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  • 15WCLN peppermint Now that we’ve put the fall decorations away, I’ve got a confession to make.

    Just a forewarning — I may get shunned or bullied for this confession. You may even stop reading this after I bare my soul in just a few sentences. This has been on my heart for a while, and I must get it off my chest ... right here, right now.

    I am not a fan of pumpkin spice.

    There. I said it.

    I can hear you gasping, your neck creaking ever so quietly as you shake your head in disapproval — I know I’m in the minority. I’m so thankful we’re past that time of year where you can’t escape all the advertisements for this epitome of fall delicacies.

    You’ve got the ever-popular Can’t- Wait-Until-Fall-It’s-July-But-I-Need- My-Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte (that’s the full title, it just won’t fit on the menu). Then there are the pumpkin spice cakes, cookies, coffee creamer, donuts — every brand having its own variation of this seasonal phenomenon.

    There’s pumpkin spice Cheerios, Mini Wheats or Special K cereal; Triscuits, yogurt, marshmallows, bagels, Jell-O, milk, chocolates — the list goes on. Even Easter seasonal treats are jealous of all of this fallthemed attention — there’s now pumpkin spice Peeps available at a store near you.

    It’s quite ridiculous.

    But now? The Christmas season is when seasonally themed food actually shines. It’s peppermint season, and I’m gunning for that peppermint mocha creamer in my daily cup — er, cups — of coffee every morning. Peppermint in my diffuser, peppermint hand soaps and candles galore. Andes Mints no longer have to hide behind their green wrappers. We all know if the wise men had been in possession of Andes Mints, they would have brought the pepperminty chocolates to the manger for Baby Jesus that first Christmas.

    Ho-ho-ho, y’all, a peppermint Christmas to all, and to all a good night. 

    Somehow, peppermint echoes this time of year so perfectly. It’s invigorating, like the chill in the air on a winter’s day, yet cozy, complementing all the fresh greenery adorned with lights or mixing in nicely to a cup of hot cocoa. And it’s perfect alongside a hefty helping of Christmas music.

    That’s where WCLN Christian 105.7 comes in. This Christmas season, WCLN is playing Christmas favorites 24/7 — but it might sound a little different than what you’re used to. Songs about snow and Santa might get old quickly, and this station does play a few of those, too, but WCLN’s staff believes the freshness of the sound of Christmas comes in the message. Hear the good news this Christmas season: How Jesus came to Earth, wrapped in skin — the best gift of all, the most needed gift of all, the most glorious, life-giving gift of all.

    So, download the WCLN app, turn it on in the car, at home or wherever you can find a radio, and celebrate Jesus with us.

    And, I must say — if WCLN had a flavor, it would most definitely be peppermint.

  • 14ftcc computer Fayetteville Technical Community College offers the computer programming and software development degree as a concentration under the information technology major. This curriculum prepares individuals for employment in computer programming and related positions through study and application in computer concepts, logic, programming procedures, languages, generators, operating systems, networking, data management and business operations. Upon completion of the program, students receive an associate’s degree in computer programming and software development and will be well-equipped to enter the growing field of software development.

    Alumni of this program have gone on to work for entities, including the city of Fayetteville, Cape Fear Valley Hospital, Cumberland County Schools and local defense contractors.

    The computer programming and software development department will offer two new certificate programs beginning in 2019. The first certificate program, Data Analysis using SAS, will introduce students to the concepts and practices necessary to analyze big data sets and develop real-world applications.

    The SAS Corporation is a world-leading business analytics software company located in Cary, North Carolina. SAS develops its own proprietary software and is consistently ranked as one of the top employers among technology and software development companies.

    The second certificate program is Creating iOS Application using Swift. Swift is the primary mobile application development language of Apple, the developer of the iPhone and iPad. Students will learn concepts related to mobile application development needed to create basic applications for the iPhone and the iPad.

    Fayetteville Tech offers a broad range of programs of study leading to the award of associate degrees, certificates and diplomas. Many educational choices are available in the field of computer and information technology, where graduates can seek employment as designers, developers, testers, support technicians, system administrators, and programmers. Specialty areas include business intelligence, database services, healthcare informatics, security and more.

    Specific program areas to explore at FTCC include CISCO networking academy, computer programming and software development, cyber defense education center, database management, digital media technology, game and interactive programming, network management, PC support and services, systems security and analysis, and simulation and game development. Within each of these program areas are additional specialty programs of study, which allow students broad choices for expansion in becoming well-equipped for a great career in the computer technology field.

    For students interested in pursuing an exciting career in a high-demand field, FTCC is a wise choice for education in computer and information technology. Spring semester begins Jan. 14, 2019.

    Visit www.faytechcc.edu to apply now and begin the enrollment process.

    For more information about the program, visit www.faytechcc.edu/academics/computer-information- technology-programs/computer-programming- development. Call 910-678-8571 or email camerona@faytechcc.edu with questions about pursuing computer programming and software development education at FTCC.

    With over 250 curriculum-level programs of study to choose from leading to an associate’s degree, certificate, or diploma — plus a wide range of continuing education programs to choose from — FTCC is the smart choice for education.

  • 13BCPE Christmastime is near, and to help bring in the spirit, Cape Fear Regional Theatre presents the play “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” The play has been a tradition of CFRT, bringing cheer to many, for 28 years. The show opens Dec. 6 and runs through the 22nd. It involves three casts of local children and plenty of hijinks, too.

    According to the play director, Brian Adam Kline, the show is based on six “misfits” who help depict an unconventional version of the Christmas story. The transformation the children undergo in the process is both heartwarming and hilarious.

    “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” was originally written as a book by Barbara Robinson in 1971. It focuses on the Herdman family, which includes six rebellious, obnoxious and hard-headed children ranging from 8-13 years old. They are known for their deviant and bullying behavior.

    In the play, Grace Bradley is tasked with directing the church Christmas pageant. The Herdman children shock their peers by volunteering for the play. Accommodating the Herdman family proves to be more than Bradley, or the other children in the pageant, bargained for.

    Imogene Herdman portrays Mary, and her brother Ralph is Joseph. It astonishes and dismays the others when they learn that the two leads have never heard of the Christmas story. The community members’ preconceived assumptions about the Herdman children exemplify our own prejudices and bias toward others.

    The play sheds some light on faulty human thinking, like how people will often judge others based on their appearance, cultural background and more. In so doing this, we fail to look deeper into the heart of the individual and what motivates them. One important message the play depicts is to keep hope in humanity.

    The play also serves as a reminder that redemption can be found in the most unexpected places and that often, the underdog has something positive to contribute to society. Although the Herdman children are rambunctious, deviant pranksters from a poverty-stricken home, they begin to learn comradeship and how to contribute to their community.

    Kline has worked diligently on developing the performance according to what the local community enjoys, and it goes without saying that the entire show from beginning to end creates a sense of harmony and brings about an element of cheer.

    Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children under 18. The play is family-friendly, Christmas themed and appropriate for all ages. There are performances Dec. 6-9, Dec. 13-16 and Dec. 19-22. Military Appreciation Nights are Dec. 6-7 at the 7 p.m. performances. For tickets and information, call the box office at 910-323-4233 or visit www.cfrt.org.

  • 12Heritage Square Each year, the Heritage Square Historical Society of Fayetteville presents A Christmas Tour of Homes. It is a one-day-only event showcasing some of Fayetteville’s finest, most decadently decorated homes. Sunday, Dec. 2, the society invites the public to enjoy this year’s tour and celebrate the beauty of the season.

    Stops on the tour include the homes of Jesse Byrd, Nancy and Murray Duggins, Nicole and Brian Raynor and the Heritage Square Historical Society of Fayetteville. It’s a perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit or to enjoy a girls’ day out — or both. It’s become a tradition for many.

    “We’ve done this for 17 years,” said Heritage Square Historical Society of Fayetteville President Elaine Kennebeck. “People come year after year and love it. We have big, beautiful homes in Fayetteville decorated to the nines.”

    Even if decorating is not a priority, Kennebeck added that there are other reasons people go on the tour of  homes. “Some go for decoration ideas, and some go for architecture. We have seven to eight garden clubs involved, and they each decorate a room in fresh greens. This year’s theme is Santa Claus.”

    Proceeds from the event benefit the historical society, which is the home of three unique historical homes located at 225 Dick St. The homes are The Sandford House, the Oval Ballroom and the Baker-Haigh-Nimocks House. With histories woven into Fayetteville’s earliest days, the historical society has taken on the task of preserving these structures and the stories that unfolded within their walls and on their properties.

    The Sandford House dates to 1797 and is said to have housed Gen. Sherman’s troops when the Union forces occupied Fayetteville.

