News arrived last week that Cumberland County has slipped into Tier 1 status in North Carolina’s rankings of counties’ economic health. Cumberland joins 39 other counties as among our state’s most economically distressed, sometimes referred to as “low wealth” — the 20th most distressed to be exact. Joining us in the lowest economic designation are our neighbors Hoke, Robeson, Scotland, Sampson, Duplin and Richmond, as well as others scattered in mostly rural areas across the state.

State and local officials tried to dress up the designation by saying it came because the state adjusted the method for calculating rankings. They correctly promoted that Tier 1 status makes Cumberland eligible for more state grants and individual companies eligible for additional incentives for bringing new jobs. In other words, Tier 1 designations come with perks.

Make no mistake, though. This is not good news.

Tier 1 is a marker of economic distress, and Cumberland County qualifies. It is the only county among North Carolina’s 10 most populous to have Tier 1 status. The nine other most populous counties hold Tier 2 or 3 designations, the more and the most economically blessed. One can find statistics to support most any assertion, and here are a few from the North Carolina Budget and Tax Center. More than 51 percent of local renters cannot afford their rent. More than 41 percent of residents are low income, and more than 12 percent have no health insurance. There are plenty more statistics, some negative and some positive.

All of this is part of a much larger picture of North

Carolina and many other states — a profound and growing rural-urban divide. North Carolina’s booming urban areas, notably Charlotte and the Triangle, have little in common with our rural areas. They have educated and well-paid workforces, access to technology, enviable school systems, world-class health care and, not surprisingly, rapidly growing populations.

Rural areas, on the other hand, struggle to provide education, lack wide access to technology, see hospitals closing, and watch their young people move to urban areas for jobs and city amenities. A shorthand way of expressing this is that in a state of 100 counties, roughly 85 percent of the people live in 15 counties, and 15 percent of the people live in 85 counties. That said, our rural population is still larger than that of any other state except Texas.

Cumberland is a county with a foot in each camp. On the one hand, we are populous, with cultural influences from many nations. Our economy has historically been somewhat insulated from downturns by the steady military presence. But we are less educated than our other urban sisters and brothers and have lower incomes. Our population is transient, affecting many areas of community life, including education.

Much angst exists about the rural/urban divide, with conversations ongoing in both public and private sectors. How do we nurture the prosperity of our urban areas and handle the issues stemming from rapid growth but at the same time help our rural areas access the technology their residents require for both education and business?

Cumberland County’s Tier 1 ranking is disheartening, but the good news is that with our urban center, we have more to work with than do many other North Carolina counties.

There are excellent schools within our public system, and Fayetteville Technical Community College offers education and training at affordable rates. The military brings expertise in many areas, some of which can be translated into the private sector. We are proof of not  only the rural-urban divide but of the rural-urban interconnection. Both exist within our county’s boundaries and can help each other through partnerships of all sorts, including agriculture and technology, which are increasingly intertwined. Think farm-to-table and ways to make that possible in both stores and restaurants.

We must also reach deep within our community for innovative and thoughtful leaders, people who understand the divide and are willing to experiment with bridging it. We must recognize that leaders come from all age groups and ranges of our community.

As North Carolina state Sen. Erica Smith, who represents eight rural, mostly struggling counties, told a recent panel on the “two North Carolinas,” “We are only as strong as our weakest community.”

 It’s a labor of love in late November and early December every year for families everywhere to put up the decorations of the Christmas season in their homes.

But imagine the same challenge on a larger scale, like decorating an entire town. That’s what Maxey Dove and people in the Hope Mills Recreation and Parks Department have to deal with in decking the streets and buildings of the town with the trappings of the Christmas season.

“It’s a lot of stuff,’’ Dove said of the assorted decorations that the town puts up for Christmas every year.

It also covers a lot of territory. “We have banners on Main Street, Trade Street and Johnson Street,’’ Dove said. “We decorate the marquee and the gazebo at the lake.’’ There’s also a manger scene that used to be at the lake but has been moved to the municipal complex at Town Hall this year.

The task of putting up the decorations goes on for multiple days and involves both maintenance staff of the parks and recreation department as well as members of the town’s Appearance Committee.

There are two Christmas trees, both artificial, one at the lake and one at the municipal complex on Rockfish Road.

“They are huge,’’ Dove said. Both trees stand about 20 to 22 feet tall. “They have big metal frames. I think the new one has LED lights. They are both pretty big productions.’’

The banners and many of the other Christmas decorations around town are put in place with the help of a bucket truck from a local electrical contracting firm.

How long do Christmas decoration last? Dove said it varies depending on the type of decorations. He estimates the two Christmas trees will probably be good for about 10 years. Wreaths usually last longer than the Christmas banners.

“Usually, every few years we rotate new stuff in and new stuff out,’’ he said.

As far as the choice of the style of decorations, that’s handled largely by the Appearance Committee, but Dove said they also get many suggestions from people in the town from time to time.

“There are a lot of opinions,’’ Dove said. “We are always looking to do bigger, better and nicer. But at the same time, you have to keep in the back of your mind this is Hope Mills and there’s a certain way Hope Mills does things. Sometimes you’ve got to balance the two.’’

The bottom line, Dove said, is many people have fond Christmas memories of Hope Mills.

“We have several opportunities for families to come out and something for everybody to enjoy,’’ Dove said. “It just kind of gets everybody into the season.

“Seeing the community come together and celebrate the holiday and family is one of the benefits of a small town. People take pride in it, and our volunteers are outstanding. Our Appearance Committee really helps out a lot.’’

 U.S. military working dogs are possibly the most unsung members of the fighting force. They and their handlers from every military service are deployed worldwide to support all kinds of missions. Hundreds of dogs have been used to aid troops in Afghanistan since the U.S. arrived in 2001 to oust the Taliban from power. They train for a variety of tasks, including detecting explosives and apprehending combatants. About 1,600 dogs are either in the field or helping veterans, the military said.

An Army ranger and his dog were killed during a recent clash in Afghanistan, military officials confirmed after the dog’s unofficial biography began circulating on social media. The dog, named Maiko, and Sgt. Leandro Jasso — whose death was previously reported — were fatally wounded during a raid against al-Qaida militants on Nov. 24, military officials said. Jasso, 24, and his dog were hit by gunfire during a mission to take out Al-Qaeda- affiliated militants.

The 7-year-old war dog was leading Rangers into a compound when at least one militant fired at him, revealing the militant’s position, which the Rangers then targeted, according to the dog’s biography. Like many of his human counterparts, Maiko had served several tours in Afghanistan and conducted more than 50 Ranger-led raids, the biography said.

While many dogs train for specific tasks, multipurpose canines like Maiko are highly skilled and must undergo a rigorous selection process. Maiko had been trained in patrolling, tracking, bomb detection and apprehension functions.

On July 27, 2013, the first bronze statue of a Special Operations Force K9 was unveiled on the grounds of the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville. More than 2,000 people gathered to honor brave K9s and remember what they have done for our country. The statue depicts a life-size Belgian Malinois wearing its full deployment kit.

Special Operations Forces dogs are called super dogs. They parachute from planes with their handlers and can track enemy forces in difficult conditions. Most U.S. military war dogs are German and Dutch shepherds and Belgian Malinois breeds, said Army Col. David Rolfe, director of the Defense Department’s Military Working Dog Program. That’s also true of K9s involved in police work. The Fayetteville Police Department’s dogs are bred and initially trained in Europe.

The breeds are high-strung, “very aggressive, very smart, very loyal and very athletic,” Rolfe said. Dogs have long been recognized as “force multipliers” by military fighting forces around the world for generations, Rolfe noted. Egyptians, Greeks, Persians and Romans used war dogs. The Roman Empire, starting with Marcus Aurelius, used dogs in combat.

