting to have someone commit a crime and then go and arrest them for that crime. They’re doing stuff like taking the drugs out of their pockets or taking the gun out of their waistband.”

Elected officials’ criticism

Braden’s remarks come in the wake of concerns raised by elected officials about law enforcement’s ability to adequately handle incidents of gun violence, especially among teenagers. Some council members expressed doubt at last week’s meeting about whether the Fayetteville Police Department could single-handedly tackle gun violence, even with the implementation of many new crime-prevention programs.

“This cannot be solved by your department,” Mayor Mitch Colvin told Braden. “I don’t care how many police officers you get. I don’t care how great a job you are doing — and you guys are doing a good job. You cannot be expected to solve the woes of the problem of gun violence.”

Braden did not comment directly on the Seabrook Park shooting — it’s an ongoing investigation — but he shared some information about the circumstances that led to it. Officers responded within minutes of shots being fired there. Potential witnesses fled the scene by the time officers arrived, Braden said, but they were able to gather information using video from cameras installed at Seabrook Park.

According to Braden, detectives confirmed a conflict had taken place before violence broke out, ultimately leading to the driver of the Kia Optima crashing into the pool to evade gunshots.

“This wasn’t an incident where just out of the blue shots were being fired,” Braden said. “There were things that led up to this incident. People were in the area to celebrate, have a balloon release for a memorial for someone who had suffered violent crime himself. There was an argument on site; tempers were heated.

“I think there was an opportunity had the police (been) called that an intervention possibly could have deescalated some situations. But not a single 911 call came until the first shots were fired and the car was located in the pool.”

Braden said his department has been hosting a number of youth engagement programs at Seabrook Park this summer, including camps and activities in which youngsters can play games with police officers and ask them questions during “safe spaces.” Braden said the fact that the shooting happened despite the “proactive police work” in the community indicates more work is needed.

“So just the mere presence of police didn’t make that place safe,” Braden said. “We’re going to have to change the hearts and minds of the people within that community.”

Council member Shakeyla Ingram, who represents the community, agreed that a “village mentality” is needed to stop the problem of gun violence. Residents, she said, need to start checking in on one other before things have time to escalate.

“We have to turn back and start becoming nosy neighbors, being all up in our neighbors’ stuff,” Ingram said.

In response to a question about how concerned residents should be about recent shootings, Braden said that as long as people are avoiding criminal activity, they should be OK.

“The average citizen who’s just going out to eat at Mi Casita on a Monday night is going to be safe,” he said.
Braden said in an interview following the Aug. 16 public safety meeting that he expects to release final crime data for the second quarter of 2023 this week. He encouraged people to refrain from drawing broad conclusions about the crime rate until more data is available.

“I would wait till the end of the year to see what we end the year at to say that crime is up or down,” he said.

To report a crime in Fayetteville or Cumberland County anonymously, visit the local government CrimeStoppers page www.fay-nccrimestoppers.org/

Always the educator, Erica Fenner-McAdoo left the 2023 Convocation and Cumberland County Schools Premier Professionals “red carpet” awards reception with a lesson and a challenge for the hundreds of principals, assistant principals, teachers and teacher assistants who gathered Aug. 15 at the Crown Complex ballroom.

The moment may have belonged to Fenner-McAdoo, but it was a moment the 42-year-old 2024 Principal of the Year would embrace with all who share a passion for educating young people throughout the county’s public schools system.

“I want to encourage you to be bold this year,” Fenner-McAdoo, principal at Howard Hall Elementary, would say after accepting the Principal of the Year honor in front of more than 400 educators. “Our students need you at your best. Come back every day united for your students’ success.”

Others honored were Kristle Rouse of Westover High School, Assistant Principal of the Year; Steven Barbour of Terry Sanford High School, Teacher of the Year; and Sade’ Mangum of Seventy-First High School, Beginning Teacher of the Year.

“Today, we celebrate the heart and soul of Cumberland County Schools,” Deanna Jones, chairwoman of the Cumberland County Board of Education, would say prior to the awards presentation. “You are the architects of dreams and champions who inspire us all. We celebrate those who make every student rise.”

For Fenner-McAdoo, teaching is a part of her DNA. Her mother, Linda Bowser, was an educator in Cumberland and Moore county schools. Her sister, Shanessa Fenner, is principal at W.T. Brown Elementary School.

“I’m so proud,” Linda Bowser would say about her daughter’s selection as Principal of the Year.

Fenner-McAdoo is a 2002 graduate of North Carolina A&T University with a degree in early childhood education. She earned her master’s in education administration from Fayetteville State University in 2009. She began her career with Cumberland County Schools as assistant principal at Ponderosa Elementary School before becoming a principal at Walker-Spivey Elementary School in 2014 and Howard Hall Elementary School in 2017.

“I’m overjoyed,” she would say of the honor as the school system’s premier principal. “I’m just honored. This is a major accomplishment, I know, and I’m just humbled.”

