It is no exaggeration to say that our great American free press in all its various forms is under siege. Our own president calls the Fourth Estate “the enemy of the people” and demeans its work as “fake news.” But the greatest threat to our oldest and most traditional medium, the American newspaper, comes not from Donald Trump but from technological developments and proliferation of niche media, including social media. The American newspaper that was our watchdog during the founding of our nation, the Civil War, the Great Depression and great social upheavals into the 21st century faces severe diminishment if not outright extinction.

Into the early years of this century, the newspaper on our kitchen table told us a bit of everything about the world around us – hard news, sports, trends in living, who had died – and gave us the crossword puzzle. Its core mission, as our nation’s founders understood and supported, was to be a check on governments at all levels, but it strove to be the total package. As technology exploded in this century, though, bringing us cable and satellite television, the internet and smart phones – all of which operate in the moment 24/7 – newspapers could not keep up. Throw in the Great Recession and the future got even shakier and scarier.

Consider these facts from a study just released by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Media and Journalism.

More than one in five newspapers has folded its tents since 2000.

Newspapers that remain are sometimes called “ghost papers” because they are now ghosts of their former selves. Dramatic drops in advertising revenue mean greatly pared-down staffs unable to provide the news coverage they once offered to local communities – city council and county commission meetings, school board happenings and local spot news. What is more, over half of our nation’s newspapers have changed hands in the last decade, often moving from locally owned and operated businesses to newspapers chains, owned and headquartered elsewhere, accountable to shareholders, not local communities. As the UNC-CH study puts it, “the people with the least access to local news are often the most vulnerable – the poorest, least educated and most isolated.”

The Fayetteville Observer, North Carolina’s oldest continually published daily newspaper and owned and operated by a local family for almost a century, was sold in 2016 to a newspaper chain headquartered in New York with a stable of 144 daily papers, according to its website. Up & Coming Weekly remains a locally owned and operated community newspaper distinguished by its community engagement rather than a commitment to news content.

Several weeks ago, I sat in on two focus groups, one composed of Democrats and the other of Republicans, talking about various political topics. Everyone in each group was conversant on and shared opinions about national politicians and national issues, but almost no one in either camp had any idea who represented them in the North Carolina General Assembly nor what the legislature has been up to in recent years. Most had a vague sense that Gov. Cooper was focused on hurricane recovery, but that was about it for state concerns. In a word, both groups were clueless about state issues and state candidates.

All sorts of entities, many of them digital, are working to fill the void left by the dramatic shrinkage of Americannewspapers, but most of these are in major metropolitan areas, leaving the hinterlands to become what are increasingly known as “news deserts.” The cold, hard reality, though, is that no fixes are on the horizon, which leaves us, the American people and voters, on our own to find out what our governments, especially at the state and local levels, are doing. It also gives both elected officials and bureaucrats much more rein to do whatever they want to do with very little public scrutiny.

No matter how one feels about “the media,” we should all understand that a free and available press is fundamental to the operation of our democracy. As the UNC-CH study authors put it, “We need to make sure that whatever replaces the 20th century version of local newspapers serves the same community-building functions. If we can figure out how to craft and implement sustainable news business models in our smallest, poorest markets, we can then empower journalistic entrepreneurs to revive and restore trust in the media from the grassroots level up, in whatever form– print, broadcast or digital.”

You can learn more about this national problem atwww.usnewsdeserts.com.

 Longtime county commissioner and civic leaderEd Melvin died last week. He was 72. Melvin servedhis community in many ways but is best remembered as a four-term county commissioner. He chose not to seek re-election in 2014.

Melvin was admitted to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Oct. 18 after suffering an apparent heart attack. He died five days later.

A native of Bladen County, Melvin spent his adult life in Cumberland County but never lost touch with friends and family in the Tar Heel area. He belonged to dozens of civic, advisory and business groups and owned and managed 50 rental homes.

Melvin also had a chain of auto repair shops. Several years ago, he sold all but one of them: Ed’s Tire and Auto Shop on Murchison Road.

Melvin was a U.S. Army veteran and a member of Village Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Julie, and their five children.