The now extinct Molossus dog was the strongest breed known to the Romans and was specifically trained for battle. The Romans often coated them in protective spiked metal collars and chain mail armor, arranging them into attack formations.

The first official use of dogs for military purposes in the United States was during the Seminole Wars.

  Here is the Patriot Athletic All-Conference football team as chosen by the league’s head coaches.

Coach of the year: Bill Sochovka, Pine Forest

Offensive player of the year: Donovan Brewington, South View

Athlete of the year: Earlee Melvin, Douglas Byrd

Defensive player of the year: Dante Bowlding, Terry Sanford

OFFENSE

• First team

Linemen: Domion Evans, Douglas Byrd; Tanner Morris, Terry Sanford; Kurin Keys, Terry Sanford; Tony Tyndall, Gray’s Creek; Caleb Krings, Cape Fear; Deon Buchanan, Pine Forest

Running backs: Matthew Pemberton, South View; Dorian Clark, Terry Sanford

Wide receivers: Emery Simmons, South View; Kevin Brewington, South View; Toshiro Spivey, E.E. Smith; Leonard Mosley, Terry Sanford

Quarterback: Davidjohn Herz, Terry Sanford

Tight end: Denarea McMillan, South View

Kicker: Mason Smith, Cape Fear

Punter: Mason Smith, Cape Fear

• Second team

Offensive line: David Locklear, South View; Anthony Glenn, E.E. Smith; Q’Vonntae Hall-Bonaparte, Westover; DaVon Smith, Overhills. Honorable mention — Connor Brady, Terry Sanford; John Sullivan, Pine Forest; Blake Marshburn, Pine Forest

Running backs: Andre Allen, Gray’s Creek; D.J. Jones, PineForest. Honorable mention — Ronald Carroll, Douglas Byrd; Keyshown Lindsey, Westover; Trey Beckett, Gray’s Creek; Malik Daniels, Pine Forest

Wide receivers: Jacob Knight, Terry Sanford; Zavion Whitehead, Westover; Trevor Thomas, Gray’s Creek; Taiquan Gamble, Cape Fear

Quarterback: Xavier Marsh, Westover. Honorable mention Richard McEachern, Pine Forest.

Tight end: Joshua George, South View. Honorable mention — Ezemdi Udoh, Terry Sanford

Kicker: Kyle Dickerson, Pine Forest

DEFENSE

• First team

Defensive line: Nikai Butler, Douglas Byrd; Elijah Morris, Terry Sanford; Domonique McMillan, Gray’s Creek; Tyrique Williams, Pine Forest

Linebackers: Jackson Deaver, Terry Sanford; Justin McLintock, Gray’s Creek; Jaylen Hudson, Cape Fear; Austin Hunt, Cape Fear

Defensive backs: Corey Johnson, South View; Shawn Newman, Terry Sanford; Gabe Galloway, Cape Fear; Jordan Gladney, Pine Forest

• Second team

Defensive line: Jaylin Webb, South View; Zion Hayes, Overhills; Isaiah Potts, Pine Forest; Nick Minnicapelli, Cape Fear. Honorable mention — Ayshawn Henley, South View; Bryce Kotson, Terry Sanford; Jerry Smith, Overhills; Luis Rivera, Pine Forest; Steven Woodbury, Pine Forest; Grant Seals, South View 

Linebackers: Ray Dixon, Douglas Byrd; Ronald Carroll, Douglas Byrd; Markell Samuel, E.E. Smith; Bernard Flerlage, Pine Forest; Jarieal Douglas, South View. Honorable mention — Elijah Wyand, South View; Jarvis Dudley, E.E. Smith; Taurienne Freeman, Westover; Blake Little, Gray’s Creek; Tyshaun Bryant, Overhills; Dante Autry, Cape Fear; Jahqwan Bowden, Pine Forest

Defensive backs: Randy Franklin, E.E. Smith; Brandon Handy, Westover; D.J. Crutcher, Gray’s Creek; Le’Vonte McLean, Pine Forest. Honorable mention — Timel Smith, South View; Emery Simmons, South View; Dalton Patrick, Gray’s Creek; Jerry Garcia, Gray’s Creek; Micah Nelson, Cape Fear; Austin Gonzales, Pine Forest; Jaquan Boykin, Douglas Byrd

Photo: Donovan Brewington

 I had to laugh at all the crazy comments flooding social media about wanting to silence the dozens of trains that pass through our community every day.

Some people love it, some hate it, and some just don’t pay any attention to the trains anymore. They have gotten used to them. Ahhh! Urban living.

I’m sure few of the people complaining one way or the other have ever lived in or spent the night on Wabash Avenue in downtown Chicago, Illinois. There, you constantly hear the rattling and clanging of the Chicago Transit Authority’s rapid transit system, the Chicago “L” (short for “elevated”). The “L” is Chicago’s primary mode of urban transportation, and, with a top speed of 55 miles per hour, you can bet it makes a lot of noise starting and stopping.

I grew up in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at a time when electricpowered street cars were the main  mode of transportation. Talk about noise! To this day, I can still close my eyes and see the sparks flashing rainbow colors off the electric powerlines. I can hear the clanging of the warning bells and the screeching of metal on metal as the street cars came to a notso- subtle stop. It happened all day and all night.

So, it’s hard for me to take all those social media comments seriously. Besides, who takes social media comments seriously anyway? Social media has a Wild West mentality where people can write anything regardless of the truth or facts. The mantra often seems to be, “Fire, ready, aim.”

That pretty much describes all the hullabaloo over District 2 Councilman Dan Culliton’s suggestion that the city consider “quiet zones” downtown and get the good folks at the railroad to stop blasting those obnoxiously loud air horns as they come through our fair city. Sure, the blasts are for safety, but sometimes it sounds like the engineers at CSX may be having a little too much fun at our eardrums’ expense.

People on both sides of this issue are opinionated. It would be nice if that much energy and passion could be directed toward annexing Shaw Heights and bringing consistency and muchneeded services to the poor and underserved in that community.

Well, the train horn issue will be around for a long time. It is too early to waste intellectual energy on an issue like “quiet zones.” Besides, this issue will take care of itself in good time. After all, have you noticed no one has mentioned how much it will cost to comply with the state and federal regulations to convert our downtown railroad crossings to gated, railroad-safety approved standards?

My guess? Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of taxpayers’ dollars. That’s one sound no one is going to like hearing. Then the controversy will be — you guessed it— who is going to pay for it!

Stay tuned. This is going to get interesting. I would love for Fayetteville to have quiet zones, tranquil days and peaceful nights. But where will the money come from? Someone needs to do a cost-benefit analysis. If this is the way we go, fine. But, add it to our already long list of citywide priorities, and let’s see where it fits in.

Regardless, I really like the way Culliton thinks. He’s attentive to what’s going on in his district. He’s respectful to his colleagues and constituents. He’s out there doing his job — and that’s pretty impressive. That’s leadership and something you can blast your horn about.

Stay tuned.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Jamelene Whitfield

Douglas Byrd • Junior • Bowling/softball

Whitfield has a grade point average of 4.15. She is a member of the Anime and Chess Clubs. She is also a member of the Alpha Omega Rho service sorority and the Douglas Byrd speech and debate team.

Tyrell McLucas

Douglas Byrd •Sophomore •Basketball/track

McLucas has a 4.125 grade point average. He is a member of Delta Phi Iota service fraternity and the Academy of Green Technology. He also volunteers at his church, Abundant Grace.

EDIT: Due to concerns over the rain forecast on Saturday, Dec. 15, the location has changed to the original Dirtbag Ales at 3623 Legion Road in Hope Mills. Please visit the Hayat Yoga Shala page on Facebook for further details. 