Fenner-McAdoo, according to the school system, qualifies to compete for the Sandhills Regional Principal of the Year title.

‘Something I love to do’

Rouse, 37, would say as much as the Assistant Principal of the Year.

“I’m honored for being recognized for doing something I love to do,” she would say.

Rouse is a 2011 graduate of Fayetteville State University with a degree in psychology and a minor in biology. She holds a master’s from Grand Canyon University in Arizona. Rouse has been at Westover High School since 2017, where she began as a biology teacher before being named assistant principal and athletic director.

Like Fenner-McAdoo, teaching is in Steven Barbour’s DNA. His father, Tucker Barbour, was an assistant principal at South View High School when it opened in 1972 in Hope Mills.

“I’m humbled,” he told those in attendance. “I’ve been teaching over 20 years, and I see a lot of familiar faces around this room. I’m humbled, and it’s about the joy of working with students.”

Barbour, 52, is a 1989 graduate of South View High School. He earned his undergraduate degree in international affairs and economics in 1993 from American University and his master’s in social studies education in 2009 from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

You don’t have to wonder about his passion for being in the classroom. You can see the passion in his eyes.

“When I shut the door and have 90 minutes,” Barbour says about teaching students AP World History, “I’m overwhelmed.”

Barbour is in his seventh year as a faculty member at Terry Sanford High School, where he also coaches the boys and girls soccer teams. And where Barbour also pays honor to Chris Hondros, the American war photojournalist and Terry Sanford graduate who died at age 41 in 2011 covering violence in Libya.

“Mr. Barbour is an outstanding educator, coach, mentor and overall wonderful person who exemplifies distinguished leadership in the teaching profession,” Catherine Abraham-Johnson, the Terry Sanford principal, says about Barbour, who will compete for the regional teacher of the year title.

Mangum, 30, came to teaching after owning her own business as a notary public.

“I’m just very humbled,” she would say, “and excited about being ready to make and tackle being teacher of the year.”

A 2010 graduate of Seventy-First High School, Mangum earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Winston-Salem State University and currently is pursuing her master’s in education at UNC Pembroke. She is cheerleading coach at Seventy-First High.

Mangum will compete in the statewide North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching 2023-24 Beginning Teacher of the Year award.

Epilogue

Administering a school isn’t easy, particularly in these times of unrest and social media and where every principal seems to face scrutiny along his or her way.
Neither is being a classroom teacher.

But I can tell you that for every successful student, you’ll find a principal and a teacher who made a difference in every student’s life and his or her future to come.

“Today, we gather to celebrate true champions of education,” Marvin Connelly, superintendent of Cumberland County Schools, would tell those at Tuesday’s reception. “Today, we celebrate your remarkable contributions.”

Who is the most famous living North Carolinian? Michael Jordan? Stephen Curry? Zach Galifianakis? Dale Earnhardt Jr.? Richard Petty? Franklin Graham? Others?

My answer today: Greensboro native Rhiannon Giddens, who was a part of my recent column about Omar ibn Said, the enslaved scholar of the Arabic language. Giddens starred in the opera about Omar. She and Michael Abels shared a Pulitzer Prize for writing and composing that opera, which premiered last year at the Spoleto festival in Charleston.

I first heard about Giddens when she was part of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, a small band that featured music based in the Piedmont region where Giddens grew up.

All the musicians sang, played, and traded multiple instruments, including banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, snare drum, bones, jug and kazoo. They were enthusiastic performers. For me it was folk music at its best.

Then Chocolate Drops were gone.

But Giddens has stayed busy. At Oberlin College she had trained as an opera singer, yet according to NPR’s Anastasia Tsioulcas, Giddens is “best known as an American roots musician, a singer and songwriter who wields a mean banjo and makes her viola croon.”

An article by Jon Pareles in the Aug. 7 edition of The New York Times further demonstrates Gidden’s growing fame.

He wrote, “Giddens, 46, was at the home in Ireland that she shares with her two children and her partner, Francesco Turrisi — an Italian jazz musician who explores global traditions and has made two duet albums with her that examine African, Mediterranean, and American crosscurrents. A microphone stand sat behind her, and her latest bit of crocheting was close at hand.

“Giddens has made it her mission to delve into ‘difficult and unknown chapters of American history,’ she said, and to reveal complicated cultural entanglements. ‘We like to say it’s a melting pot,’ she said. ‘But it’s more of a patchwork. You can see the bits and pieces, but we don’t always know where all the patches are from.’”

One result is a new course by the Teaching Company/Wondrium. While working on this column, I received an advertisement for a new course: “African Instrument, American Culture: A Musical History-The Banjo: Music, History and Heritage” taught by Giddens. She is everywhere!

I sampled several of the 13 episodes in which she combined great teaching with dazzling banjo playing. A preview of the course is available at www.wondrium.com/the-banjo-music-history-and-heritage
Her new album “You’re the One,” which is the first album of her own songwriting, was released Aug. 18. Pareles wrote that the new album is “also her most playful project yet.”