    The Oval Ballroom was once home to a socialite accused of poisoning her husband. Her 1850 trial was dubbed the “trial of the century.”

    Property for the Baker-Haigh-Nimocks House was secured in 1781 on a 24-acre plot of land. It was headquarters for Gen. Sherman’s troops during the Civil War.

    Formerly known as the Fayetteville Woman’s Club, the history-focused group changed its name to better reflect its mission. “Our only mission in the club is to preserve and maintain these homes,” said Kennebeck. “There are so few historic homes left in Fayetteville. It is important with all the (historic) houses we are losing in this the city that we keep this property going.”

    The society hosts a few fundraisers a year, but sharing the buildings with the public and helping people understand why the structures are important is a big part of what it does as well.

    “We rent out the property for wedding showers and things like that,” said Kennebeck. “We have beautiful grounds. The property is for people to enjoy. Our rental fees are probably the cheapest in the area. If you are looking for an authentic Southern wedding, this is a great place. We have a full working kitchen, which caterers love. People can bring their own food. We are kind to the people who rent from us.”

    Tickets for A Christmas Tour of Homes cost $20 and are available for purchase at Bell’s Seed Store, The Pilgrim, and Heritage Square. To learn more or to purchase tickets another way, call 910-483-6009 or visit www.heritagesquarefay.org.

  • 11RUDOLPH An American holiday staple, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has gone down in history as the highest rated Christmas television special of all time. Since 1964, the redeeming tale of the misfit reindeer who helped Santa Claus save Christmas has entertained people of all ages. Sunday, Dec. 2, fans of Rudolph will have a onenight- only opportunity to see the stopmotion classic spring from the T.V. screen to the stage in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical” at the Givens Performing Arts Center, located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

    GPAC Marketing Director Chad Locklear said seeing the movie as a live performance is exhilarating and special for adults and kids alike. “The music is sung live, the props are colorful, and the bright costumes and puppetry all bring an exciting and unique experience,” he said.

    The production boasts lots of action and movement. From dance numbers to high-flying elves, all the hard work put in behind the scenes is sure to keep every audience member amused, said Natalie Holt MacDonald, the actress who portrays Rudolph. “With the set movements, they all roll, and people roll them around, so it kind of looks like they’re ice skating the set pieces all over the stage. It’s all beautifully choreographed,” she said.

    Raised as a homeschooled student in Simi Valley, California, MacDonald found it simple to connect with Rudolph’s story through what she said was a misfit experience of her own. “When I finally got around to … going to college, I definitely didn’t have all the inside jokes of everyone. I felt like I lived under a rock at some points,” she said.

    While written for children, Rudolph’s narrative speaks to multiple generations. MacDonald said the show is close to the hearts of those who come to see it. “It really is a timeless piece that is great for everyone of all ages, and you have that really nostalgic feel for those who grew up with this story — our grandparents and our parents,” she said.

    In addition to the magic of Christmas, MacDonald said she hopes the musical will illuminate the message of acceptance for audience members. “I think everyone feels (a little bit) like a misfit sometimes. … Everyone is different, and because of that, everyone has something to contribute to society,” she said. “No matter how different you are than everyone else, you matter and you’re important.”

    MacDonald and the rest of the touring cast of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical” will perform Sunday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m. at GPAC. The show is 90 minutes long, including a 20-minute intermission. Tickets range from $21 to $41. Visit uncp.edu/gpac to purchase tickets online. For more information, call 910-521-6361 or visit www.rudolphthemusical.com.

  • 10LoftTour Ever wonder what those homes up above the shops on Hay Street and at Park View on Bragg Boulevard look like inside and what drew people to live in the heart of downtown Fayetteville? An upcoming tour of these spaces will give community members the opportunity to find out. Gracious residents will once again open their lofts to host Cool Spring Downtown District’s annual Downtown Fayetteville Candlelight Loft Tour for one night only on Thursday, Dec. 6, from 6-9 p.m.

    That evening, stop by the Cool Spring Downtown District office at 222 Hay St. to pick up an event program and a map for the self-guided tour and to get the official tour wrist band, which will give participants access to all the homes on the tour. Wander farther down Hay Street, toward the Market House, to begin the tour at the delightful City Center Gallery & Books. The loft above the shop is home to proprietors Hank and Diane Parfitt.

    Stroll back up the sidewalk, following the printed guide, to visit the other fascinating loft homes along Hay Street. Catch the Majestic Mobility shuttle at the Cool Spring Downtown District office to be transported to Park View where, in addition to lofty condos warmly decorated for the holidays, there will be light refreshments and representatives on hand from the Prince Charles Hotel and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers.

    Learn all about the new residential and commercial spaces that will be available once renovations at the Prince Charles are complete. Get updates on the construction of the new baseball stadium and peruse the team merchandise on hand for purchase.

    As always, throughout the downtown tour there will be lots of interesting shopping opportunities, delicious dining experiences, street art and sidewalk entertainment provided by Cool Spring Downtown District’s Busker Program. The Wine Café will host jazz performances on the patio. Enjoy a film in the elegant ambience of the Cameo movie theater. Be sure to check out the Arts Council’s current gallery exhibition, “Touchstone: Images of Service.” Around the corner from the Arts Council and down the block on Maxwell Street, wander through the potters’ and painters’ studios and view the mixed media art on display and for sale.

    Tickets for the Downtown Fayetteville Candlelight Tour are $10 each and may be purchased at the Pilgrim Gift Shop in Westwood Shopping Center; the Cool Spring Downtown District office; Rude Awakening coffee house; City Center Gallery & Books; The Shops at 123 Hay Street; Pressed-A Creative Space; Kinder Koalas; The Wine Café; The Coffee Cup; The Door- Belle; The Hemp Farmacy; and at A Bit of Carolina.

    Check-in for the event will be at 222 Hay St. any time between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. the day of the event. Staff will be on hand to answer questions and to give directions. Parking is available at the city of Fayetteville’s municipal parking deck on Franklin Street and is free after 5 p.m.

  • 09Behold “Behold: A Folk Christmas Cantata” is Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s artistic contribution to Fayetteville’s Christmas season. “Behold” takes the familiar Christmas story and sets it to what STS describes as “glorious, mostly new music that quickly feels familiar.” It’s a Christmas concert that tells the nativity story from beginning to end through music, and it takes place Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-15, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

    This is STS’ fourth year performing “Behold.” The performance is 100 percent music and features three acoustic guitars (played by one player), an electric guitar, mandolin and banjo (played by another person), a bass guitar, an accordion, a piano, two violins, one cello and a percussionist — and plenty of singers, too. And while it is a Christmas concert, don’t expect to hear songs like “Jingle Bells” or “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

    “We try to tell the real story of the nativity,” said Marie Lowe, STS associate director, and for this production, singer and cellist. “One of the songs begins, ‘It was not a silent night...’ and it goes on to remind us about how scared Mary and Joseph must have been. They were people, just like us. So, there are somber and reflective moments, but the overall mood is joyful — it’s Christmas, and we’re together, and we’re glad and grateful.”

    Jacob French is Master of Note at Sweet Tea Shakespeare (think “resident music director”) as well as an assistant artistic director and board member for the company. For this production, he’s the music director and plays the guitar and sings as well. He’s excited that “Behold” is becoming a holiday staple for so many. “We want to be one of the things that folks around town think about and look forward to when Christmas rolls around,” he said.

    “The piece is mainly based upon a show called ‘Behold the Lamb of God’ by Andrew Peterson. Our artistic director, Jeremy Fiebig, knew of the show and music from his days prior to Sweet Tea Shakespeare. Once the company reached a place where we could do it justice, we thought it would be a natural fit. We supplement the original show with a few other songs that we think fit the message and feel as well.”

    French added, “I think ‘Behold’ is a niche that isn’t (or wasn’t) filled until now in town. The story of the virgin birth is one of the biggest stories every told, and (it) is cram-packed full of love — Mary, Joseph, Jesus, God himself — love coming out your ears. The music does a great job of telling the story, and when we play it, I can feel the love in the room. … There are funny moments, serious ones, contemplative ones, ones that could make you cry, and ones that will make you clap along and dance. If I had to choose one word to describe the feeling, I think I’d choose ‘reflective.’”

    In addition to the concert, STS will have traditional front-of-house activities accompanying the show. There will be beverages (adult and non) for purchase, merchandise for sale, preconcert entertainment and, French promises, “a warm holiday spirit.” 

    The show starts at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets are free but require a reservation. To purchase tickets, or to learn more, call 910-420-4383, visit www.sweetteashakespeare.com or search the group’s Facebook page.