Health department leadership post still vacant

The Cumberland County Department of Public Health hasn’t had a permanent director for nearly a year and a half. In August, the board of health selected an executive search firm to help recruit the next health director, but it has not yet begun the search. Former director Buck Wilson resigned in June of last year. Other county executives have filled in since then.

“We are excited to initiate our search for a permanent health director,” said Interim Health Director Duane Holder.

The board’s search committee met with the firm on Oct. 17 to begin the formal recruiting process. Staff and community listening sessions are being planned. Public input will be solicited, and the board of health says it welcomes feedback.

Four-year terms on the ballot

Local ballot issues Nov. 6 include proposals to change the terms of Fayetteville City Council members and Hope Mills Town Commissioners. Both bodies want to extend terms of office from two years to four.

The prospect has raised little voter interest in Fayetteville, but opposition by Hope Mills residents has surfaced since the board rejected offers made by Lone Survivor Foundation to purchase property at Hope Mills Lake Bed #2 for a military veterans’ retreat. Residents have organized Hope Mills Citizens for Change, a political action committee opposed to longer terms. They have distributed signs around town.

The four-year referendum idea was first proposed by Hope Mills Commissioner Mike Mitchell in February. If adopted, four-year terms wouldn’t begin for Hope Mills commissioners until the 2019 election. The mayor and five board members would serve staggered terms.

The Fayetteville City Council proposal is nonbinding. If authorized by voters, council would then decide whether to make the change.

Local youth wins statewide honor

A Cumberland County NCWorks Career Center student, Lamonty Bullock, 24, was named Outstanding Young Adult at the 2018 Governor’s NC Works Awards of Distinction ceremony held Oct. 11 in Greensboro.

Bullock was enrolled in the Fundamental Skills for Substance Abuse Counselor Program at Fayetteville Technical Community College when nominated for the honor. He has completed part one of the program and is preparing for part two, with a goal of becoming a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor to help teens and young adults.

“I really want to focus on prevention because that’s where it all starts,” Bullock said. He was living in a group home until he turned 18, when he aged out of the foster care system. He did not complete high school but later obtained his diploma and approached Cumberland County NCWorks for career training assistance.

Bullock’s former NCWorks career advisor, Victoria Grey-Allen, described him as an “extraordinary example of what resilience, hard work and determination can accomplish.”

Local university leader honored

Fayetteville State University Chancellor Dr. James Anderson was honored this month by the North

Carolina Justice Center for his years of “extraordinary advocacy for and commitment to social justice, inclusive community engagement, and educational opportunities.” The NC Justice Center describes itself as the state’s preeminent voice for economic, social and political justice.

“My task is to apply leadership and management strategies that reflect integrity, quality, transparency and excellence,” Anderson is quoted as saying on Fayetteville State University’s website. “Our most precious commodity is our students and everything that we do should support their growth, maturity, and success.”

Fayetteville Technical Community College

still top notch

Military Times has ranked FTCC No. 5 nationally in its 2019 Best Colleges for Vets. The rankings are based on the results of Military Times’ annual survey, considered the most comprehensive schoolby- school assessment of veteran and military student services. About 500 colleges took part in this year’s survey.

“Military Times’ Best for Vets designation... can’t be bought with advertising dollars – unlike some other supposedly veteran-friendly rankings – only earned through a record of steadfast service and dedication to those who have served,” said George Altman, the editor in charge of the rankings. The publication also factors in data from the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments.

Photo: Ed Melvin

 The eventual development of barren property three miles north of Fayetteville “is going to be fabulous” for the northside, said City Councilman Johnny Dawkins. The city has agreed to a voluntary annexation of 254 acres of land by Broadwell Land Company. The property is located in a triangular area west of Ramsey Street between Elliot Bridge and Elliot Farm Roads.

Dawkins believes the multiuse development proposed by Broadwell will lure residents of the unincorporated area between the old Fayetteville city limit and the new project to also request annexation.

The Public Works Commission has developed a plan to extend city water and sewer to the Broadwell property. That makes the utilities available to others along the route, but they have to agree to voluntary annexation.

The Broadwell firm proposes to build 350 single-family homes in two phases over the next several years. Attorney Johnathan Charleston, who represented the company in talks with the city of Fayetteville, said the homes will range in price from $250,000 to $400,000. Also planned are 250 multifamily units, a school, commercial buildings and 24 acres of green space. The entire venture will take 10 to 15 years to develop.