“I need to make the record that I need to make at that moment,” she told Pareles, “I needed to do something with these songs that I loved. And I wanted to have fun and I wanted to explore different sounds.”
After the album’s release Giddens will go on tour with a full band. “I know I get intense,” she told Pareles.

“But yeah, there is also the thought of, ‘Maybe I can bring more people, a new slice of folks, to the fold of what I do.’ Bringing them in with these kinds of songs. And then when they come to what I do, maybe they’ll discover the other things — and dig them.”

If you can’t wait for the tour and would like to get to know Giddens better, another example of her wide-ranging interests is a program she produced with her partner Francesco Turrisi for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s MetLiveArts program in 2020.

That program is available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ignhso0iv9U

That demonstration of her multiple talents should convince you that Giddens deserves to be named North Carolina’s most famous living person.

Editor's note: D.G. Martin, a retired lawyer, served as UNC-System’s vice president for public affairs and hosted PBS-NC’s North Carolina Bookwatch.

As the representative of the largest Army base in the world, making sure our community’s veterans, troops and their families get the support they deserve is among my top priorities.

At the end of July, the House passed the FY24 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. This legislation will strengthen our commitment to our veterans by fully funding veterans’ health care programs, benefits and other critical VA programs.

This legislation is also providing nearly $800 million above President Biden’s budget request for military construction to improve our national security.

I was able to secure large wins for our community, including over $250 million in funding for critical infrastructure projects that will aid our region’s military personnel, $150 million for barracks, and $36 million for a desperately needed child care center at Fort Liberty.

I am especially proud this legislation contains my amendment to increase funding for the Veteran Crisis Line by $10 million.

The Veterans Crisis Line acts as a critical tool to help our veterans in their time of need. In March alone, the crisis line received more than 88,000 calls, texts, and chats — the highest number we’ve ever had in one month.

The additional funding in my amendment will allow the VA to better serve veterans, and their families, by ensuring the Veterans Crisis Line has the capacity to respond to every veteran in need.

If you are a veteran or know someone who needs assistance, contact the 24-hour Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 or 988 and Press 1, text 838255, or chat online at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.

We owe veterans our full support and I’m proud of everything House Republicans have accomplished this Congress for our veterans.

Ensuring our military families and veterans have the resources they deserve are the most important duties we have in Congress, and we must continue to do everything we can to improve their quality of life.

As we support our nation’s veterans, we will never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Aug. 15 marked the two year anniversary of when our nation lost 13 brave U.S. service members — including our own U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss — during Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.

These brave men and women lost in Kabul put their lives on the line to save our fellow citizens and allies in harm’s way, and will forever be known as heroes.

I continue to pray for the family of Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, as well as the Gold Star families of each of these heroes, whose legacy will never be forgotten.

I recently met with family members of these heroes, including Staff Sgt. Knauss’ mother. Their pain and loss has been compounded by the misinformation and a lack of transparency by President Biden and his administration.

These family members deserve to know all the facts and the truth about the mistakes made that put their loved ones in harm’s way. I am working with Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Mike McCaul, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers and others to ensure we get the answers they are seeking. We will hold this administration accountable.

Whether it’s protecting our veterans, shoring up our national security, securing the border, growing our economy, or holding our government agencies accountable, I continue to fight for what matters to you most. I’m proud to be standing up for you.

My goal is to continue to provide you with high quality constituent services and be accessible to hear your needs, thoughts, and concerns on key issues facing our community and nation.

My dedicated staff in our Southern Pines and Fayetteville district offices are here to serve you. To find out our office locations and office hours, visit Hudson.house.gov or call us at 910-910-1924.

Working with my House colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance common sense solutions that improve your quality of life is part of my commitment to you as your Congressman.

Editor's note: Rep. Richard Hudson has been serving as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 9th congressional district since 2013.

The United States is a big place of distinct regions with — historically speaking, at least — their own unique customs, preferences and ways of speaking.

My mother worried about what she called the “homogenization” of our nation as technology, especially television, allowed us to take a good look at each other and see how people in other parts of the country look and live.

She was especially concerned about the loss of regional speech, and she was right to worry.

To some extent, many of us have begun to sound like announcers on TV with no distinct accent or figures of speech.
But not everyone, thank goodness!

The Raleigh News & Observer published a wonderful article last month by longtime culture reporter, Martha Quillin, with the headline “We’re fixin’ to teach you to talk like an NC native: A Guide to Southern Sayings,” which my mother would have loved.

Quillin rightly points out that North Carolina has 3 distinct regions — coastal plain, piedmont and mountains. Our community straddles the coastal plain and piedmont regions, giving us some speech and culture from both.

In all regions, speech has elements of Native American language as well as those of European settlers and enslaved peoples from Africa. For those among us who are new to North Carolina and her particular ways of speech, here goes, with some from Quillin and some from me.

When North Carolinians call an elevator, we “mash” the button. Apparently, everyone else “pushes” it.