  • 08Festival In a community filled with fun and meaningful Christmas traditions, Owen Chapel and Camp Ground Methodist Church shares a new experience unlike any others locally. The Festival of Trees takes place Nov. 30-Dec 1, and the public is invited.

    The Festival of Trees is just that, a celebration of beautifully decorated trees. “I think the thing I love about this is the different themes, like the patriotic theme, Frosty the Snowman, and the Friendly Beast, just to name a few,” said Sandy Holland, the event organizer. “One of my favorites is the historical tree decorated by Edward Goins, floral designer, that has grapevine and church ornaments on it.”

    On Friday night, Nov. 30, ticket holders can tour the trees and then enjoy homemade snacks and drinks in the church’s Fellowship Hall, where the children can visit with Santa and have their picture taken. “The older children from our daycare will begin the evening by caroling at 6 p.m. in front of the Chapel,” said Holland.

    Saturday night, Dec. 1, the tour begins at 4 p.m. and lasts until 6 p.m. Afterward, there is a Moravian Love Feast, which starts at 6:15 p.m. in the main sanctuary. The Love Feast is open to the public and is part of the ticket price.

    Holland explained that the Moravian Love Feast is a communal meal shared among Christians. It originated in the early church and was a time of fellowship for believers. She said it refers to a Christian ritual meal distinct from the Lord’s Supper. “The Love Feast seeks to strengthen bonds and a spirit of harmony and goodwill with one another,” she said. “The Moravian church celebrates the Love Feast, with the Methodist Churches continuing the practice.”

    The Festival of Trees is “a vision we have had for several years, and we were able to bring it to fruition this year,” said Holland. “For those that love the Christmas season, it is a new experience to enjoy. What better venue for this event than our historical William H. Owen Chapel? It enables us to open our doors to the community to view the chapel while enjoying the different trees, all decorated with a musical song theme. We have a few … members that have volunteered to share some history about the chapel during the tour as well.”

    The Owen Chapel dates to 1861, although the congregation has worshipped at this site since the 1840s. In 1961 the congregation built a larger, more modern building in which to worship.

    Proceeds for this event will go to Camp Ground UMC projects and missions, with a portion going specifically to local churches and schools that were affected by Hurricanes Matthew and Florence.

    “Last fall, our mission team took a trip to Beverly County, Kentucky, Red Bird Mission,” Holland said. “During our community service, our group saw the great need there. One of our trees is devoted solely to that area. Most of the ornaments on that tree are handmade by the craftsmen of that county. All of the money received from ornament sales from this tree will go back to them.”

    The Festival of Tress takes place at Owen Chapel at Camp Ground Methodist Church, 4625 Campground Rd. Tickets cost $6 in advance and $7 at the door. Children under 11 get in free. Tickets are available for purchase at Cumberland Paint on Forsyth Street, the Camp Ground Methodist Church office on Campground Road, and Fredrick’s Hair Salon on Sycamore Dairy Road across from CarMax. Call Sandy Holland at 910-867-9436 or 910-308-6112 for additional information.

  • 07Warriors The U.S. Army Special Operations Command wants to recruit the small number of soldiers who are qualified to join more high-intensity career fields like Green Berets, special operations aviation, civil affairs and psychological operations. Fort Bragg’s Special Operations Recruiting Battalion wants to hire more than 2,000 soldiers to fill these elite job slots.

    “A lot of people, when they hear ‘special operations,’ immediately either go to the Ranger regiment or Special Forces, and all they think about is guys blowing stuff up and hunting people down — and we do a lot more,” said Maj. Adam Paxton, operations officer for the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion.

    Paxton, himself a Special Forces officer, wants 469 soldiers each to join civil affairs and psychological operations units. The Army is looking for helicopter repair technicians for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The Army also needs 1,400 Green Berets.

    “Less than 1 percent of Americans actually can — and want — to serve in the military,” SORB recruiter Sgt. 1st Class Michael Harter told Army Times. “Then you’re asking 18 percent of that 1 percent to do something a little bit more tough.”

    In spite of the pop culture mystique of special operations, it’s not easy to get people qualified. Conventional wisdom suggests that soldiers would be beating down a recruiter’s door for the chance to serve with Special Forces. Not so, according to Paxton. Recent research shows that despite the dangers, many soldiers also want to deploy overseas. That was a conclusion of a RAND Corp. study released earlier this year about new soldiers.

    Army Special Operations Command units deploy and work behind the scenes in South America, Africa, Asia and beyond. There are a handful of things one might find in the special operations forces community that aren’t available elsewhere in the Army. There’s advanced schooling and special pay that go along with it. Demolition training, dive training, sniper school, airborne qualification, even languages can pay up to several hundred dollars extra a month.

    There are also opportunities for rapid promotions, particularly in Special Forces.

    There are also bonuses available across Special Operations Command, and big reenlistment bonuses are available across USASOC. Special Forces soldiers can receive between $4,400 and $72,000 to re-enlist, depending on rank, length of contract and special skills. For psy-ops, it’s between $6,300 and $72,000. If all that sounds appealing, the next step is to reach out to the SORB.

    Though Special Forces has been open to women since early 2016, no women have completed the qualification course, until now. For the first time, a female soldier has completed the initial Special Forces assessment and selection process. Recruiters try to bring female officers and NCOs from the psy-ops or civil affairs communities to SOF. And they work with Army Recruiting Command to make sure the conventional Army recruiting machine is bringing in the high-quality recruits Special Operations Command will need.

  • 06Kirk deViere A redrawn boundary of North Carolina Senate District 21 is said to have contributed to the election victory this month of Democratic candidate, now Senator-elect, Kirk deViere. The district was gerrymandered in 2010 by the Republican General Assembly to exclude many African-American voters. At that time, former Fayetteville City Councilman Wesley Meredith, a Republican, defeated incumbent Democratic Margaret Dickson. Meredith won the seat in the wake of what was characterized by politicos as a nasty, personal campaign against Dickson.

    Meredith had little trouble beating the opposition every two years after that. This year was the first general election since the district was redrawn in  2017 as a result of a federal lawsuit that challenged 28 legislative districts as racial gerrymanders. With more than 52 percent of registered voters casting ballots, North Carolina had better turnout than the nation as a whole.

    The national turnout was “the highest turnout for a midterm election since 18-year-olds received the right to vote,” the Bipartisan Policy Center said in an email.

    The new legislative redistricting map rounded off and pushed the boundaries for Senate District 21 slightly west and farther north. That left more Democratic voters in the adjacent 19th district. Democrats had hoped to flip that seat in their favor in efforts to end Senate Republicans’ 35-15 veto-proof supermajority, which they did. The lines no longer favored Republicans and comprised what FLIPNC called North Carolina’s third most flipable Senate district in the state.

    Democrats needed to pick up six seats to eliminate the supermajority. “Now we need to find ways to compromise,” deViere said. The election “brought back a balance in state government and the governor’s veto stamp will actually work now.”

    deViere’s win was close. Of 59,000 ballots cast in the district election, 433 votes made the difference for deViere. “In the last 90 days, we knocked on 30,000 doors, 300 to 400 doors a week,” deViere said. “That was the biggest piece of our campaign.”

    The 2018 North Carolina Voter Guide, published by Common Cause, said deViere’s legislative priorities include reinvesting in our public schools and teachers; providing affordable health care for all through expansion of Medicaid; and increasing North Carolina’s minimum wage.

    “I strongly support an independent redistricting process,” deViere said. “Extreme partisan gerrymandering results in extreme partisan policies, not solutions.”

    He added, “I understood how to build a team to make a winning force when I was on city council; I hit the ground running.”

    As for his personal life, the Senator-elect said he and his wife Jenny “will do what we can to minimize the impact on the family.” They have a 2-year-old son. “She’ll continue to work,” deViere said of his wife, “and I will balance legislative work with my family and business.”

    They haven’t decided whether to take an apartment in Raleigh.

    Photo:  Kirk deViere

  • 05melgar Two Navy SEALs and two Marines face murder charges in the June 2017 death of a Fort Bragg Green Beret in West Africa. The charges include felony murder, involuntary manslaughter, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, hazing and burglary in the strangulation of Army Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar in Bamako, Mali. An Article 32 preliminary hearing for all four is scheduled for Dec. 10, according to a release from Navy Region Mid-Atlantic public affairs.

    None of those charged were named in the release. But previous reporting by The New York Times identified the two SEALs as Petty Officer 1st Class Tony DeDolph and Chief Petty Officer Adam Matthews. The Times cited a leaked an Army preliminary investigation document that it was DeDolph, a former professional mixed martial arts fighter, who choked Melgar to death.