The huge project is the first of its kind in Fayetteville. Broadwell and the city say it’s the area’s first smart growth neighborhood. Smart growth is a concept of serving the economy, the community and the environment. It changes the terms of the development debate away from traditional growth patterns to how best to accommodate the community as a whole. Charleston noted the neighborhood would become the southernmost part of the Research Triangle region.

Fayetteville city planner Jerry Newton told city council that stakeholders had worked cooperatively for several months to perfect the project. PWC’s willingness to provide water and sewer utilities was considered the key to bringing the area into the city.

“No matter what we decide up here, it’s going to be built,” Councilwoman Kathy Jensen said. She represents the district on city council. “The real question is whether the project will be built to county standards or more stringent city standards,” Jensen added.

A few residents of nearby neighborhoods objected. Businessman Jimmy Jones, who lives just south of the proposed development, worried about whether apartments would negatively impact his property value. “All the impact in that area will be positive,” Councilman Larry Wright countered.

Dennis DeLong, who lives on Ramsey Street, said he will do everything he can to stop the annexation. “Any legal avenue I can possibly take, I will” he said.

Newton was unable to provide specific details on multi-use plans, which could range from duplexes and town houses to three-story apartment buildings. City council voted unanimously to grant the satellite annexation and initial zoning established earlier by county commissioners.

 Fort Bragg has sent America’s sons and daughters across the world to fight wars,

keep peace, build nations, undo the damage left by Mother Nature’s wrath and other countless missions. For the past century, the citizens of Cumberland County have stood in the gap for military families as their friends and neighbors answered Uncle Sam’s call. So, it’s no surprise that proper Veterans Day celebrations around here take more than one day. Heroes Homecoming is packed with activities and ceremonies showing respect to the many generations of veterans who have served this country.

Through Dec. 31

“Celebrations While Deployed”

Displayed at Headquarters Library in the Local and State History Room, this display showcases holidays and other family celebrations during deployment. Call 910-483-7727 to learn more.

Nov. 1-30

“Happy Birthday United States Marines”

The North Carolina Veterans Park will host a monthlong exhibit. Call 910-433-1457 for more information.

Friday, Nov. 9

Military and veteran spouse empowerment luncheon

Sponsored by the Stephen A. Cohen Military Family Clinic and Military Child Education Coalition with Cumberland County Schools, this event is for spouses of active-duty military member and veterans. It will include motivational speakers and will cover topics like empowerment through volunteering, employment, starting your own business, education and resources within the community. It will take place at Cape Fear Botanical Garden and includes a free lunch and free childcare. The luncheon starts at 11 a.m.

Veterans Day Concert and art exhibit

The Airborne & Special Operations Museum will host a gallery reception for the exhibition “The Arts and the Military.” There will be a musical performance afterwards. The event runs from 6-9 p.m. It is free. Call 910-643-2778 for details.

Saturday, Nov. 10

Veterans Day Parade

The Veterans Day Parade has more than 100 participants, including active-duty military members, numerous veterans’ organizations, military equipment, and ROTC units and marching bands from local high schools and universities. It begins on Hay Street at ASOM and ends on Person Street at Liberty Point. It starts at 10 a.m. and is free to attend. Call 910-920-0454 to learn more.

City of Fayetteville Veterans Day Proclamation

Immediately following the Veterans Day Parade, head to the North Carolina Veterans Park for the Veterans Day Proclamation, a ceremony honoring the veterans of the community, state and nation. It is free and open to the public. Call 910-433-1457 for details.

Heroes Homecoming Community Challenge

From noon to 4 p.m., Fort Bragg Harley Davidson

invites the community to enjoy family-friendly

entertainment, including a hot wing eating contest;

strength competitions, such as tire-flipping and

pull-up and push-up competitions; face painting and

arts and crafts; bouncy houses and a kids’ obstacle

course; K-9 demonstrations and cute civilian dogs to

pet; live music; food trucks; mini-golf; and resources

for suicide prevention in our community. The event is

free. Call 910-615-3714 to learn more.