When we want or do not want to illuminate a room, we “’cut” the lights on or off. “Cutting” applies to all electrical appliances, i.e., anything that plugs in.

If life is going well for you, you might “be living high on the hog,” a reference to a better cut of meat.

You might also be “in high cotton,” as opposed to low cotton which is hard on the back during picking season.

“Jeet yet?” You might ask this of a family member to learn whether he or she has already had lunch.

Toboggans are knitted caps for cold weather, and sleds are conveyances to ride upon over increasingly rare snow.

“I’m going to snatch you bald-headed” might be said by an exasperated parent or babysitter to a misbehaving child, but I have never heard of anyone actually doing this.

“May I have a word of prayer with you?” might also be said by a parent or exasperated caretaker to a teenager who needs a bit of behavioral counseling in private.

I once heard a disgusted judge ask dueling attorneys to step up to the bench for “a word of prayer.” This might also be described as a “come to Jesus” meeting.

A petite person might not be “big as a minute.”

A boring person might be “dull as dishwater.”

A fatigued person might be “tired as all get out.”

A person with what the Dicksons call “high self-esteem” might be “getting too big for her britches.”

And, a chronic liar might prefer to “climb a thorny tree and tell a lie than stand on the ground and tell the truth.”

If I ask you if you would like a ride to the store, you might say, “thank you, but my brother is going to carry me.” He might also carry the groceries inside.

Some Southernisms may have gone by the wayside.

I must have told a whopper in early childhood, because my Kinston born and bred grandmother squeezed me by the shoulders, held me eyeball to eyeball, and hissed, “Margaret Dawson, don’t you EVER tell me a teewiddie again!”

I did not know that word, have rarely heard it since and only in eastern North Carolina, and have no idea how to spell it, but her message came through loud and clear.
She also said she would do something “directly,” which meant soon, and “much obliged” for thank you.

My mother was right.

As our nation and world become more accessible, we are losing some of our regional peculiarities. But North Carolina continues to take pride in what is special here, and welcome to all our newbies.

We are “mighty glad” to have you!

Publisher's note: I have yielded my space this week again to Fayetteville resident Lois Kirby. I am pleased with the fact that citizens like Lois are starting to speak up and speak out about how they feel about our city and its leadership.

I encourage all citizens to step up and speak out and use the First Amendment and our community newspaper as vehicles to have their voices heard.
For 27 years, we have prided ourselves in allowing the entire community, regardless of political affiliation, to use our publication to weigh in on how they feel about living and working in the Fayetteville community.
Enjoy, and we hope we hear from you in the near future. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

The most sacred of bonds are often broken when there is a lack of transparency in any relationship.

For the past few decades, this lack of transparency has eroded trust and led to suspicions of unethical or illegal activity in Fayetteville’s city government.
One only needs to look at the poor turnout at Fayetteville municipal elections to realize what is happening. Trust and faith in leadership is a state of mind involving confident expectations. In Fayetteville’s case, do the mayor, city council representatives and city staff members act prudently on our behalf, using good judgment, honesty and benevolence?

Unfortunately, for the most part, the mayor and our city council representatives are no longer easily accessible and prefer to be contacted only through an e-mail address at city hall. This leads to the impression that they like to isolate themselves from the general public. Retreating hastily through the back door of city hall upon adjournment of city council meetings tends to reinforce this.

Accessibility and transparency should begin when a council member or candidate asks for your vote, money and your trust. After being elected, accessibility and transparency should remain top priorities throughout their service. Everyone knows trust is the foundation of any strong relationship, and transparency is critical to building that trust.

Competent leadership requires knowledge, talent, sound judgment, humility and the desire to make a positive difference. I doubt many Fayetteville residents know that Fayetteville’s mayor Mitch Colvin will meet with his constituents by appointment only, and only on Mondays for fifteen minutes. (So much for accessibility.)

In addition, many residents complain that when important phone calls are placed to city management and the city attorney’s office, they are seldom returned. This is why tax-paying residents tend to become skeptical and lose trust and confidence in the leadership responsible for municipal management.

Being ignored by our elected officials often prompts a “us vs. them” attitude. It’s crucially important to understand the power and influence that the mayor and city council have on our lives when making critical decisions about routine city services like property taxes, policing and public safety, garbage collection, stormwater and zoning.

As an elected body, it’s the job of each council member to represent and encourage people to participate in decision-making while considering the needs of the community and those who might choose to live here in the future.

Understanding the responsibilities of a city council representative and the obligations that come with the position should be clear before anyone asks for the privilege to serve the public.
Fayetteville could not exist without the taxes collected from residents — these taxes support and foster economic growth, giving our city vitality. Fayetteville citizens should demand our elected officials be open and transparent about their policies and decisions and explain how they will impact the Fayetteville community. Closed-session meetings should only be held if a personnel or legal matter is to be discussed.

Holding meetings closed to the public only perpetuates the idea that the council has something to hide. A lack of transparency should not be tolerated.