    Whereas previous accounts only noted that the two SEALs had assaulted Melgar, charge documents indicate that the two Marines identified only as a staff sergeant and a gunnery sergeant were also involved in the assault. Staff Sgt. Melgar, 34, was found dead in U.S. embassy housing in the Malian capital. It’s the same part of West Africa where four other Fort Bragg special operators were ambushed and killed while on a covert support mission in Niger.

    The SEALs allegedly offered money to Melgar when he learned the others had stolen money from an informant fund. When Melgar declined, they allegedly broke into his bedroom while he was asleep, bound him with duct tape and strangled him. Rear Adm. Charles Rock, the commander of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, approved the charges following the completion of an investigation into Melgar’s death. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service recently completed the investigation and turned it over to Rock, said Adam Stump, a spokesman for NCIS.

    Pentagon officials had long declined to discuss the homicide on the record other than to acknowledge the soldier’s death. Melgar and the four accused service members were assigned to a secretive special operations team operating out of Mali to help French and Malian troops target terrorist cells aligned with al-Qaida and the Islamic State.

    Investigative documents allege that the killers are also charged with conspiring to cover up Melgar’s death; that they performed a medical procedure on the victim’s throat to hide evidence of his fatal injuries. The men are also accused of making false statements to their commanders and, later, to military investigators from the Army and Navy.

    The gunnery sergeant is said to have made up a story that Melgar and another individual mutually initiated a wrestling match in Melgar’s room during which he was accidentally killed, a claim described in the charging documents as “totally false.” 

    Melgar, a Texan, was an Afghanistan combat veteran twice. His hometown paper, The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, reported that Melgar was a 2006 graduate of Texas Tech University. He enlisted in the Army in 2012 and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification course in 2016. At the time of his death, Staff Sgt. Melgar was assigned to Fort Bragg’s 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).

    Photo: Army Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar

  • 04tucker carlson In case I have not been crystal clear before, let me be so now. In my opinion, as a whole, Congress is a dismal failure in meeting its responsibilities to the people of America. I am profoundly disappointed by the full body — Republicans, Democrats, everybody. I say “as a whole” because there are some high quality people in the House and Senate, but their efforts come nowhere near lifting the full Congress from the utter depths of failure. I offer this opening because the thoughts that follow focus on Democrats, and I do not want anybody to conclude that Democrats are the sole cause of my congressional concerns.

    With that bit of clarification, let me address the fact that it is decision time for Democrats. Now that they will hold the majority in the House of Representatives, Democrats must decide how to proceed. The options are to legislate or investigate. They cannot do both. Democrats have backed themselves into a corner where all they can do is investigate President Trump, thereby keeping up their efforts to force him from office. This backing themselves into a corner is the result of how Democrats have conducted themselves going into, and since, Trump’s election. They have pursued a course that employs obstructing the president at every opportunity and disparaging him nonstop.

    The result of that approach is an atmosphere where millions of Americans are consumed by dislike, if not pure hatred, for Trump. This undesirable condition played heavily, if not totally, in Democratic gains during the 2018 midterm election. Some will argue that the Democratic success resulted from their focus on improving access to health care. They have not put forth a feasible plan and will not be able to do so in the next two years. That failure will leave Democrats with “Destroy Trump” as their only strategy. That is the arrow that got them here, and it is the only arrow in their quiver.

    It does not require much effort to see that, to the extent that they are winning elections, Democrats are doing so by provoking and nurturing dislike for Trump. I have seen various media reports that support this conclusion, but I saw it live and in person during the 2018 election.

    As a volunteer, I passed candidate information to voters at the Board of Elections early voting site. There must have been 15 people, in the midst of candidate signs, lining both sides of the sidewalk leading into the building where voting is done. A lady walked through that gauntlet and stopped at the building entrance. She turned and, facing us, announced that she was one of those white, educated, suburban women coming to vote against Trump. She was screaming at a level that seemed to be as loud as possible. My sense was that she was beyond angry. In addition to the words, her tone, movement and expression seemed to indicate the presence of pure hatred.

    On that same day, while volunteering, I had a conversation with another lady. She was composed, and we talked about the president. Her comment was that she dislikes him. When I tried to talk with her about his long list of positive actions on behalf of the country, the lady kept going back to her dislike of him. She could not move beyond her dislike to even consider actions that are good for the country.

    After a gunman ruthlessly took the lives of 11 people at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Trump visited the area to grieve. A pastor who lives near the synagogue protested the president’s visit. Her screaming from a sidewalk was widely reported by various media outlets. An article in Pulpit & Pen titled “Ranting Lady Pastor Protests Trump’s Visit in Pittsburgh” notes that the protester screamed the following at Trump: “This is our neighborhood. You are not welcome here. We don’t want him here. We don’t want him on our streets. … You don’t belong here. This is our neighborhood. We welcome everybody here. You are not welcome on my street. … You are not welcome in Squirrel Hill.”

    The contradiction in that “rant” by Susan Rothenberg cries out. She says that her neighborhood welcomes everybody, but the president of the United States is not welcome. Watching the video of her protest leads me to sense far more than disagreement with policies or a simple dislike for the president. Her protestations look and sound like hate.

    Then there is what recently happened at the home of Tucker Carlson. He is host of a nightly Monday through Friday show on Fox Cable News. The focus is current events. I watch Carlson’s show with some frequency. He seeks to make sense of what is going on, and not going on, in our country and the world. That leads him to ask tough questions and challenge positions taken by guests. He brings this same approach to his personal examination of, and commentary on, issues and events. In a world where reason and godly values are rare, Carlson’s approach brings out tremendous opposition.

    That opposition recently manifested itself in accordance with what is becoming normal in America. Antifa members surrounded Carlson’s home. Karol Markowicz, in an article titled “The mob at Tucker Carlson’s house is a serious threat to freedom,” reported that the Antifa members chanted, “We know where you sleep at night.” Markowicz also wrote: “The mob vandalized the Carlsons’ driveway with graffiti, tried to break down their front door, shared the family’s address on social media and encouraged others to confront him.

    “In an interview with The Washington Post, Carlson said, ‘It wasn’t a protest. It was a threat. They weren’t protesting anything specific that I had said. They weren’t asking me to change anything. They weren’t protesting a policy or advocating for legislation... They were threatening me and my family and telling me to leave my own neighborhood in the city that I grew up in.’

    “Carlson’s wife hid in a back room until police arrived. Their four children were not at home at the time.”

    What was done to the Carlson family looks like, feels like and smells like pure hatred.

    What is presented to this point defines a societal atmosphere of rapidly growing hatred that is driven by Democrats’ unbounded quest for power. The happenings that support this conclusion go on far beyond what has been addressed here. To get an even better feel for the severity of our situation, please read “Rap Sheet: ***594** Acts of Media-Approved Violence and Harassment Against Trump Supporters.” Simply enter the title in your browser search bar.

    As to how Democrats proceed now that they are the House majority, I hold that they will not have the fortitude, or good sense, to turn from their “Destroy Trump” strategy. That strategy has contributed mightily to the condition of rampant hatred indicated by what is discussed above. The likely accuracy of this assessment is supported by what Zachary Basu writes in an article titled “Democratic hit list: At least 85 Trump investigation targets.”

    The article reads: “Now that they’re set to assume control of the House, there are at least 85 topics that Democrats have said they’d target — or are expected to target — in the forthcoming torrent of investigations and subpoenas to be directed at the Trump White House, according to Axios’ reporting and analysis of members’ public comments.”

    Eric Tucker’s article titled “Trump warns Dems against investigating him” gave the president’s response. “Some House Democrats have threatened to use the subpoena power they will gain in January to investigate Trump and administration actions. But, he warned, he will respond in kind and government will suffer.”

    Since the Democrats have locked themselves into a hate-producing “Destroy Trump” strategy, standby for government to suffer and, thereby, for the American people to suffer.

    Photo: Tucker Carlson

  • 03SchoolChoice When it comes to giving parents more control over where their children attend elementary and secondary school, North Carolina has become a national leader. Now that Republicans no longer enjoy veto-proof majorities in the legislature, however, will the state’s progress on school choice be arrested or reversed?

    That’s one of many questions politicos are asking in the aftermath of the 2018 midterm elections, which produced a 16-seat gain for Democrats in the General Assembly. No one can answer it for certain yet, but I tend to think school choice will survive and thrive despite recent shifts in the political winds.

    It is certainly true that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has been a skeptic, at best, when it comes to the core elements of North Carolina’s school-choice strategy: charter schools and assistance to low-income and special-needs students who attend private schools. He and his appointees would prefer to limit charter-school expansion and to reduce if not eliminate funding for the other programs.