Second Annual Heroes Homecoming Motorcycle

Rally

Bikers interested in riding as a group, meet at the old Bank of America building across from Festival Park after the Veterans Day Parade. The group will ride together to Fort Bragg Harley Davidson for an afternoon of wholesome entertainment, including live music, vendors and food. Call 910-567-2221 to learn more.

Hometown Hero Awards and Centennial of Service Speaker Series

ASOM will honor retired Gen. James J. Lindsay with the Hometown Hero Award for his efforts to nurture and develop the relationship between the city of Fayetteville and the military. After the ceremony, there will be three speakers – part of a series featuring ordinary

people doing extraordinary things. The speakers are EJ Snyder, Kevin Maurer and Lewis Hunt. The event runs from 1-5 p.m. Call 910-643-2778 to learn more.

Hope Mills Chamber Chili Cook-Off and Veterans Appreciation Day

Hosted at Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom, the Chili-Cook-Off and Veterans Appreciation Day is designed with families in mind. It will include food, cornhole, entertainment, craft brews and more. Veterans can relax in the Veterans Tent. The cook-off will include the usual hot and mild categories as well as a people’s choice and a veteran’s choice award. It runs 1-9 p.m. Call 910-423-4314 for details.

243rd Marine Corps Birthday Celebration

The Shawn Knisely Detachment, Marine Corps League, Dept. of North Carolina will host a celebration at Stryker Golf Course. The evening includes a reception, opening ceremony, dinner and a cake ceremony. It runs from 6-9 p.m. and costs $40 per person. Call 910-263-1102 for tickets and information.

“A Patriotic Dinner Theatre”

From 6-10 p.m., enjoy a patriotic dinner theater at VFW 670 with Paul Thompson as Master of Ceremonies. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $30 per person or $50 per couple. Call 910-424-8675 for tickets and information.

“I Was There: A Staged Reading of Veterans’ Oral Histories”

Headquarters Library will host this event from 6-7:30 p.m. Dr. Cyndi Briggs and Dr. Brook Davis of Winston-Salem and Wake Forest University are interviewing Fayetteville area veterans. Actors will present segments of these interviews in a staged reading. Call 910-483-7727 to learn more.

Sunday, Nov. 11

Armistice Day Bell Ringing

Armistice Day marks the end of World War I. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, the Museum of the Cape Fear invites all residents, churches and businesses in Cumberland County to ring a bell 11 times at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month (Nov. 11, at 11 a.m.), in recognition of the anniversary. Call 910-500-4240 to learn more.

Balloon Doves Release

From 6-9 p.m. Hope Mills will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day at Hope Mills Lake. At dusk, 100 biodegradable balloon doves will be released at the lake. Call 910-424-4555 to learn more.

Field of Flags

From 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Veterans Memorial at Hope Mills Municipal Park will sport flags in memoriam of all residents, past and present, who have served in the U.S. armed forces. Call 910-424-4555 for details. Hope Mills VFW Post 10630 Veterans Day Ceremony Honor local veterans at the Veterans Day ceremony at Hope Mills Veterans Memorial. Refreshments will be served in the Parks & Recreation Building afterward. The ceremony starts at 3 p.m. Call 910-424-4555 for information.

Reading of Names

Local JROTC cadets will read from a list of names of all Hope Mills veterans. The reading will start after the ringing of the bells at 11:11 a.m. and will pause during the VFW Ceremony. Call 910-424-4555 for more information.

Spring Lake Memorial VFW Post 4542 Veterans Day Ceremony

Held at the Spring Lake Memorial VFW Post 4542, the Veterans Day Ceremony will be from 2-3 p.m. Search the event on Facebook to learn more.

Home Front

Eastover’s Veterans Day event incorporates the families and friends left behind when the service member deploys. It will include agencies that are available to provide different types of support, and some agency representatives will be serving as guest speakers at this event. The event runs from 3-5 p.m. at the Eastover Civic Club. Search the event on Facebook to learn more.

Veterans Day Run and Veterans Services Fair

There will be a 5K and a 1-mile run/walk, both starting in Festival Park. After the race, enjoy the Veterans Services Fair. The event lasts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Search the event on Facebook to register.

Veterans Day at the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum

Celebrate Veterans Day at the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum. See artifacts of the soldiers who celebrated the end of World War I a century ago. The museum is located at 5108 Ardennes Rd., Fort Bragg. It will be open from noon-4:30 p.m. Call 910-432-3443 to learn more.