 Hayat Hakim has lived in the Fayetteville-Hope Mills area for the past 10 years, but she still has fond memories of the first 20 years of her life spent growing up in Bonn, Germany.

“I was raised going to the German Christmas market every year with my family,’’ Hakim said. “We basically celebrated by going with the entire family. The memories the entire time I was raised in Germany brought such a familiar feeling of community with me.’’

Hakim, who operates Hayat Yoga Shala on Raeford Road, tried to bring the German Christmas market experience on a smaller scale to the students at her yoga studio four years ago.

This year, with the help of Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom, Hakim is putting together a much larger scale event that will be held at Dirtbag’s new brewery at 5435 Corporation Dr. in the Gray’s Creek community. The market is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 15, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

“Every year at this time, I miss home very much,’’ Hakim said. For some time, she’s been exploring what could be done to bring a little bit of the German Christmas market feel to this community, which she described as versatile and diverse in cultural aspects.

“I realized how much people wanted that experience in their lives; soldiers stationed in Germany, German spouses who came over here with their families,” she said. “They all just miss it. That’s why we are trying to recreate that good feel.’’

An obvious feature of the German Christmas market will be multiple food and drink options. In addition to German-style beer, Hakim plans to offer “glühwein,” a German-Austrian after-ski drink.

“It’s a warmer, sweeter red wine,’’ Hakim said. “It has different ingredients like orange and cinnamon and a homemade recipe of sweetness.’’ She described it as having a Christmas feeling that warms the whole body.

Pastries are also a big part of the German Christmas market experience. A local catering service will be on hand to provide “lebkuchenherzen,” which are gingerbread hearts.

A German food truck will be at the market, and an authentic German café will be recreated to offer dishes familiar to the German community.

German potato salad will be available, along with assorted types of coffee popular to the German community.

In addition to the food offerings, Hakim has commitments from up to 30 vendors for the German Christmas market with a goal of landing as many as 40.

“We have a lot of handcrafted vendors,’’ she said, “from artists to unique jewelry makers.’’

One artist scheduled to appear makes glass ornaments by hand and will be hand-painting them during the market.

There will also be local farmers on hand with displays of produce.

The market will also have a dog park for those who want to bring their pets, as well as a playground for children.

While some of the vendors will accept credit cards, Hakim suggests people planning to make purchases at the market be prepared to bring cash with them.

The event will be held outdoors so Hakim advises patrons to be prepared to dress for whatever weather may develop.

For further information about the Christmas market, including details on specific vendors, visit the Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom or the German Christmas Market pages on Facebook.

Photo: Left to right: Dirtbag Ales staff Nick Demetris, Hope Demetris and Elizabeth Brogan; Hayat Hakim; and Dirtbag Ales co-owner Vernardo Simmons-Valenzuela.

 The Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program, or C-STEP, housed in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, seeks to admit, identify, enroll and graduate high-achieving, low- to moderate-income students transferring to Carolina from partner community colleges. In the spring of 2011, Fayetteville Technical Community College partnered with UNCChapel Hill and established this premier program on its campus. In my time as an advisor for this program, I have encountered many inspiring, intelligent and dedicated students.

One such student is Saru Rayamajhi. Currently a nursing major at UNC-Chapel Hill, Rayamajhi first entered C-STEP at FTCC in 2016. Her dedication, tenacity and enthusiasm earned her the award of the James M. Johnston Undergraduate Nursing Scholarship and the Carolina Covenant Scholarship, positioning her to graduate from undergraduate and nursing school debt-free.

In a conversation following her white coat ceremony, Saru attributed her success to the continued support she received during her time as a student at FTCC, which helped her successfully transition to UNC-Chapel Hill. Saru’s success is primarily the result of her own willpower, and I have been fortunate and honored to be a part of her journey.

As a C-STEP advisor, I experience — through the eyes of my students — the thrill of seeing what this program offers. I experience the students’ excitement when they visit the Carolina campus and begin to paint the canvas of their journey with whatever dreams they envision. I see firsthand the motivation of C-STEP students as they continually strive to do their best to live up to what it means to be a Carolina student. And while these experiences certainly motivate me, I am most appreciative of the strong bonds that form year after year with FTCC C-STEP students.

Often, FTCC C-STEP students represent individuals from different backgrounds and cultures, yet all sharing a common goal: attending UNC Chapel Hill. C-STEP students share experiences with each other that last a lifetime. They demonstrate their allegiance through the personal bonds they form with each other, and they equally pledge their allegiance to the C-STEP program. Former students encourage incoming cohorts by filling them in on what to expect and by reaching out to provide post-grad opportunities for C-STEP students.

The advantages offered to C-STEP students go beyond providing them with admission into UNC-Chapel Hill. C-STEP is an all-encompassing program that allows students the opportunity to gain extensive knowledge about the campus, meet key individuals who will assist them when they arrive and share meaningful camaraderie with likeminded individuals. Each year when I send an FTCC C-STEP student to UNC-Chapel Hill, I emphasize that the FTCC relationship never ends. FTCC is helping dreams come true through the C-STEP program.

Students interested in obtaining more information regarding C-STEP should contact me, university outreach coordinator, at nelsonl@faytechcc.edu or 910-678-8205.

Photo: Saru Rayamajhi

  While Cumberland County only has one player on this year’s North Carolina roster for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas football game, it will have two members of the coaching staff. Westover’s Ernest King and South View’s Marcus Wall are in Spartanburg, South Carolina, this week preparing the Tarheel team for the Saturday, Dec. 15, kickoff at 1 p.m. against a South Carolina allstar squad at Wofford College’s Gibbs stadium.

King and Wall join South View wide receiver Emery Simmons as the representatives of Cumberland County in this year’s Shrine Bowl, which as the nation’s oldest high school all-star football game is marking its 82nd anniversary.

Also on hand as part of the North Carolina contingent is South View High School student athletic trainer Mariana Blount.

Wall’s selection is part of a change in the makeup of the Shrine Bowl staff where assistant football coaches are chosen along with head coaches. Wall will coach running backs in this week’s game.

“It’s a great honor to be selected, assistant coach or head coach, for the Shrine Bowl,’’ he said. “Just to get recognized is a good thing. I’m just glad to be part of the game.’’

King is following in the footsteps of his old high school coach, Milton Butts, who was also a Shrine Bowl coach. “You think about how long the game has been going on, what it’s for and the money they’ve raised for kids in need and their families,’’ King said. “To join a group of men who have done good things for kids is an honor.’’

The game, along with other charities promoted by the Shriners, benefits the Shriners hospitals for handicapped and burned children, who are provided state-of-the-art treatment for their ailments at no cost to their families.

In preparing for this year’s Shrine Bowl game, King, Wall and the rest of the North Carolina staff had to deal with a headache caused by the hurricanes that passed through the state this fall.

Because of multiple days of school missed in certain areas, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association had to move the end date for high school football season back a week. That means the Shrine Bowl will be played the same day as most of this year’s NCHSAA state championship games.

There are a number of players on the Shrine Bowl roster for North Carolina, who at this writing, are on teams still in contention for the state finals.

That meant the North Carolina coaches had to prepare a list of alternate players to add in should some of the original players picked have to miss the Shrine Bowl for the NCHSAA championships.

Wall, who will coach running backs, said a couple of North Carolina’s selections may have to miss the game for the NCHSAA finals. “We would definitely love to have them, but not at that cost,’’ he said.

King is confident all the alternates North Carolina has lined up will be capable of stepping in. “They are great ball players as well,’’ he said.

The biggest challenge in any all-star game is to get players from different offensive and defensive systems to come together and in barely a week’s time learn plays and formations so they can compete effectively in Saturday’s game.