    If he vetoes a state budget next year over these issues, Republicans do not have enough votes on their own to override. But it is important to remember that Democrats are hardly unified in their opposition to school choice. Some members of the House and Senate are strong supporters of the popular charter schools in their districts, for example. Others believe that opportunity scholarships and educational savings accounts aimed at at-risk and special-needs students are a worthy expenditure of state funds.

    To put the issue in a national context, North Carolina’s policy commitments to parental choice and competition in education rank us sixth in the nation in educational freedom, according to the Cato Institute, and seventh in the nation on the Parent Power Index, published by the Center for Education Reform.

    Moving North Carolina into the top five will require continuing expansion of both charter school enrollments and annual funding for opportunity scholarships, among other things. The top states in school choice, such as Indiana and Florida, have had their schoolchoice reforms in place for a longer time. They serve more of the students in those states.

    But North Carolina is headed in the right direction — toward giving parents more authority to direct the education of their children, and toward giving educators and community leaders more opportunities to be innovative in addressing the many needs of our students across the state.

    School choice has sometimes proved to be a partisan issue. That’s unfortunate. As I have argued many times, both fiscal conservatives and progressives can endorse choice and competition in North Carolina without betraying their fundamental principles.

    After all, we have for decades allowed beneficiaries of government programs to make choices among competing providers of critical services. That’s how Medicare and Medicaid work. Patients aren’t assigned hospitals and doctors based on their home addresses or socioeconomic status. They make that choice for themselves. The underlying assumptions are that individual choice leads to a better fit between patient and provider and that the resulting competition lowers the cost while increasing the quality of services rendered.

    Our public policies follow the same course when it comes to nutrition assistance, Section 8 housing vouchers, preschool and day care subsidies, and assistance to students attending private as well as public colleges and universities. To wall off K-12 education as the one place where choice and competition will be largely absent, where the vast majority of students attend schools assigned to them by central authorities, would be odd and counterproductive.

    I recognize, however, that some interest groups and individuals disagree vociferously with my argument here. They will push the larger Democratic minorities in the General Assembly, plus as many Republican legislators as will listen, to keep new families from accessing choice programs while imposing much heavier regulation on charter, private and even home schools.

    The resulting debate may get testy. The legislative battle may get messy. In the end, though, I don’t think North Carolina will take a backward step toward monopoly. I think we’ll keep moving forward.

  • 02handshake 2009195 1920 It’s time for our community to give metro government a second thought. We need to have that serious conversation about the future of our community. We are growing at breakneck speed, desperately trying to find our place in the 21st century.

    Yes, we are making progress, but not at the pace we could if everyone in the city and county governments were working together for the betterment of all residents — regardless of where citizens live, their economic status, race or political affiliation. Decades have passed, and other North Carolina cities have grown and prospered while Fayetteville and Cumberland County have all too often acquiesced into mediocrity. We deserve better.

    Recently, our Cumberland County legislative delegation met with Fayetteville City Council — without our senators, of course, who obviously had more important things to do than meet with constituents. Think about what priority Cumberland County has with them. The purpose of this meeting was to hear what the city’s priorities are and find out how to assist our leadership in moving the city forward.

    It’s a great idea — except that a similar meeting will be held separately with our elected Cumberland County commissioners. And therein lies the problem. The dirty little secret that’s not a secret at all is our city and county operate as separate and divided agencies to the detriment and peril of the residents. Sure, in public they both claim emphatically that they work closely together in cooperation and respect. However, their rhetoric and actions reflect otherwise.

    This no doubt frustrates our state legislators, who could accomplish much more in Raleigh on behalf of our community if unity, cooperation and a common vision were present. After all, our state elected officials represent all the residents and rightfully refuse to be referees in local conflicts. The result? Little gets done on our behalf, and our community suffers.

    A perfect example is the ongoing situation concerning a centralized and consolidated 911 center. Everyone agrees we need it and acknowledges the economic benefits it would bring to the community, yet our two divisive governments can’t agree on where it should go or who should run it. And it’s all to the detriment of local residents who deserve the very best services when it comes to health and safety. Yet the center is not forthcoming, and taxpayers are picking up the tab for such inefficiency, delays and procrastination.

    A metro government may not solve all the problems, but it would be a step in the right direction. It’s difficult to ask our state legislators to be effective in Raleigh when they are relegated to representing and serving two conflicting entities.

    I know this conversation may be futile, but what would be the harm in having a joint public hearing or town hall meeting on this subject? Let’s get the topic of metro government out in the open and see how the public feels about it. 

    Education and awareness may be the only things needed to assist our electeds in doing what is best for all citizens. What do we have to lose? Besides, if metro government is not in our future, maybe electing responsible and responsive county commissioners and city councilmen is.

    We’ll see.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 01coverUAC112818001 Not many local events can claim a legacy that spans 40-plus years. The North Carolina State Ballet’s presentation of “The Nutcracker” is one such treasured tradition. “The Nutcracker” invites audience members to immerse themselves in Christmas spirit with the beauty of classical ballet performed to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s iconic score. Performance dates are Dec. 8 and 9 at the Crown Complex Theatre.

    This production proudly calls

    Fayetteville its home thanks to Charlotte Blume. In the 1960s, the NC State Ballet was based in Raleigh, and Blume was its prima donna. When the director stepped down, Blume took over — and took the company with her to her home in Fayetteville, where she owned the Charlotte Blume School of Dance. Her studio, nestled in downtown Fayetteville, became home for the NC State Ballet.

    Blume oversaw production on “The Nutcracker” every year from 1975 until she passed away two and- a half-years ago.

    Dina Lewis, NC State Ballet board member and vice president of the company for the past three years, attended Terry Sanford High School with Blume and shared a close friendship with her. Lewis said Blume’s passion was to bring the arts to Fayetteville and to give everyone the opportunity to see a classical ballet.

    “Ms. Blume’s last words were to keep (“The Nutcracker”) produced and to keep, every year, something fresh,” Lewis said. “And every year since her passing, we have had something fresh going on, whether a set change or costume change. The only thing that’s remained untouched is her core choreography.”

    “The Nutcracker” ballet, which first debuted in 1892, is a dreamy, wonder-filled story that has both evergreen appeal and plenty of room for the yearly innovation Blume encouraged. Originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, the ballet is based on E. T. A. Hoffmann’s story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” which was written in 1816. The ballet follows a young girl, Clara, whose Uncle Drosselmeyer — a magician — on Christmas Eve gifts her a nutcracker carved as a toy soldier. That night, Clara’s dreams transport her to a world where she meets enchanted characters like the Nutcracker Prince, the evil Mouse King, the Sugar Plum Fairy and Mother Ginger. She also, as goes dream logic, visits Spain, Russia and China.

    This year, Lewis said, it’s the Mother Ginger scene that boasts that “something fresh” Blume wanted — an all-new costume made by one of the dance moms, Rhonda Drewery. “We also added probably an additional 12 cast members to (that scene) this year,” Lewis said. “We’re really excited about that. I kind of think it’s going to steal the show.”

    Fifty-seven dancers ages 7-18 comprise this year’s cast. They’ve been rehearsing for almost five months. “The majority of them have been (dancing) with us since they were babies,” Lewis said. “They’re all our homegrown students.”

    Lewis said she’s impressed by the level of work ethic and multifaceted talent she sees in the dancers, specifically naming Marissa Morris, Evelyn Hairr and Ella Lewis as shining examples.

    “These are people who are varsity cheerleaders, participate in Student Government Association, cross country. … They’re in Honor Society. They’re in Key Club. It’s amazing that they still come to the studio on time, and they stay late and get the job done.”

    Hairr shares the role of Grown Clara with Hannah Reeder; Novalee English and Haebin Drewery play Little Clara. Jacqueline Sullivan and Isabella Rogers share the role of Fritz, Clara’s younger brother. Ella Lewis and Morris both portray the Snow Queen and Jewel, and Lewis also portrays Sugar Plum along with guest artist Deprecia Simpson.

    Adam Chavis and Sheila Mitchell served as primary choreographers.

    Morris, Hairr and Ella Lewis are also three of several advanced Charlotte Blume School of Dance students who were selected to dance minor roles with the Moscow Ballet’s Fayetteville stop on its traveling tour for “Great Russian Nutcracker.”

    “So, this whole time, they’ve not only rehearsed for our production of ‘The Nutcracker,’ but they’re also rehearsing for Moscow’s production, which is totally different choreography,” Lewis said. “These are professional Russian ballerinas and ballet masters. It’s a very big honor and opportunity.” That performance takes place at the Crown Theatre Dec. 10. Learn more about it at www.crowncomplexnc.com.