The Fayetteville mayor and all the city council members should listen closely to their constituents and operate more openly and ethically. They should understand the impact of every decision they make and its effect on the prosperity and well-being of taxpaying citizens.

It’s apparent, and most unfortunate, that Mitch Colvin and the city council have little regard for this notion, nor are they inclined even to address the issues most important to the citizens of Fayetteville. i.e., property crimes, homicides/public safety, homelessness, to name a few.

I want to remind everyone that this upcoming municipal election is extremely important (Primary Oct. 10, Candidates Forum Oct. 19, Election Day Nov. 7) and will decide the future of our city. Know the candidates and vote wisely!

Editor’s note: Lois Kirby is a former City Council member representing District 5, and former Mayor Pro Tem.

Last year I noticed tiny black specks on my parsley and wondered what they were. Within several days those specs became tiny parsley works known as a soon-to-be Black Swallowtail butterfly.

Not knowing what to do I was on a quest to see them through metamorphosis. They are ravenous eaters, and they grow before spinning cocoons and going into the metamorphosis stage and will eat all available parsley down to the stem. I ordered a collapsible butterfly house which was an inexpensive stand-up mesh house with a zipper. By the time I was in receipt of the house, the birds had helped themselves to most of them and only one ended up hatching.

I was prepared this year and my large container of parsley is sitting in the mesh house. I covered the top with an old shirt during the day because of the sun. They are growing quickly and devouring the parsley.

If you are interested in watching them through the metamorphosis to flight it would be a great project for you or your children.

Swallowtail butterflies are in the family of Papilionidae and include over 550 species. They are large butterflies with colorful wings, patterned with black and yellow or black and white. The distinctive tail is thin and elongated and they have large eyes. It has a wingspan of 2.7 to 4 inches.

The black swallowtail can be found in Canada south to Florida, Costa Rica, the Rocky Mountains, eastern Arizona, Mexico and Peru. Their habitat includes sea level, mountains, fields, meadows, deserts, marshes, lakes, streams, farms, cities and our backyard.

They are seen in the south from May until October and in some areas from February to November. They fly quickly and close to the ground and in cold weather they hold their abdomens above their wings to keep warm.

Black Swallowtails usually live 10 to 12 days; in some cases they have lived 35 to 45 days. They have two broods per year. The number of eggs laid can range from 100 to 300, some species a few dozen and others 1,000 eggs or more.

The black swallowtail goes through complete metamorphosis. The male forms the territory for mating purposes. The female searches out the male and a successful courtship lasts about 40 seconds; however, the mating ritual can last up to 45 minutes. Females that are uninterested will escape by flying high in the air and downward.

The females fly close to the ground to look for host plants, such as my parsley. There are not any nests
made and the eggs are laid on the host plant.

The young caterpillar emerges with a white spot in the middle of the body which resembles a bird dropping. As they grow, they turn green with red bands. It has a special defense mechanism called an osmeterium — an organ that emits a foul smell to scare predators away when they are threatened.

They form a cocoon called a chrysalis which hangs upright and is light or dark brown. A silk thread that holds the chrysalis is called a girdle. It takes 7 to 10 days for the larvae to become chrysalides and 7 to 10 days for the butterflies to emerge from the chrysalides. The caterpillar's old body dies inside the chrysalis and the new body emerges with beautiful wings in a two-week time span.

This transformation brings us beautiful butterflies. Transformation is the subject of poems, literature and is the very nature of life and rebirth.

Live, love life and butterflies!

After a summer of relaxation, the start of a new school year generates mixed emotions among students. Many children look forward to being back on campus with their friends but may not revel in the idea of waking up early or doing homework each night.

While summer break is a much needed-respite from the rigors of school, it doesn’t mean school should be forgotten entirely. In fact, doing some preparatory steps before a new school year begins can make the year go much more smoothly. Here's how students and parents can direct their focus during the final countdown.

Keep reading. According to Scholastic, summer slide is a concept that was first acknowledged by researchers in 1996. Many comprehensive studies have come out since then and indicated that kids lose significant knowledge in reading and math over summer break, which can have a cumulative effect and lead to skill loss each year. Some research says up to 20% of school year gains in reading and 27% in math are lost during summer break.

Children should be encouraged to read as much as possible during summer break, particularly since many schools require summer reading and subsequent essays or book reports upon returning to the classroom.
Let kids read what they want, whether it’s comics, magazines, the newspaper, or even books they’ve read before.

Accumulate supplies. School may not be on the radar early in summer, but it’s wise to purchase supplies early. Right before school starts there is a mad dash to grab notebooks, pens, clothing and more, which can make for a stressful shopping experience for all involved. Shopping early helps families avoid that outcome.

Brush up on math skills. It can’t hurt for students to do a few math problems over the summer. Practice keeps skills fresh and any mathematical formulas prominent in their minds. All it takes is one or two problems per day to stay on top of math skills.

Visit educational attractions. Families can include museums, art exhibits, animal sanctuaries, libraries, science centers and similar attractions in the list of places they visit over the summer.
This way students can learn and be entertained simultaneously.