The task is made easier by using basic offensive formations while the defense is restricted to simple alignments with no blitzing allowed.

“You can teach kids reads and keys,’’ King said of coaching defense. “It’s not that hard, especially when the offense can’t do so much.’’

South Carolina leads the all-time Shrine Bowl series 44-32-4, but North Carolina is on a rare winning streak, taking the last three games, including last year’s by a 55-24 score.

This is only the second time North Carolina has won three in a row. The previous time it happened was from 1949-51. The Tarheels have never won four in a row and could do that for the first time in Shrine Bowl history if they win this year’s game on Saturday.

Photos: L: Ernst King; R: Marcus Wall

 There is an interesting backstory to both the carriage and the horses featured in the annual Cool Spring Downtown District’s Carriage Rides with Santa. This year, the festive rides started this past weekend and run through Dec. 22 in downtown Fayetteville.

Jim Bob and Jolene are dappled Percheron draft horses. When they are not on loan to Santa for the carriage rides, they live free-range with Gary and Tina Sessoms in a pasture on the Sessoms’ farm.

Tina has been a horsewoman her whole life. She originally rode quarter-horses until a condition affecting her balance forced her to sell her horses. It wasn’t long before she realized that working with horses had to be part of her therapy. Because she could no longer ride, Tina and her husband, Gary, decided to work with draft horses.

The Sessoms knew a gentleman who owned draft horses, so they arranged to work in his stable in exchange for lessons to learn how to hitch and drive the horses. When the Sessoms were ready to establish a herd of their own, they decided on Percherons because these horses have a reputation among the draft horse breeds as eager pullers.

The Sessoms traveled to Amish country in Ohio and began purchasing fully trained draft horses being retired from field work. The Amish replace their farm horses when they are around 8 years old. Since eight years is still relatively young in horse years, the Sessoms knew these Percherons would still enjoy an active life.

The Sessoms’ carriages also come from Ohio Amish country where carriages and wagons are still the approved mode of transportation. Gary credits a conversation with Hank Parfitt as the beginning of their association with the carriage rides in downtown Fayetteville. Jim Bob and Jolene and the carriage they pull are a perfect complement to the quaint downtown district, where the short carriage rides take place.

What better way to slow down during this holiday season and enjoy the lovely decorations along Hay Street than from the vantage point and leisurely pace of a horse drawn-carriage?

Carriage Rides with Santa take place on recurring Saturdays and Sundays from 1-8 p.m. They began Dec. 8 and run, weekends only, through Dec. 22. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and can be purchased by phone by calling 910-223-1089 or in person at the office of the Cool Spring Downtown District, which is located at 222 Hay St. Reservations are recommended. Jim Bob, Jolene and Santa will be waiting to greet everyone out in front of the CSDD office, where the carriage rides begin and end.

 The Nov. 28, 2018, edition of Up & Coming Weekly featured an opinion piece by Karl Merritt titled “Decision time for Democrats.” Several readers responded. Two agreed to have their unedited comments published in our paper edition. Here is a link to the original article: www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/5597-decision-time-fordemocrats?fbclid=IwAR39ci_m2fusI7uKGoAzzYn5rsLEDbN9nha65Y5FfovMKL5ulLbtXczGFVg.

Mr. Merritt,

Read your article in the Up & Coming Weekly and respectfully disagree with some of your points. In your second paragraph you stated the Democrats can’t do both in legislate or investigate. Where was this when the Republicans had control of the Congress since 2010? They held so many investigations on the Obama administration, Hillary Clinton and the Russia investigation you can’t even count them all it will give you a migraine headache. Now the Democrats will have the gavel in January 2019 and you want them to legislate and just forget? Now with that being said there has to be oversight of the Trump administration but the Democrats should not over play their hand. If there are actual facts and evidence that an investigation is needed on an issue then by all means do so.

Example if or when the Russian investigation report from Mueller comes out and the information in the report only satisfies Democrats without having Republicans saying “hey wait a minute this report has some serious issues that we can’t ignore” then the Democrats need to squash it and put to rest this Russia collusion mess and move on and don’t even think or bringing up impeachment.

There is a lot of anger in this country on both sides and it needs to be called out. I don’t agree with protesters interrupting people trying to eat, walking through hallways or an owner of a restaurant refusing to serve someone because they are Trump supporters or works for the Trump administration. That is wrong on all counts. Going to someone’s house like Tucker Carlson’s is reprehensible. The problem I see is when Trump say’s or tweets something stupid or totally false no major Republican calls him out. Where is Mitch McConnell and the soon to be ex speaker of the house Paul Ryan? Nowhere to be found. People are more upset with their Republican representatives who will not stand up to Trump and say “this is wrong” or “what you are saying and tweeting is not factual correct”. Trump thinks the FBI and Department of Justice works personally for him they don’t they work for the American people. Trump is going to be Trump and he will continue the way he is and if Republicans who are in congress refuse to call him out and just hide because they are scared someone is going to primary them then they are only in it for themselves and the money not the people they represent.

I am a Democrat and voted for Obama twice did I worship him absolutely not. Did I disagree with him on some policies yes I did. One example when the Syrian president crossed that red line Obama had drawn and gassed his own people action should have been taken right then and there. What was the ripple effect? You guessed it mass immigration and it’s a complete mess. People fleeing Syria and other middle eastern countries going to Europe, American and Canada. We all have our political differences but we can respectfully disagree with each other without getting crazy and physically or verbally attacking each other.

Sincerely,

Nelson L. Smith

*******************************************

Well written article, just makes me sad that we have come to this. Each of us has to decide how to behave, what behavior is acceptable in any situation, whether directed toward us or toward someone we dislike, and continue to communicate with our Congressional Representatives and Senators as to what our expectations are of them.

Susan Dennis

Photo: Tucker Carlson

 Two Fort Bragg soldiers were among four troops killed last month in Afghanistan when a roadside explosive device destroyed their vehicle. Capt. Andrew Patrick Ross, 29, of Lexington, Virginia, and Sgt. 1st Class Eric Michael Emond, 39, of Brush Prairie, Washington, were members of Fort Bragg’s 3rd Special Forces Group.

The others were Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan J. Elchin, 25, of Hookstown, Pennsylvania, and Army Sgt. Jason Mitchell McClary, 24, of Export, Pennsylvania. Elchin served with the 24th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. McClary died several days after being hospitalized in Landstuhl, Germany, as a result of injuries sustained in the blast. He was with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado.

The incident is under investigation, according to NATO’s Resolute Support mission to train and advise Afghan forces. It was the deadliest attack against U.S. forces in Afghanistan this year.

New Cumberland County Commission leadership

Cumberland County Commissioners earlier this month selected Dr. Jeannette Council to serve as  chairperson in 2019. Marshall Faircloth was named vice chairman. Commissioner Michael Boose cast the lone dissenting vote. He had asked commissioners to support him as vice chairman, which would have put him in line to become chairman in 2020.

Council was appointed to the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners 18 years ago and began serving as a District 1 representative in 2002. She has been re-elected every four years since.

Council has previously served three terms as the board’s chair. She said she wants to end the board’s committee structure and instead wants commissioners to meet monthly for an agenda review session.

Commissioners Larry Lancaster, Charles Evans and Glenn Adams, who voters re-elected in November, also took their oaths of office. Members of the seven-person board serve staggered terms.

Fayetteville baseball half-season tickets available

The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are offering half-season ticket packages for fans. The Single-A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Houston Astros is offering two packages. One is a Friday package that includes all Friday home games. The other provides tickets for all Saturday home games. Both plans also include opening day and the July 3 celebrations.