    In the midst of striving for excellence for their own performance, Lewis said, a family atmosphere remains important and emphasized. Dancers focus on how they can help others get better rather than how they can outdo each other. It helps that the dancers’ parents have a strong presence in the production, whether that’s in a behind-the-scenes role like costuming or whether that’s onstage. “The Mouse King this year is a teenager, and her dad is in the party scene,” Lewis said.

    “It’s this wholesome tradition. … It takes you to a place where you remember your childhood. It’s a story of this little girl who has this beautiful fantasy dream and it all comes to life. I think that’s what growing up is all about. You have these dreams and hopes, and you should always shoot for it all. If you don’t try, you’re going to miss out. I think the story of Clara really brings that all into focus.”

    See “The Nutcracker” Dec. 8 and 9 at the Crown Complex Theatre at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults; $10 for children 12 and under; and are free for children under 5. Call 910-484-3466 to purchase tickets. Learn more about the Charlotte Blume School of Dance at www.charlotteblumeschoolofdance.com.

  • I’ve read reports and seen video of the ugly on-field incident this season following the South Central and D.H. Conley football game.
    The video told a troubling story, and now, weeks after the incident took place, the N.C. High School Athletic Association has handed down one of the most interesting penalties in its history.
     
    When South View travels to play South Central Friday night in the second round of the NCHSAA 4-A football playoffs, the students from South Central are barred from attending the game because of the fighting incident.
     
    According to various published reports, the NCHSAA apparently took the action because it put much of the blame for what happened in that South Central-Conley fiasco on the students from South Central who came onto the field at the game’s end.
     
    What is so unprecedented about this penalty is the groups who weren’t involved in the incident at all who will be impacted.
    The NCHSAA gets revenue from the playoff gates in various state championships.
     
    In football, the NCHSAA takes a portion of the gate of each playoff game. After expenses, the two competing schools divide what’s left.
    With South Central students barred from attending their home game, unless South View brings a tremendous crowd and the adults at South Central who are allowed to attend make up the attendance difference, there’s a chance that with expenses factored in, this could be a deficit gate.
     
    It’s clear the NCHSAA is sending a strong message to South Central and the entire state that this kind of conduct won’t be tolerated, even at the cost of losing money.
     
    This is definitely a decision to be mindful of going forward for all spectators at high school games in this state. If it happened once, it can happen again, if we let it.
     
    The record: 81-25
     
    I bounced back from my disaster the last week of regular season with a 5-1 record in the first round of the playoffs, putting the season total at 81-26, 76.4 percent.
     
    Rocky Mount at Terry Sanford - Rocky Mount will be looking for revenge after losing to Terry Sanford 36-16 in the first round of last year’s state playoffs. I think the Bulldogs will prevail again.
    Terry Sanford 24, Rocky Mount 17.
     
    South View at South Central - This is going to be an odd atmosphere for South View with no students from the opposing school in the stands. The big thing for the Tigers is to keep the noise of the controversy out of their heads and focus on the game. South View has also played a tougher schedule than South Central this season, and I think that will help the Tigers.
    South View 22, South Central 20.
     
    Seventy-First at Durham Riverside - The Falcons had a disappointing visit to Durham earlier this year, losing to Southern Durham 36-32. I think this trip is going to end differently.
    Seventy-First 24, Durham Riverside 16.
     
    Apex Middle Creek at Pine Forest - This looks like a close match on paper. I’m hoping home field and a week of rest to heal and fine tune things is going to be a plus for Pine Forest.
    Pine Forest 18, Middle Creek 12.
  • Bernard Flerlage When the coaches from the Patriot Athletic Conference and the media who cover the league were asked to predict the order of finish in football for 2018, the three schools that drew most of the attention were defending champion Terry Sanford, former champion Cape Fear and a strong South View team. 

    Pine Forest was ranked fifth by the media and sixth by the coaches. Did that bother veteran Trojan head coach Bill Sochovka? No. 

    “I liked the fact we were under the radar,’’ Sochovka said. “I had my whole defense coming back. A lot of these kids on defense had started since the ninth grade.’’ 

    At the end of the regular season, Pine Forest held seven opponents under 20 points and only allowed three to score more than 28 or more en route to a 9-2 record and the school’s first outright conference title in football since 1999. 

    The Trojans earned a first-round bye and the No. 3 seed in the 4-A East bracket of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association playoffs. They face Apex Middle Creek in the second round on Friday, Nov. 23, at Pine Forest. 

    Middle Creek, 8-4 and the No. 6 seed, beat Knightdale 23-17 in the first round. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. 

    Where his team was picked to finish the season turned out to be the least of Sochovka’s concerns after the challenging year Pine Forest and all the teams in Cumberland County faced. 

    The county had to endure not one but two hurricanes during the season that disrupted schedules and twice forced Pine Forest to play two games in a single week. One of those times was the final week of the season when Pine Forest took on Overhills on a Monday and wrapped up the week in what turned out to be the conference title game with a high-scoring South View team. 

       “We knew they were probably going to score some points,’’ said Trojan linebacker Bernard Flerlage. “The only concern we had was everybody staying together as a team, playing hard and making sure we didn’t fall apart.’’ 

       The Trojan defensive backs, especially Jordan Gladney, Le’Vonte McLean, Richard McEachern and Jaden Jones, combined to hold South View Shrine Bowl selection Emery Simmons to one touchdown reception in Pine Forest’s 14-7 win. 

       “We trusted our defensive backs,’’ Flerlage said.  Fullback and defensive lineman Malik Daniels felt the win sent a message for this year and years to come for the Pine Forest program. 

       “We changed the culture,’’ he said. “Nobody thought of us going to the conference championship. Nobody gave us our respect. Nobody pictured us being there. 

    “We set the tone for the younger guys coming up, and we set the tone for the postseason. It was an important win for us.’’ 

       The state playoffs are pretty much uncharted territory for most of the players on this Pine Forest team. In recent years when Pine Forest has made it to the postseason, the journey hasn’t lasted long. They’ve normally been eliminated in their first game, rarely making it to the second round. 

       To find a Pine Forest team making it all the way to a third-round game, you have to go back to 2003 when the Trojans beat Raleigh Millbrook and Raleigh Broughton in the first two games before falling to Southeast Raleigh in the third round. 

       This year, thanks to the bye, they’re guaranteed at least a trip to the second round, and since the NCHSAA moved the playoffs back a week because of the two hurricanes, they’ll get the rare privilege of practicing on Thanksgiving, which is traditionally the sign that a high school football team has enjoyed a good season. 

       Sochovka appreciates all these achievements and precedents, but his main concern is keeping the team focused on the task at hand, and he actually thinks the messy schedule during the regular season will make that an easier job. 

       During the season, Pine Forest wound up playing a game on every night of the week but Wednesday and Sunday. Despite all those disruptions, the players stayed focused enough to win the conference title. 

       Sochovka thinks the team will have no trouble adjusting to the three-day practice schedule of last week’s bye week before getting back into a regular grind preparing for the second-round game this week. 

       Neither does Flerlage. “We’re going to use this to our advantage,’’ he said. “We’ll review stuff and fix what we need to fix, make sure we are ready to prep ourselves for whoever we have coming this week.’’ 

       Daniels said Sochovka will have the Trojans ready for Friday night, bye or no bye. “I believe the whole coaching staff will keep us sharp,’’ he said. “We want to go far in these playoffs. We want to make it to states. That’s our main goal.’’ 

    Photo: Bernard Flerlage

  • Meetings 

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113. Until the Parks and Recreation building has been repaired following damage from Hurricane Florence, some meetings may be moved to Luther Meeting Room at Town Hall at regular dates and times. Those meetings are noted with an asterisk below. 

    Board of Commissionersand Mayor’s Youth Leadership CouncilMonday, Nov. 19: POSTPONED. 

    Parks and Recreation Advisory CommitteeMonday, Nov. 26, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building.* 

    Appearance Commission, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building.* 

    Festival CommitteeMonday, Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall reception area. 

    Board of CommissionersMonday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Town Hall. 

     

    Activities 

    • ThanksgivingThursday-Friday, Nov. 22-23: Town offices closed. 

    Christmas at the LakeFriday, Nov. 30, 6-7:30, p.m. 

    Hope Mills Christmas ParadeSaturday, Dec. 1, 3 p.m. 

     

    Promote yourself 

    Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com. 

  • 09bragg tree  Evergreens have been a symbol of life since even before the ancient Druids of Stonehenge fame. Early European Christians brought evergreens to their gatherings at Christmas to symbolize the birth of Christ. The tradition of our modern-day Christmas tree is believed to have begun in the 16th century in Germany when people, Martin Luther among them, brought evergreen trees into their homes and decorated them. Today, a brightly decorated Christmas tree has become the focal point for family gatherings. In keeping with Christmas tradition, Fort Bragg ushers in the holiday season with the annual lighting of the garrison Christmas Tree at the Main Post Parade Field Thursday, Nov. 29, from 4:30-7 p.m. 