Start enforcing bedtimes. School-aged children (six to 13 years) need nine to 12 hours of sleep every night, according to KidsHealth.org.
During the summer, late nights can easily be rectified by sleeping in the next day. But when school resumes, the alarm clock will be ringing earlier than expected.

Parents can gradually implement earlier bedtimes as summer winds down so that kids are getting the rest they will need.

Get in the know. Parents can begin to pay closer attention to emails and social media posts from schools as they’ll likely contain information about upcoming school calendars, bus routes (or transportation registration), changes in personnel, or any additional updates.

This can help alleviate any surprises on the first day of school. Families can take several steps to get ready for school as the first day draws near.

Donating blood can be a worthwhile effort for someone looking to make a difference. Apart from the feeling of satisfaction, donating blood can help save the lives of up to three people.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood or blood products. When people think of donating blood products, they may think about donating whole blood. However, there’s a need for other components, namely plasma.

Whole blood donations include donating all four blood components: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. Whole blood is used to treat blood loss that occurs during an injury or surgery. Patients in need of plasma may have cancer, immunodeficiencies or rare diseases that can benefit from plasma treatment.

Blood can be donated once every 56 days. Individuals must be in good health, at least 16 years old in most areas, and must weigh at least 110 pounds.

All blood types can give plasma. Plasma can be donated once every 28 days. Good health is required and donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 pounds.
Donors also can donate red blood cells and platelets separately from whole blood or plasma. There are different eligibility requirements for these blood components.

Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center is a community blood program dedicated to serving the needs of patients in Cumberland, Hoke, Harnett and Bladen counties through blood donation by individual donors, community organizations and businesses.

The center is located at 3357 Village Drive in Fayetteville in the Bordeaux Shopping Center. It is open for donations Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the third Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are two blood mobiles out in the community for mobile blood drives.

The next opportunity to donate during a mobile blood drive is Thursday, Aug. 17 at Modern Woodmen of America, located at 3400 Walsh Parkway Ste. 219 in north Fayetteville. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those interested in donating can call 732-670-4659 for information.

The American Red Cross has seen a shortfall of about 25,000 blood donations in the first two months of the summer, which makes it hard to keep hospital shelves stocked with lifesaving blood products.

Right now, the Red Cross especially needs type O negative, type O positive, type B negative and type A negative blood donors, as well as platelet donors. For those who don’t know their blood type, making a donation is an easy way to find out this important personal health information. The Red Cross will notify new donors of their blood type soon after they give.

Those interested can schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

All who donate throughout the month of August will get a $10 e-gift card to a movie merchant of their choice. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Movie.

There are two opportunities to donate at a Red Cross mobile blood drive in Fayetteville.

On Aug. 24 from noon to 6 p.m., donors can go to Carolina College of Biblical Studies located at 817 S. McPherson Church Road.

On Aug. 29 from noon to 6 p.m., donors can go to the American Red Cross Sandhills Chapter located at 807 Carol Street.

Donating whole blood, plasma and other blood products can make a difference in the lives of many.
Visit www.capefearvalley.com/blood/index.html or www.redcrossblood.org to learn more about becoming a blood donor.

As The Beach Boys mark more than a half century of making music, the group continues to ride the crest of a wave unequalled in America’s musical history.

Synonymous with the California lifestyle and an American icon to fans around the world, The Beach Boys will bring their “America’s Band” tour to the Crown Complex in Fayetteville on Nov. 9.
Tickets can be purchased now by visiting https://www.crowncomplexnc.com/

Since the band’s co-founder, lead-singer and chief lyricist Mike Love penned the lyrics to The Beach Boys’ first hit, “Surfin’” (1961), dozens of the bands chart toppers have become eternal anthems of American youth: “Surfin’ USA,” “Surfer Girl,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “California Girls,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Barbara Ann,” “Good Vibrations,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Rock and Roll Music” and “Kokomo.”

The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love, who, along with longtime member Bruce Johnston, musical director Brian Eichenberger, Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, Jon Bolton, Keith Hubacher, Randy Leago and John Wedemeyer continue the legacy of the iconic band.

The Beach Boys have sold over 100 million records worldwide and have received more than 33 RIAA Platinum and Gold record awards. The Rock And Roll Hall of Famers were also honored at the 2001 Grammy Awards with the Lifetime Achievement Award. With more than five decades of touring under their belts, The Beach Boys have performed more concerts than any major rock band in history.

“Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys,” Capitol/EMI's 30-track collection of the band's biggest hits, has achieved triple-platinum success with sales of more than three million copies in the U.S. since its release.

The Beach Boys recently released “Sail On Sailor – 1972,” a new expansive box set that celebrates and dives deep into their transformative and fruitful 1972 era. The comprehensive collection, which was named one of the best box sets of 2022 by Rolling Stone and The New York Times, boasts newly remastered versions of studio albums and a reproduction of the “Mount Vernon and Fairway (A Fairytale)” EP. It also includes unreleased live concert recorded at Carnegie Hall on Thanksgiving, 1972.