These 35-game packages can be purchased on the Woodpeckers’ website at www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com or at the Woodpeckers’ front office at 225 Ray Ave. Half-season packages start at $325.

The Houston Astros own and operate the local farm team and agreed to a 30-year lease with the city of Fayetteville.

FTCC Board gets new member

Fayetteville attorney Chandan Shankar joined the Board of Trustees of Fayetteville Technical Community College. Shankar is a lawyer with the Richardson Firm.

Existing board members Charles E. Koonce and David R. Williford were reappointed for an additional term. Shankar was appointed to a four-year term by Gov. Roy Cooper. The Cumberland County Board of Education reappointed Koonce, and the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners named Williford.

Legislation establishing North Carolina community colleges required that board memberships represent various elements of their communities. The FTCC Board of Trustees also re-elected Ronald C. Crosby Jr. as chairman of the board, Dr. Linwood Powell as vice chairman and Delores P. Ingram as secretary.

FTCC was established in 1961 and serves more than 40,000 students.

New Fayetteville Habitat community

Oakridge Estates at Bunce and Old Bunce roads is a collaborative project of Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity and the city of Fayetteville to build 47 single-family homes on 14 acres. The site was once a dilapidated mobile home park. The formal kick-off event marked a historic partnership to provide affordable housing in an underserved community. 

Gov. Roy Cooper was among the dignitaries on hand. Individuals and families displaced by hurricanes Matthew and Florence will occupy least 15 of the homes. The city’s role in the project is to serve as an investor while Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity’s role as the developer is to ensure affordability of the newly constructed homes.

Habitat for Humanity brings people together, including the eventual home owners, to build homes and revitalize communities.

Photo: Capt. Andrew Patrick Ross (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Eric Michael Emond (right)

 Despite continued problems getting unfettered access to a local place to practice, the swimming program for Cumberland County Schools continues to make gradual progress.

Here’s a general look at the prospects for this season, focusing on some of the programs that enjoyed the best success in 2017-18.

Cape Fear

Coach Amey Shook has taken an aggressive approach to building the numbers at Cape Fear. She’s been reaching out to athletes from sports out of season and encouraging them to take part in swimming to help them stay in condition when their sport is over.

“We have a little bit of everybody on our team again,’’ she said, noting the Colt swim roster includes players from soccer, volleyball, football and baseball.

“Most of them don’t have any formal swimming experience,’’ she said, “maybe lessons when they were little. But they are strong kids that have swumin backyard pools, oceans or lakes. They come with a little bit of knowledge, but we have to teach them most of the technicalities, the strokes, the starts and the turns.’’

With a mix of newcomers and some promising returners, Shook is hopeful that Cape Fear will again be competitive in the pool this season.

Among the key returners is her daughter Amelia Shook, who made her swimming debut at Cape Fear last year as a freshman.

“Her endurance and overall knowledge of swimming continues to grow into her sophomore season,’’Amey Shook said. “She can do all the turns

and knows how to do the starts.’’

The biggest challenge for Amelia will be coming back from a second tear of her ACL she suffered in March. “I could swim three months out from my surgery,’’ she said. “I started swimming mid-summer. I couldn’t do cross country and I’m still not cleared for soccer — hopefully by the end of December.’’

She thinks the back stroke will be her best event as well as the fly. 

 Terry Sanford

Jared Kaiser, who swam for his dad, Richard, at Gray’s Creek, is in his first season coaching Terry Sanford, which has probably the richest tradition in swimming of any Cumberland County school.

“I inherited a lot of good swimmers and I’m pushing them, expecting to score at the top,’’ he said. “I expect us to be up there with the best this season.’’

The top returner for the Bulldogs is David Li. “His strength as a swimmer is not just consistency but the fact he swims year-round,’’ Kaiser said. “He’s doing a real good job working with the team and working with some of the newer swimmers as well.

“I think that will actually be a good utility for us this year, helping get some of the freshmen and sophomores trained. The fact he’s got such long experience in the sport and knows how to do the techniques and the skills and can help pass that down, that’s going to be the most vital thing he can provide this year.’’

Li said the high school swimming season is important to the development of a swimmer but added year-round training is the key to building the overall swimming program in the county.

“Constant practice, constant building,’’ Li said.

 Gray’s Creek

The Bears will be dealing with some challenges as the season opens due to some graduation losses and an illness involving one of its top returning swimmers, Zizhou Lou.

“Most of the boys team is new this year,’’ said head coach Richard Kaiser. “We’re going to struggle out of the gate. Hopefully some of the guys will pick it up.’’

On the girls’ side, Kaiser has some veterans returning and feels a little better about their chances.

The big concern is Lou, who qualified for the state meet last year but suffered a viral illness over the summer that led to him losing about 15 pounds. “He’s not a big guy so he’s trying to get his strength back right now,’’ Kaiser said. “We’re not sure where he’ll be at the end of the season.’ 

Lou said he expects the early part of the season to be difficult. “I feel after a couple of months I should be back in shape,’’ he said. “I feel my overall energy and physical ability have gone down a little. I’m just going to practice harder than usual, get more time in the pool and be healthy.’’

Teams to beat

As usual, Cape Fear’s Amey Shook feels Terry Sanford will be among the top teams, along with South View, Pine Forest and Gray’s Creek.

Gray’s Creek’s Kaiser thinks Cape Fear has solid swimmers on both of its teams. “I think the two powers are going to be Terry Sanford and Cape Fear,’’ he said.

“A couple of teams that have been historically smaller, like Gray’s Creek, are getting better numbers,’’ said Terry Sanford’s Jared Kaiser. “It will be more competitive than it has been in the last few years.’’

Kaiser expects the biggest competition to come from Cape Fear and Pine Forest. “It’s tough to tell because we’re not all practicing at the same time,’’ he said. “Those are the teams I’ve seen a little bit, and they are looking good so far.’’

Photo: Amelia Shook; David Li; Zishou Lou

 Just in time for the holidays, Seabrook Performance Series presents Norman Brown’s “Joyous Holiday Concert” at Seabrook Auditorium on the campus of Fayetteville State University. It’sset for Thursday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m.

The concert also features Marion Meadows and Bobby Caldwell. “For the cost of this concert, people are getting a huge bargain, and what a gift for the end of the year to celebrate the holiday season with such great artists that have hit records in their own right,” said Aaron Singleton, marketing consultant for the Seabrook Performance Series. “The thing about Bobby Caldwell is that he has in his own respect a number of hits, but he has written hit songs for a number of other artists as well.”

He added, “Norman Brown has sold nearly 2 million albums during his career. He has played for just about everybody who’s anybody in smooth jazz and jazz.”

Singleton noted that Marion Meadows is up and coming.

Norman Brown is a Grammy Award-winning contemporary jazz guitarist who picked up his first guitar at the age of 8. He has shared the stage with jazz superstars that include Boney James, Dave Koz and Gerald Albright.

Bobby Caldwell is a singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter best known for his hit smash, “What You Won’t Do for Love,” that reached the top 10 on the Billboard magazine R & B and Adult Contemporary charts. He started playing the piano and guitar when he was 12 years old.

Marion Meadows is a saxophonist, composer and contemporary jazz recording artist. He has released a total of 14 albums. He began playing the clarinet and studying classical music at the age of 9. He started playing tenor sax in high school and migrated to soprano sax.

The Seabrook Performance Series consists of nine concerts, which started in September and will run through March. In January, the series will host the largest collection of African-American magicians and comedians in the world; in February Nick Colionne will perform; and March features saxophonist Najee.

“Please come out and join us because you are in for a real treat at this outstanding holiday concert,” said Singleton. “It is going to be an exciting show because each of these artists bring such big energy.”

Tickets to “Joyous Holiday Concert” cost $20- $75. For more information, call 910-672-1724.