       Ornaments on early Christmas trees were likely to be gingerbread, apples, sweets and colored paper. Later, decorations evolved as glassmakers crafted glass ornaments similar to those used today. Those early trees were lit by candles, which are still in use throughout much of Europe in modern times. Late in the 19th century, electric lights were first used to illuminate a Christmas tree in a New York City apartment. As electrification spread to homes throughout the U.S. and the U.K., strings of electric tree lights supplanted candles as a much safer way to provide that holiday glow. 

       Each year, a military family from among the Fort Bragg community is honored as the Family of the Year. The family is selected as one who demonstrates exceptional strength, character, service and commitment to both their unit and to the wider community. 

       Fort Bragg’s Family of the Year symbolizes all military families who sacrifice so much in service to our country. The senior commander will introduce the Family of the Year, who will then share the honor of lighting the tree. During this time of traditional holiday celebrations, the Fort Bragg tree-lighting ceremony has become a way of celebrating and honoring these families, many of whom may have family members currently deployed. 

    Fort Bragg Mutual Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor for the 2018 tree-lighting ceremony and will be represented at the event by President and CEO Todd Kenthack. Gilbert Baez will act as the master of ceremonies. There will be a Kidz Corner and light refreshments while supplies last. 

       Among the highlights of the evening will be a demonstration of a parachute jump by the Golden Knights. The Poole Elementary Chorus will entertain the crowd throughout the evening with renditions of holiday favorites. The evening will be capped off by a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. 

       The event is free and open to the public. The rain date is Nov. 30. Call 910-396-9126 for more information. 

  •  11gilbert Gilbert Theater’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” opening this weekend, centers on the themes of family and gratitude. Of all the Christmas classics, Gilbert chose to perform “It’s a Wonderful Life” this year because of its sobering values. 

      Gilbert Theater Artistic Director Matthew Overturf, who has played a part in the production for four years, said, “It has become a staple in the Fayetteville community. It still speaks here in 2018 about the ‘everyman’ and what in our life we can appreciate and what in our life makes us good people. We all need to see … that we truly have a lot to be grateful for, and our lives impact a lot of other people.” 

      According to Miles Snow, who will portray George Bailey, the show’s most critical theme is “the importance of family – being appreciative of what you already have. This is a guy who at the beginning of the show is in a suicidal state; he has to take a moment to reflect and (realize) ‘I have a wife and kids I love and a job in a town where people respect me, and that’s a lot – that’s more than enough.’” Snow looks forward to presenting the paradigm shift in Bailey’s life. 

      Director Ja’Maul Johnson welcomes the challenge of portraying a beloved classic in a new way. “I have been a part of this production since we started doing it at the Gilbert,” he said. “There will be a couple of twists and turns to reinvent it … but keep it the same story.” 

      Snow hopes to reimagine the show while still respecting its original narrative. He commented, “People bring their own expectations to it, and that’s already a part of the show in a sense, and you want to honor the piece.” 

      Staci Graybill, who will act as Mary Bailey, commented on the challenge of playing Mrs. Bailey for a second time: “A real challenge for me is going to be playing all the different ages that they go through.” 

      Snow, who has played Mr. Bailey several times, said, “I just want to see if we can collectively take it along, take it further.” 

      Johnson, in agreement, is excited to see the growth within the individual cast members this year. “Each year, someone brings something new – I want to see what this collection will bring to it,” he said. 

      Graybill said, “It’s so easy to get lost in all the hardships in life, but if you stop and look around and see all the loving people in your life, I think that’s a good reminder.” 

      Johnson added that he desires to take that message “throughout the year, not just in Christmastime.” 

      “It’s a Wonderful Life” runs Nov. 23-Dec. 16, with student matinees on the Nov. 27 and Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Gilbert Theater, 116 Green St. To purchase tickets, visit www.gilberttheater.com or call 910-678- 7186 for more information. 

  • 07fayetteville police vehicleFayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins says she needs more officers. Hawkins mentioned to city council that she is changing the patrol schedule to get more cops on the street. It was not part of her quarterly report to city council but came in response to a question from Councilman Larry Wright. 

    Hawkins said Fayetteville’s pro rata number of police officers per population is below that of other cities our size. But she recognizes that city council, just three years ago, raised the property tax rate to hire additional officers. The city added 40 cops, bringing the authorized strength to 433. “We’re going to 12-hour shifts, putting 42 officers on patrol per shift,” Hawkins told Up & Coming Weekly

    Traditionally, Fayetteville Police have worked three eight-hour shifts, resulting in an average of 26 patrol officers on duty at any given time, according to the chief. Each shift also has supervisory lieutenants and sergeants. Hawkins said she will be promoting three officers to sergeant to improve supervisory efforts. Councilman Johnny Dawkins said the longer shifts could put a hardship on the policemen. “Tired officers can create situations that are unpleasant,” he said. 

    Chief Hawkins said the department’s personnel strength has stabilized in recent years, resulting in an average turnover of only three officers per month. She noted that 16 rookie cops took their oaths of office last week and that 25 more candidates will be part of the routine overhire employment plan in the January academy. 

      Officers will have a dependable work schedule that will give them every other weekend off. Monthly shifts will result in two days on duty followed by two days off, then three days on and two days off. Hawkins conceded that officers who work part-time jobs while off duty may have to adjust their secondary schedules but that the P.D. comes first. 

      Hawkins’ quarterly report to city council contained data explaining the departments work. The FPD’s narcotics and gang units seized a large amount of marijuana over the first nine months of this year. Seizures of opioids were way down, but the narcotics unit alone confiscated 732 pounds of marijuana compared to 43 pounds during the same time period last year. The gang unit seized another 439 pounds of weed. The chief said much of that which was nabbed resulted from two major drug busts. 

      As for major crimes, homicides, rapes and robberies were down 14.3 percent so far this year. Aggravated assaults rose 21 percent. Hawkins said 35 percent of the assaults were related to domestic violence. Property crimes, including burglaries and larcenies, were down 12.2 percent. Hawkins emphasized the need for motor vehicle owners to lock their cars. She said 812 larcenies were from motor vehicles, 74 percent of which were unsecured. 

  • 06LeavesIt’s that time of year again. The city calls it loose leaf season. It’s the only time loose leaves and pine straw can be put at the curb uncontainerized. Loose leaf season usually runs from mid-November through mid-March. 

    Vacuum trucks operated by the Fayetteville- Cumberland Parks & Recreation Department collect the yard debris on a published schedule of neighborhoods itemized by postal ZIP codes. This year’s schedule has not yet been announced. 

    Leaves and pine straw placed in bags or brown roll-out containers are picked up on a regular weekly schedule. If garbage collection is Monday, yard waste collection is Friday. If garbage collection is Tuesday, yard waste collection is Thursday. If garbage collection is Thursday, yard waste collection is Tuesday. And if garbage collection is Friday, yard waste collection is Monday. 

    Arts Council wins national award 

    The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County recently received special recognition from Ovation, the nation’s arts network. Ovation joined Spectrum to award the Arts Council $10,000 as part of its “Stand for the Arts” joint initiative. It is dedicated to supporting local arts, cultural and educational organizations. 

      The Arts Council will use the award money to raise awareness of available grants and scholarships that promote the arts throughout the region. 

      “The Arts Council is honored and thrilled to be among only 12 national organizations presented with such a prestigious award,” said Deborah Martin Mintz, Arts Council executive director. 

      Also, Spectrum will run public service announcements to highlight its “Stand for the Arts” partnership with Ovation and reinforce the value local arts organizations bring to communities across the country. 

      Grant recipients were chosen based on three criteria: their level of community outreach and engagement, their ability to create inclusive access to artistic programming, and their innovative approach to arts education and skills development. 

    Highway safety 

      As family and friends come together for the holidays, the State Highway Patrol has prepared in hopes of ensuring safe travel. According to the American Automobile Association, November and December are the busiest time of the year for travel across the country. Troopers will be out in full force to monitor driver behavior. 

      “Our mission is simple; reduce needless collisions in hopes of reporting zero fatalities statewide,” said Col. Glenn McNeill Jr., commander of the North Carolina Highway Patrol. 

      The safety campaign is taking place on the busiest travel days of the holiday period, especially on interstate highways. Motorists can assist with safe travel by expecting delays and planning ahead to use alternate routes. Drive cautiously. Speeding is still the leading cause of traffic collisions. Avoid distractions. Focus solely on driving, and never drive impaired. 