The box set includes a bounty of unreleased outtakes, live recordings, radio promos, alternate versions, isolated backing tracks and a cappella versions, culled from the historic album sessions.

Most recently, The Beach Boys were honored in the CBS tribute special “Grammy Salute to the Beach Boys,” which featured performances from Beck, Brandi Carlile, Michael McDonald, Pentatonix, Norah Jones, John Legend, and Mumford & Sons among others.

The Beach Boys recently embarked on the second voyage of The Beach Boys Good Vibrations Cruise, which sailed from Miami, to Harvest Caye, Belize and Costa Maya, Mexico, aboard the Norwegian Pearl.

Other featured performers on the cruise included The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Righteous Brothers and “Sugar Ray” Mark McGrath.

Better Health of Cumberland County is hosting its 8th annual Diabetes Dodge-It Dodgeball Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 9 a.m. at the Freedom Courts Sportsplex. The Sportsplex is located at 3126 Gillespie Street in Fayetteville. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 18.

The Dodgeball Tournament raises awareness and funds to combat diabetes in our community. All are welcome to attend and watch to see if the undefeated team with two tournament wins — the “Psyche Ward” — will make it a three-peat.

This event will be an exciting and fun dodgeball tournament. There will be teams comprised of six players with a limit of three subs for each team.

Registration is complete for this year's competition, but it is never too early to start putting your team together for next year. More information for competitors is available at Betterhealthcc.org or by calling 910-483-7534. The age minimum to participate in the competition is 14 years and older.

Information on becoming a sponsor is available on the website at https://www.betterhealthcc.org/how-to-help/dodge-ball-sponsorship.html.
According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 72,032 people in North Carolina are diagnosed with diabetes yearly. Further, around 244,000 people in North Carolina have diabetes but do not know it.

Diabetes can lead to serious medical complications such as heart disease, stroke, amputation, blindness, and even death. Better Health of Cumberland County is a United Way partner agency. BHCC was founded in 1958 by Ruth Peters, RN, who was concerned that many patients were leaving the hospital without the ability to pay for their prescriptions, which would hinder their care.

BHCC's mission is “to address the unmet healthcare needs in Cumberland County through education, referral, and assistance,” according to their website.

BHCC offers a variety of services including direct aid for prescriptions, dental care, vision care, or travel to important medical appointments at Duke or Chapel Hill, for example, and more for those in need.
Better Health offers a diabetes management program. The program includes one-on-one meetings with a nurse and a registered dietician, education on exercise, nutrition, exercise program, guidance on what medications to take and when, cooking demos, testing blood sugar, and offering medical equipment loans for free for those in need.

Better Health of Cumberland County is a nonprofit organization located at 1422 Bragg Boulevard. Thier work is made possible by volunteers and donations.
For more information on how you can help visit https://www.betterhealthcc.org/how-to-help/ or call 910-483-7534.

The BHCC walk-in clinics are held on:
The 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. at the Grays Creek Recreation Center at 2964 School Road in Hope Mills, and
On the 2nd Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Spring Lake Senior Center at 301 Ruth Street in Spring Lake

Do not miss this chance to make a difference; so mark your calendars for BHCC’s 8th annual Diabetes Dodge-It Dodgeball Tournament on Aug. 26 at the Freedom Courts Sportsplex. Be part of this exciting event and help the fight against diabetes.

Public libraries are an essential resource for communities. They provide access to knowledge, information, educational programs and community events that are open to anyone in the area.
For these programs to take place, funding is needed. That’s where the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library comes in.

The Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library, Inc. supports the library in fulfilling its literary, educational, technological, community and cultural purposes. The programming the Friends have helped support in the past include author visits, workshops and other events bringing together community members.

Upcoming events funded by the Friends include a writers workshop with Kianna Alexander on Aug. 19, LibrariCon on Sept. 16, and a local author showcase on Oct. 7.

“It’s vital to the continuing of the library even existing, I think,” said Marili Melchionne, the Friends of the Library Operations Manager.

“Programs draw people into the library, and we provide educational opportunities through a lot of the programs. The programs wouldn’t exist if we didn’t fund them, then people wouldn’t have those resources,” Melchionne said.

The goal for the book sale is $10,000; however Melchionne says that during the last book sale, over $11,000 was raised.

There are four book sales a year and when the sale isn’t happening, hundreds of hours are spent organizing the books. The entire operation is volunteer-based.
If you walked into the room on a non-sale day, you would think it was another room in the library. All the books are on shelves and are organized by genre. There are books displayed at the end of the shelves, and books look like they are in great condition.

The books are either donated to the Friends for these book sales, or are older books that the library needs to get rid of to make more space for newer books.
In the weeks before a sale, the room is packed with volunteers.

Kay Frazier, a retired elementary school librarian, was sorting through the children section, scanning each and every book. She was a librarian for 22 years and decided to spend her retirement around more books.