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.

• Historic Preservation Commission Wednesday, Dec. 12, 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building*

• Mayor’s Youth Leadership Committee Monday, Dec. 17, 6 p.m., Front Lobby Meeting Room at Town Hall

• Board of Commissioners Monday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m., Bill Luther Meeting Room at Town Hall

Activities

For more information on these activities, contact Meghan Hawkins at 910-426-4109.

• Breakfast with Santa Saturday, Dec. 15, 8:30 a.m., at Hope Mills Fire Station.

• Town Offices Closed for the Holidays Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 24-26.

Promote yourself

Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

 There will be plenty of the familiar red coloring on the premises, but the traditional Breakfast with Santa gathering in Hope Mills this year is moving to a different location.

Instead of the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Center, children and their families will be gathering at the Hope Mills Fire Station on Rockfish Road on Saturday, Dec. 15, for the annual pre-Christmas breakfast and social time with Santa Claus. The event is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and wrap up around 11 a.m.

Breakfast with Santa has been a Hope Mills tradition for about 10 years said, Meghan Hawkins of the recreation department.

It had to be relocated to the fire station this year because the recreation department building is still undergoing repairs from damage sustained from Hurricane Florence this fall.

There are a limited number of tickets available for the breakfast, so anyone interested needs to contact the recreation department as soon as possible to purchase one. Children under the age of 3 will be admitted free but will still require a ticket to gain admission. All tickets are $6 per person and can be purchased at Town Hall, which is located at 5770 Rockfish Rd.

The deadline for getting tickets is Monday, Dec. 10, which is the date the town has to notify the caterer how many to prepare breakfast for.

Since the fire station will be open for business as usual during Breakfast with Santa, some or all activities related to the breakfast may have to undergo changes if there are active fire calls while breakfast is taking place.

No parking will be allowed in front of the fire station, Hawkins said. All those attending should park behind Hope Mills Town Hall and the Parks and Recreation Center building.

Barring any complications, children will get a chance to eat with Santa, interact with him and take pictures. Members of the South View Key Club will be on hand working as elves helping serve breakfast, with an assist from the firefighters at the station.

The breakfast menu will include eggs, pancakes and juice with a choice of bacon or sausage.

For information on the breakfast, including getting tickets, contact Hawkins at 910-426-4109 during regular business hours.

  “Electoral districts drawn fairly by professionals tend to produce results that reflect the political makeup of the state’s voters, and the way they vote.” The Associated Press reached that conclusion following an extensive analysis of 2018 voting patterns in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. The A.P. found that electoral districts drawn by politicians with the aim of keeping themselves in control tended to produce results that bore little resemblance to the state’s real political balance or the way voters cast their ballots.

Cumberland County’s House of Representatives District 45, held by Republican John Szoka, is one of nearly 100 legislative districts across the state that a new lawsuit alleges violates the North Carolina Constitution. The suit contends North Carolina’s legislative maps were designed, or gerrymandered, to guarantee that Republican candidates would win a majority of the seats in the state House and Senate.

Partisan gerrymandering, which refers to redistricting that favors one political party, has a long tradition in the United States that precedes the 1789 election of the first U.S. Congress. The word gerrymander was used for the first time in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 26, 1812. The word was used in response to a redrawing of Massachusetts state senate districts under then- Gov. Elbridge Gerry, who signed a bill that redistricted Massachusetts to benefit his Democratic-Republican Party.

In the 1812 election, both the Massachusetts House and governorship were won by Federalists by a comfortable margin, costing Gerry his position. Historians believe Federalist newspaper editors Nathan Hale and Benjamin and John Russell were the instigators of the name.

The new lawsuit was filed this month by the North Carolina Democratic Party, the Common Cause North Carolina governmental accountability organization and 22 Democratic and unaffiliated voters. It’s the newest in years of legal battles over the constitutionality of gerrymandering. The suit contends the Republican gerrymander violates numerous provisions of the state Constitution.

Plaintiffs want the state senate and house maps revised in time for the 2020 elections. The gist of the complaint alleges that House and Senate district boundaries were intentionally drawn to place as many Democratic-favoring voters as possible into as few districts as possible statewide so that a majority of the 120 House districts and 50 Senate districts would be dominated by Republican voters.

Cumberland County is heavily Democratic. Of more than 220,000 registered voters, 45 percent are Democrats. There are more independent voters than Republicans. About 31.5 percent are unaffiliated and almost 23 percent are Republicans. The remainder are in the Libertarian Party, the Green Party or Constitution Party. The GOP challenge was to create at least one of the county’s four house districts as a majority Republican area. The legislature used a device called packing.

“The General Assembly packed most of the Democratic areas of Cumberland County into three of the four districts in this cluster, House Districts 42, 43, and 44,” the suit contends. “The General Assembly packed the Democratic voters to create one Republican-leaning district in Cumberland County, House District 45.” Republican Szoka won that seat.

Photo: Rep. John Szoka, R-N.C.

 As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I realized that this would not be the merriest of Christmases for the Criders.

“Sing one more Christmas song and I am not even kidding, I will stab you with a candy cane.” That’s what I’d said. To my best friend. The singing stopped, and a life-changing heart-to-heart followed. We talked about managing priorities, keeping things in perspective, knowing when to say no and when to ask for help.

I was a young mom, and money was tight. My husband was gone for the holidays, our children were small and needy, and I was far from my family. On my best days, I was overwhelmed, lonely, scared and struggling. On my worst, just putting one foot in front of the other took everything I had. Traditions and expectations aside, I was so depressed that I was incapable of rejoicing in or even appreciating the birth of my savior. My world was the darkest it had ever been

In the many years since then, there have been some less-than-perfect and even downright pitiful Christmases and many that were amazingly wonderful, too. But none as bleak as that year.

Every Christmas season, as decorations go up in the stores and the jolly elf takes center stage amidst carols and commercialism, I reflect on that conversation and give thanks for my sweet friend and the wisdom she shared with me that day.

It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday hustle, and when you’re feeling it, it truly is the most beautiful, wonderful — insert all the magical, Christmas-y adjectives here — time of the year. But when you’re not, oh man, is it agony. Trying to force it and fake it, when what you really want is to say f$%& it and hide under your bed until the new year, is a horrible idea. It can make you do crazy things — like threaten to impale your dearest friends with minty holiday confections.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer for the holiday blues, but there are strategies and resources. Being honest with yourself and those around you is a good place to start.

It’s OK if you don’t love the holidays or if you are struggling. You are not alone.

  Former Fayetteville mayor Bill Hurley died late last month. He was 85.

“His work as mayor and in the N.C. House of Representatives gave Fayetteville a new vision for the future — as a community, we are thankful for his hard work, and I extend heartfelt condolences to his family,” Mayor Mitch Colvin said.

Hurley owned a local insurance agency. He served as mayor from 1981-87 and was then elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives.

As mayor, Hurley led efforts to rid the then notorious 500 block of Hay Street of topless night clubs. He personally launched the wrecking ball that demolished run-down buildings in the block, clearing the way for the Medical Arts Building and the Airborne & Special Operations Museum. Hurley also co-founded the Dogwood Festival and raised money for the Lafayette statue in Cross Creek park on Green Street.

New Dogwood Festival executive director

The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival has hired a new executive director, Malia Allen. The new executive director has huge shoes to fill. She succeeds Carrie King, who retired earlier this year.

“I am looking forward to continuing the traditions of the community that the Dogwood Festival brings while also putting my own spin on things,” Allen said.

Each year, the organization produces its signature spring Dogwood Festival, the Dogwood Fall Festival, Fayetteville After 5, and the Miss Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. The Dogwood Festival owes its success to a dedicated board of directors, generous sponsors, volunteers and loyal patrons, the organization says on its website, Faydogwoodfestival.com.