    Citizens Academy 

      The next Fayetteville Citizens Academy class is being held Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the City Services Building conference room, 455 Grove St. Class begins at 9 a.m. Representatives of the Fayetteville Area System of Transit, Fayetteville Regional Airport and Traffic Services Division will be on hand. 

      “The Citizens Academy gives residents an opportunity to see city of Fayetteville employees at work, up close and personal,” said Corporate Communications Director Kevin Arata. 

      Applicants must be city of Fayetteville residents or work in the city. The class size is limited to 25 people, so early applications are encouraged. Residents will interact with department directors and staff and engage in hands-on learning. Lunch will be provided. 

      The application window closes Thursday, Dec. 6, and applicants will be notified of their acceptance by close of business Friday, Dec. 7. 

    Small Business Saturday 

      Many small and independent retailers who are holding Small Business Saturday shopping events Thanksgiving weekend are banding together. Small Business Saturday started in 2010 to encourage consumers to skirt the big box stores and shop local stores instead. Some communal Small Business Saturday events have grown to the point where they’re organized by local chambers of commerce and community business organizations, although Fayetteville merchants have yet to capitalize on it in a big way. 

      Some downtown store owners got involved last year under the auspices of the new Cool Spring Downtown District. What’s considered the downtown district covers an area of 30 blocks and includes roughly 125 small, independent shops, restaurants and entertainment establishments. Last year, retailers said they saw a sales blip during Small Business Saturday, but their aim is also to remind shoppers that they are there year-round. 

      This holiday was created by American Express in 2010 and aggressively marketed via social media, radio and national broadcasting. Today, it is a registered trademark of American Express. 

  • 01coverUAC112118001 Each year, people gather from surrounding counties to launch the official start of the Christmas holiday season in Fayetteville. In its 19th year, the annual “A Dickens Holiday” transports revelers to Victorian England in hopes of catching a glimpse of Tiny Tim, Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley and other beloved characters from Charles Dickens’ story “A Christmas Carol.” Unlike the classic tale, there are no “Bah! Humbug’s!” uttered during this event, but rather “ooohs and aaahs!” by all the festivalgoers. Hosted by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County in Historic Downtown Fayetteville, “A Dickens Holiday” kicks off at 1 p.m. the Friday after Thanksgiving and ends after dark, around 9 p.m. 

    The Saturday after Thanksgiving is traditionally Small Business Saturday, where people are encouraged to shop at small, brick-and-mortar local businesses for holiday shopping. In Fayetteville, people patronize small businesses a day early. Lampposts and storefronts are decorated with holiday greenery and ribbons. Merchants along Hay Street sell their wares to wandering festivalgoers, who leisurely stroll while sipping hot cider or hot chocolate. 

    “‘A Dickens Holiday’ truly is the ultimate ‘Shop Local’ experience as merchants pull out all the stops,” said Janet Gibson, marketing and communications director for the Arts Council. “But it’s also a time to enjoy holiday music, strolling carolers, Annie’s Alehouse, horse-drawn carriage rides and to get your photo taken with Father Christmas – and, of course, enjoy gingerbread cookies and hot apple cider.” She added that the day ends with “an amazing candlelight ceremony for as far as the eye can see down Hay Street!” 

    “A Dickens Holiday” celebrates the best of Victorian times and Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Attendees filled with joy merrily wish each other good cheer while the echoes of Christmas carols drift through the air. 

    The Arts Council pop-up pub “Annie’s Alehouse” is found in the Arts Council building at 301 Hay St. This gathering place is perfect for revelers to warm their hands and tummies while pub tunes play in the gallery. 

    Carriage drivers dressed in Victorian garb take riders through the streets of downtown in an elegant carriage. There are two choices for carriage rides. Ye Dickens Wagon begins at noon and starts from 222 Hay St. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. If you’re looking for a fancier carriage ride, the Queen Victoria Carriage is hosted at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum at 325 Franklin St. Tickets for the Queen Victoria Carriage cost $15 for adults and $10 for children. Reservations in advance are recommended either in person at 222 Hay St. or by calling 910-223-1089. It’s a perfect way to snuggle up with your sweetheart! 

    Father Christmas makes a special appearance to the delight of children of all ages, who eagerly run to meet the jolly, white-bearded man sitting in his colorfully adorned sleigh. Parents can snap photos and take videos of their kids with Father Christmas at the Arts Council building from 1-8:30 p.m. 

    More recently, the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity began hosting the Gingerbread House Community of Hope during the festivities. The spicy scent and fun decor of gingerbread houses are a holiday tradition for many, and residents in the community are invited to construct their most creative gingerbread houses for display at SkyView on Hay, 121 Hay St. 

    Bob Pinson, Arts Council operations director and longtime Dickens event planner, said the Gingerbread Community of Hope is a fun way for Habitat for Humanity to raise awareness of its mission to ensure affordable, quality housing for lower-income people. 

    “With the recent hurricanes and the destruction they brought, (this event) seeks to show how grateful we are for what we have but remember that there is a great need for the community to support rebuilding efforts for so many,” he said. 

    There is no fee to enter a creation for display, but an entrance form is needed. Entry forms and a base for the house can be picked up at Fayetteville Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 3833 Bragg Blvd. Voting for the best gingerbread house will take place between 1 and 5:30 p.m. The winner will receive $250. 

    The historic Fayetteville Market House is also open to the public during “A Dickens Holiday,” where visitors can view the “This Victorian Life” exhibit. Local history is on display, including an interactive area where visitors can learn about the area, view the decorated Christmas tree and identify obsolete household items from Victorian times. It also offers the best bird’s eye view of bustling Hay Street below. 

    Many other fun activities abound throughout the day, including Marvelous Mauve, the roving photographer – dressed in mauve, of course. Marvelous Mauve roams the streets looking for revelers dressed in Victorian attire so she can snap photos for the Virtual Costume Contest. Winners receive gift cards to local stores or eateries. Marvelous Mauve will also be at the Rainbow Room from 2-3 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. to take photos. 

    New this year is the Canterbury Victorian Dance Group. The group will demonstrate various English country dances such as the Rufty Tufty, Hearts Ease and the Queen’s Waltz. There will be opportunities for audience members to participate during the Circle Waltz and the Halfe Hannikin. Dances will be performed in the front hall of The Capitol Encore Academy, 126 Hay St. throughout the day. 

    The highlight of “A Dickens Holiday” is the anticipation of the candlelight procession. As the sun sets, crowds gather in front of the Arts Council and all along Hay Street to the Market House. With candles in hand, festivalgoers eagerly await the arrival of Queen Victoria. One by one, each person shares their candle flame with another until all of Hay Street is aglow with candlelight. 

    Finally, Queen Victoria arrives. Once she’s tucked in her carriage, the procession begins. The Queen waves to onlookers as her carriage advances from the Arts Council to the Market House along Hay Street while the street is lit by thousands of candles. The excitement grows as the crowd strains to catch a glimpse of the queen. Bagpipers playing Christmas songs declare the Queen’s arrival by marching in front of her. Spectators hum along to the tunes. 

    After much fanfare and cheers from the crowd, the evening culminates in a chorus of oohs and aahs as colorful fireworks burst above the Market House and the holiday lights are lit along Hay Street for the season. “A Dickens Holiday” showcases the best of Fayetteville and its community members on one enchanted day. 

    According to Gibson, planning for the next event begins as soon as this one ends. Preparing for attendance numbers that hover between 15,000 and 20,000 each year takes a lot of forward-thinking. 

    The charming affair is held Nov. 23 from 1-9 p.m. Find out more at www.theartscouncil.com/things-to-do/a-dickens-holiday. If you want to turn your experience up a notch, consider dressing Victorian-style! The Arts Council has a handy How to Dress Dickens Style guideline available here at www.theartscouncil.com/sites/default/files/HowToDressR_links-compressed.pdf. 

  • Toni Blackwell Here is the Patriot Athletic All- Conference golf team as chosen by the league’s head coaches. 

    Player of the year:Toni Blackwell, Cape Fear 

    Coach of the year:Todd Edge, Cape Fear 

    First team 

    Cape Fear:Toni Blackwell, Gary Bynum, Madison Burrell, Mary Catherine Hales 

    Terry Sanford:Carmen Tucker 

    Gray’s Creek:Marisol Morento 

    Second team 

    Pine Forest:Kennedi Whitener- Mason, Jasmine Cotton 

    Terry Sanford:Gabby Tucker 

    Cape Fear:Jaclyn Daniels 

    Gray’s Creek:Rebecca Collins 

    Photo: Toni Blackwell

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