“I’m in my element and I love it. I would be here everyday if I could, but I can’t,” she laughs. “I like to get an accomplished feeling, and you aren’t on any structured schedule or anything like that.”

Even if you can’t volunteer, the Friends relies on memberships. At the moment, they have 459 members, and the funds raised from memberships are part of the funds that the Friends give to the library.
Members get early entrance to the book sales and also get first notice for any events coming up.

People can become a member by going to cumberlandcountylibraryfriends.com and clicking on “Join” but they need a Paypal account for the online payment. Individual dues are $15 a year.
People can also become members at any library branch before the sale.

Members of Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library will have access to the book sale on Monday, Aug. 21, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The book sale will then be open to the public from Friday, Aug. 25 to Sunday, Aug. 27.

The sale on Friday is 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday’s hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday’s hours are 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Hardbacks books will be $1. Paperbacks and CDs are $0.50. DVDs and audiobooks are $1. Magazines will be 12 for $1. There will also be bargain sales. These items will be available for a major discount, $0.25 each or five items for $1.

There are also specialty items available for sale including antique books, puzzles, and homeschooling curriculum. These items are individually priced.

There will also be mystery bundles sold for $2. These bundles of books will be wrapped up with a description of the genre of the books.

On Sunday, there will be a special sale where customers can get a grocery bag of books from the bargain room for $1.
Cash, credit cards and checks are accepted at the book sale.

“It’s not at all unusual for people to bring boxes... bring wagons and buggies. We love it when they do it. If someone wants to come in, and load up, come on down,” Rudy Clark, one of the Book Sale Co-Chairs, said.

The sale will take place at the Main Branch of the Cumberland County Library at 300 Maiden Lane.
For any questions, visit cumberlandcountylibraryfriends.com or call 910-483-7727, extension 1304.

If you love your community and you’re free on Saturday, Aug. 19, join the L3 Brand Community Alliance for their I Love My Community Cookout and Giveaway. This free event is being held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Murchison Marketplace Plaza.
City leaders are gearing up to make this event special for everyone in the community. The event will be packed with special guest speakers, job opportunities, free food, hygiene products, backpacks and school supplies, as well as other resources.

Guests will also be entertained with live music, games and dancing throughout the event.

The event is also supported by the A1 Black BBQ Cook Off, where 16 pit masters will compete for a championship belt. Food influencers, chefs and celebrity judges will be voting to help decide who wins this year’s friendly competition. Guests will be able to purchase wristbands for the BBQ Cook Off so they can sample BBQ from the pit masters during the event.

“People really enjoyed seeing the pit masters competing last year, so we decided to add four more pit masters and grow the competition,“ says Elizabeth Stiff, owner of the L3 Brand that’s behind this community event.

Stiff is the owner of L3 Brand Live and L3 Community Alliance. L3 Brand Live is a public relations marketing and brand development firm. They focus on brand reputation and provide a variety of services that benefit the community. The L3 Community Alliance is a nonprofit organization that seeks to unite different organizations, the general public, city officials and law enforcement.

Those familiar with Stiff’s work know she’s everywhere in the city — working with businesses and events in the city of Fayetteville for years. Being involved in different spaces around the community has always been important for Stiff.

“We strive to help everyone in our community, tell the stories that don’t often get told, and be there for people when they call on us. It’s all about coming together to be a greater impact, rather than doing everything on your own,” Stiff said.

There will be several resources and vendors set up at the cookout that will feature important organizations and businesses that benefit the public. Some of the resources include information about mental health and health insurance.

With the school year starting up in Cumberland County, there will be representatives from Cumberland County School system discussing enrollment information for students during the upcoming school year.
Students attending the event can look forward to receiving backpacks from hip-hopvibe.com, one of the cookout sponsors.

The Crown Complex will be represented as well, discussing upcoming events and plans happening at the Crown. They’ll also be raffling two tickets for the Maxwell concert coming up on Oct. 20.

The I Love My Community event is free to the public and is sure to bring out all of the heavy hitters in the city. Be sure to bring your family and friends to this cookout and giveaway located at 3421 Murchison Road. For more information about Elizabeth Stiff and the L3 Brand, visit www.l3brand.com

Cumberland County Schools provides equitable access to engaging learning that prepares every student confident, competitive and ready for a career, college and life.

On Aug. 10, the district celebrated more than 70 successful students as they received their diplomas during CCS’ 2023 Summer Graduation Ceremony.

Faculty, staff and students from 11 high schools across the district and their guests gathered in the auditorium at Jack Britt High School for the occasion.

Together, they acknowledged the hard work and perseverance of this year’s summer graduates. Students smiled as they lined up to receive their diplomas.
Sergeant Major Chris Miller delivered the commencement address. He posed the question to students, “Who do you want to become?” and encouraged them to surround themselves with people to help them get there.

“Circumstances don't define you, they shape you,” Miller said.

Other special moments during the ceremony included the presentation of the colors by the Jack Britt High School Army JROTC Color Guard and a solo performance by Javaria Cox.