Camden Road widening

North Carolina’s Department of Transportation proposes to widen a 3.3-mile section of Camden Road in the Hope Mills area in 2023. State and local transportation planners say it should alleviate growing congestion and improve traffic safety. People have been given an opportunity to review preliminary design maps of the roadway improvements. A public comment period continues for citizen feedback.

NCDOT and the Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization determined the need to improve the road between N.C. 59 in Hope Mills and the future I-295 interchange at Camden Road. The project would widen the road from two to four lanes with a raised median. Recent residential and commercial development has popped up along this stretch of highway, which also serves a shopping district anchored by the 14-screen movie theater complex. The project’s overall cost is estimated to be about $29 million.

Friends of the Animal Shelter

The Friends of the Cumberland County Animal Shelter has received 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation, allowing the organization to seek donations through a direct link on its Facebook page. It also qualifies the group to receive grants and nonprofit programs that benefit animals at the Cumberland County shelter, said FOCCAS President Shelly Bryant. The group works with the animal shelter to promote animal welfare initiatives and responsible pet ownership.

“The Friends of Cumberland County Animal Shelter organization is vital to our shelter and the community because they help us provide our shelter animals with enrichment and extended medical care and assist pet owners in need,” said Animal Control Director Elaine Smith. “We have limitations to our budget and resources, so FOCCAS helps fill in the gaps with things like extra toys, treats, community assistance and education programs.” For its first community outreach initiative, FOCCAS is collecting dog houses, straw, blankets and food for outdoor dogs to be comfortable and safe over the winter months. Residents can drop off items at the shelter.

Photo: Bill Hurley

 Sometime in last week’s 24/7 churning news cycle, you may have heard about a new study that found that for every dollar an American man earns, an American woman earns 49 cents.

Yep.

You read that correctly. In this country, for every dollar a man earns, a woman earns 49 cents. For many Americans, both women and men, that is a “hair on fire” statistic. The women’s earnings figure that has been floating around for years is 80 cents compared to men’s dollars, but the new study finds differently.

Entitled “Still a Man’s Labor Market: The Slowly Narrowing Gender Wage Gap,” the study was released by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and measured total earnings for all workers who worked in at least one year between 2001 and 2015. The cold, hard fact is that American women faced a wage gap of 51 percent. Said Institute President Heidi Hartmann, “Much ink has been spilled debating whether the commonly cited measure of the wage gap … is an exaggeration due to occupational differences or socalled ‘women’s choices,’ but our analysis finds that we have actually been underestimating the extent of pay inequity in the labor market.”

I’ll say!

But, it is complicated. The gap exists for many reasons, including the fact that when women entered the workplace in large numbers in the 20th century, many employers viewed them as “second incomes” for a family whose man of the house was bringing home the real bacon. I know of one Fayetteville employer, now gone to his reward, who routinely asked young women seeking employment with his business whether they were “planning to have a baby any time soon.” Totally illegal and totally true, and the legacy of that sort of paternalism and sexism is still with us.

In addition, women’s family and home responsibilities— what Hartmann called “women’s choices”— continue to be heavier than those of their male partners. Women are more likely to take time off to care for both children and aging relatives. The study found that the cost of taking time out from the workforce, whatever the reason, comes with significant — and increasing — penalties. According to the study, a woman who took a year off during the 2001-2015 study range earned 39 percent less than a woman who did not. In 1968, that number was only 12 percent. Whatever the percentage, though, women’s lost earnings are almost always greater than those of men.

Quality child care is also expensive in our country, meaning that many women lose wages when they stay home with a sick child. Ditto for elder care. Paid family leave is a rarity in most American communities, and since Mom is more likely to take family time than Dad is, it is her earnings that take the hit.

The study suggests that high penalties for time off affects women’s earnings negatively and weakens their attachment to the workplace.

Laws are in place at both the national and state levels addressing equal employment opportunities and discrimination on the job, but reporting and enforcement are spotty at best. This is why many women do not report discrimination and why it continues to pervade our national workplace.

Studies and statistics come and go. Data and interpretation differ. It is clear, though, that women have made strides in both employment and earnings, so any slowdown as the Institute study found is worrisome. We must do better by our women and our families.

What we are really talking about here is the economic well-being or our mothers, our sisters, our wives and those they love and nurture.

  Without Charles Jennens, a wealthy British music and literary patron of the 18th century, nobody would be singing the “Messiah” at all. Thankfully, Jennens existed — and on Saturday, Dec. 15, the Cumberland Oratorio Singers will perform “Messiah Sing” at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

In 1741, Jennens — who had collaborated with George Frideric Handel on a few prior pieces — sent Handel the libretto (text) of what became Handel’s “Messiah.” Pulling passages from the King James Bible and the Anglican Church’s Book of Common Prayer, Jennens arranged them in such a manner as to depict the chronological annunciation, birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Once Jennens sent Handel the words, Handel composed the music (including the famous “Hallelujah” chorus) in less than a month. Familiar with the biblical allusions in the text, Handel also divided the oratorio into three distinct parts. Part I depicts the annunciation and the birth of Jesus Christ. Part II covers Christ’s death and resurrection. Part III depicts Christ’s ascension and subsequent glorification.

Although born in Germany, Handel moved to London in 1712. He had made his mark as a composer of lavish Italian operas. However, in the mid-18th century, opera began fading out of style in England in favor of English language oratorios. Webster defines an oratorio as “a long dramatic musical composition, usually on a religious theme, sung to orchestral accompaniment. It is presented without stage, action, scenery or costumes.” According to one of his biographers, in order to maintain relevance and solvency, Handel began composing the more popular oratorios.

“Messiah” debuted in Dublin in 1742 as a charity event. This original presentation was sung by a choir of 16 men, 16 boys and two women soloists. The orchestra consisted of strings, two trumpets and timpani. Over subsequent centuries, the size of both the choir and orchestra grew exponentially into lavish musical productions culminating in a production with 2,000 voices and a 500-piece orchestra. Handel’s original score underwent multiple revisions to accommodate these ever-evolving productions. Even Mozart scored a revision.

The recent trend has been to scale back the oratorio in size to Handel’s original score and to keep the choir and orchestra more suited to the smaller venues in which Handel would have performed — like Friendship Missionary Baptist Church where COS will perform “Messiah Sings!” Under the direction of Jason Britt, the COS will present Part I of the “Messiah,” which tells the Christmas Story. Caroline Vaughan will sing the soprano solos, Linda Vandervort will solo at alto, Melvin Ezzell is featured as the tenor soloist, and Jeffery Jones will solo at bass.

According to Britt, the COS present “Messiah Sings!” each year as the group’s gift to the community in which they have been growing and performing for more than 25 years. In addition to the oratorio, the event will feature the Cross Creek Chorale and the newly formed Campbellton Youth Chorus singing traditional holiday music. The concert starts at 5 p.m. and is free and open to the general public. Season tickets are available for $45. For tickets and information, visit www.singwithcos.org.

 For more than a decade, runners and revelers alike have turned out for Ryan’s Reindeer Run. It’s a family-friendly, high-spirited run filled with opportunities to make memories and enjoy and a morning in the outdoors. Saturday, Dec. 15, join hundreds of other runners and walkers at the Medical Arts Complex Field in downtown Fayetteville for this 5K. It’s a celebration and a lot of fun, but it’s also a chance to do good.

Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh inspired Ryan’s Reindeer Run. A remarkable young man, Ryan graduated second in his class and was accepted to Princeton University. He was a volunteer, receiving the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 2001. He was determined. He was passionate. He was a fighter. He loved sports, and he loved to run.

Ryan was diagnosed with cancer his senior year in high school. He lost his battle to Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 15 months later, on Jan. 1, 2003.

Ryan’s Reindeer Run is a celebration of his life –because he loved life and made the most of each day. One of Ryan’s journal entries after his diagnosis reads, “But every morning when I would crawl out of bed, dreading the oncoming day, I stopped thinking about winning and losing. I experienced victory every morning by merely waking up, because with every day I lived, I won, and cancer lost. I didn’t try in school so that I could be a winner, and I didn’t sprint up and down the basketball court to achieve any victory. I didn’t do it for the praise or the glory.

“So many people throughout this whole ordeal have asked me why I chose to do what I did. I always told them that I really didn’t see much of a choice in it. Now I realize there was, because so many of us sit on the sidelines and watch. As for me, I just love to run.”

Ryan also wrote a book about the physical and emotional challenges he faced as he tried to live as normal a life as possible with a fatal disease. The book is called “Run Because You Can” and is available at www.ryansreindeerrun.com.

After Ryan died, his family wanted to celebrate his life. They wanted to do something on Ryan’s behalf that would continue to make a difference in the world and that would honor him. So, Ryan’s Reindeer Run began.

“I enjoy raising funds that go to support programs in the community that Ryan was involved in or ones that I think he would have enjoyed supporting,” said Roberta Humphries, Ryan’s Reindeer Run coordinator and Ryan’s mom.

Over the 13 years of its existence, the run has made a significant difference for many. “Since we began, we have donated over $174,000 to other organizations that provide services to children and cancer patients,” said Humphries. “These have included Duke Pediatric Bone Marrow Unit, Friends of the Cancer Center of Cape Fear Valley Health, Better Health, The Care Clinic, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Make a Wish Foundation, Boys and Girls Home of North Carolina, The Child Advocacy Center, The Marrow Foundation and other local organizations.”

Part of what makes hosting the run so rewarding for Humphries is watching people have fun. There is a costume contest that always embraces the holiday spirit and brings creative entries. Humphries noted that to compete in the costume contest, it’s important to register with the costume judges to make sure they see your costume. Humphries said she thinks Ryan would especially love “the holiday spirit exhibited by those participating and the fun everyone has at the event. (And) the fact that people are enjoying a moment in time together while they are able to.”

While there is plenty of fun to be had, Humphries wanted to make a point with the route, which winds through Haymount. She specifically chose the route because of the hills that make it a challenging 5K. “Ryan endured many ups and downs in the 15 months he lived once diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma,” she said. “The ups and downs of the hills on the course are a reminder that sometimes life can be challenging as we struggle uphill, but in the end, there is usually something better waiting for us. And for the runners, that is running down Haymount Hill to the finish line.

“Despite the obstacles that are thrown in your path as you journey through life, you can still smile, laugh and make a difference in the lives of those around you. The race has tough hills, and you often have to deal with not ideal weather this time of year, but you can still come out and participate and have a good time.”

Ryan’s Reindeer Run is a timed race. There are prizes for various categories. Participants under 13 receive a finishers medal. There are two entry categories: individual and family. Family entrants are not eligible for the individual awards. Pets on leash are allowed but must be controlled at all times. The trophies are reindeer themed, and this year the event has a new logo.

Packet pickup is Friday, Dec. 14, from 5-8 p.m. at the Child Advocacy Center at 222 Rowan St. and Saturday, Dec. 15, 7 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. at the race site. The race starts at 8:30 a.m. The awards ceremony is at 9:30 a.m.

Parking is available at the Medical Arts Building, at the downtown parking garage and on the street.

Register at active.com or ryansreindeerrun.com.

 “It would give the citizens another place to walk during the day other than Municipal Park,” Commissioner Meg Larson said.

During the Nov. 5 Hope Mills Board of Commissioners meeting,Larson suggested the town reopen the golf course, which has been closed to the public since spring 2014, for use as land for walking trails.

Larson was among the handful of people who toured the golf course in October. Hurricanes and years of neglect have destroyed portions of the course. One specific area, adjacent to Golfview Road, has completely washed away. The paved walking path is gone, and there’s a hole 15 feet deep and nearly 30 feet wide. Utility wires and cables protrude on both sides of the hole. That area would have to be repaired before the public could access the trails.

Additionally, there is no driveway or parking available, and the owner of the existing parking lot refuses to consider leasing his land to the municipality. Mayor Pro Tem Mike Mitchell suggested the board spend $50,000 to install a turn lane on Golfview Road and negotiate with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to create a new driveway and parking lot, both at additional costs.

One local contractor with more than $120 million dollars of contract experience, who requested anonymity, indicated that, in addition to the $50,000 turn lane, a driveway and parking lot would cost $30,000, and repairing the erosion damage could cost another $20,000. These are conservative estimates. This does not include mobilization costs, proof rolling, new signage, insurance, benches and trashcans Larson wants, and new maintenance costs. And, the town already spends $25,000 a year to maintain the lot.

Less than a half mile from this proposed walking trail, Municipal Park has a designated walking path. It’s never crowded, it’s clean, and it has ample parking, benches, lights and access to other amenities. And it’s paid for.

Larson’s plan may also conflict with the $87,000 comprehensive parks and recreation plan commissioned by the board. McAdams Group has been working on that plan for months, and the board expects the results in early spring, around the same time they plan to reopen the golf course.

Commissioners Jesse Bellflowers said Larson’s idea was premature, and he urged the board to wait for direction from McAdams before making a commitment.

Larson and Mitchell cited the impending McAdams Group survey as a reason to deny a request to buy municipal land from Lone Survivor Foundation earlier this year. On multiple occasions, they referenced the survey and the importance of not making premature decisions that may later conflict with the recommendations of that survey.

Commissioner Pat Edwards reminded the board of the many projects that need to be finished. The previous board voted last year to approve the second phase of the lake plan, but this board has consistently voted to change that plan. The engineer provided the board with multiple draft changes, but the board has not committed to anything. We’re no closer to a historical park and museum than we were a year ago.

Hope Mills residents have not expressed an interest in additional walking paths. The McAdams Group survey indicated residents wanted a pool/ splash pad, outdoor amphitheater, multipurpose fields, pump track (off-road terrain for cycle sports) and green-way trails.

In April 2019, the board will receive the final golf course conceptual site plan and draft recommendation. These are prerequisites for applying for grant funding to develop the golf course.

What happens if their concept and draft recommendation conflicts with the newly developed walking trails? Will the board move to undo everything the taxpayers have just paid for, to accommodate the McAdams Group recommendations?

Or, will the walking trail be another reason for the board to condemn McAdams Group and reject the proposal? Commissioners Jerry Legge and Larson have been very vocal in expressing their disappointment in McAdams Group’s early results.

Despite the warnings and the lack of public interest in additional walking trails, the board voted to move forward with Larson’s plan. This same board voted to delay replacing the failing phone system and to delay purchasing a security system for Town Hall, proving our systemic problems always take a backseat to the board’s private agendas.

It’s also worth noting that two board members have already cautioned they will likely have to raise taxes for fiscal year 2019. The board barely managed to stay in budget for this year. And, in addition to raising their own salaries and implementing travel stipends and cell phone stipends, they’ll have to finance the new walking trail — which, like the existing walking trail, will not generate revenue to offset its costs.

What’s clear is that Larson continues to flounder. For nearly four months, she referenced the McAdams Group survey, declaring its importance above all else.

She voted twice to deny selling lake bed #2 to Lone Survivor Foundation based on the premise that every inch of municipal land was being evaluated by McAdams Group for development. Now, when LSF is no longer an issue, she’s ready to abandon the $87,000 expert opinion we paid for.