Monday, Nov. 12

Hope Mills Chamber Veterans Appreciation

Luncheon

The Hope Mills Chamber of Commerce wants to thank all veterans by treating them to lunch during the chamber’s monthly meeting. The luncheon is from 12:30-2 p.m. at VFW 10630. Call 910-423-4314 to RSVP.

 Do I wish President Donald Trip would be less confrontational, less “in your face” with some of his comments? Yes, I do. However, I confess that I give him more latitude than I give to Democrats when it comes to assessing strategy, tactics and general conduct.

There are two major reasons for this response. One is that Trump is producing extremely positive results for America and even the world. The other is that what I see as negative in his conduct pales in comparison to the mob-inspiring actions and comments of Democrats. They are desperate. Alexander Suvorov spoke truth when he said, “There is nobody more terrible than the desperate.”

Consider recent comments by several leading Democrats. References are not given here because the statements have been reported widely in printand by video:

Hillary Clinton to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour: “You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about. That’s why I believe, if we are fortunate enough to win back the House and/or the Senate, that’s when civility can start again.”

Eric Holder, Attorney General in the Obama Administration: “It is time for us as Democrats to be as tough as they are, to be as dedicated as they are, to be as committed as they are. Michelle always says, Michelle Obama, I love her. She and my wife are really tight. Which always scares me and Barack. Michelle always says, ‘When they go low, we go high.’ No. No. When they go low, we kick them.”a

Representative Maxine Waters, D-C.A., referring to the Trump Cabinet: “If you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere.”

The three individuals quoted above will likely argue that they were not calling for violence against those who differ with the positions taken by Democrats. The problem is that no matter what one intends by their words, the speaker must always consider how people might react to what is said. These pronouncements, and others like them, have, and are, contributing to creating a mob mentality among many adherents to Democratic intentions for the direction of this nation.

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a mob as “A large and disorderly crowd of people especially: one bent on riotous or destructive action.” The following incidents certainly fit the mob criteria.

From an article by Leah Millis titled “DHS Secretary

Nielsen Shouted Out of Mexican Restaurant by Protesters:” “Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was chased out of a Mexican restaurant Tuesday evening by protesters confronting her over the Trump administration’s policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. Protesters crashed her meal, yelling ‘shame!’ and ‘If kids don’t eat in peace, you don’t eat in peace!’ while Nielsen appeared to look down at her phone before eventually exiting the restaurant.”

From an article by Avi Selk titled “Ted Cruz and wife are shouted out of D.C. restaurant over his support for Kavanaugh:” “Members of protest group Smash Racism DC heckled Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and his wife until he left a restaurant in Northwest D.C., on Sept. 24. Heidi Cruz stood frozen in the middle of the restaurant, hands clenched beneath her shawl, teeth bared in what might have started as a grin before it changed to something else. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, had not yet removed his overcoat. He and his wife had not yet reached their table, which sat set and ready for them just a few paces away: a cream-cushioned booth, as reserved. But the Cruzes had not ordered all this chanting.”

These are just two examples of the mob action I believe is being prompted by the Democrats’ ruthless disregard for life and privacy; a ruthlessness rooted in their desperation. Look again at how Heidi Cruz was affected by this mob action. If this is what we want – and are willing to accept – in our political process, this country is in far more trouble than I realized.

Another outgrowth of desperation is to, at almost any cost, seek to control the thinking of people who, by their speech and actions, make a desperate situation even more desperate. The current prime example of this point is Kanye West, an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur and fashion designer. This is a black man who unabashedly supports Trump. He, along with Jim Brown (former outstanding player in the National Football League), recently met with Trump in the Oval Office.

To appreciate the lesson from how West is being treated because of his support for the president, one must view the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRY3UHI7cTU.This video shows the entirety of what West said during the portion of the meeting that press were present. Summarized below is just some of what he addressed:

1. Welfare is the reason so many black Americans are Democrats. There came a point when jobs were limited and fathers lost their employment. Democrats offered welfare that came with more money for having more babies.

2. There is a connection between decreased mental health facilities and the increased prison population.

3. “Bravery helps beat the game of life.” He talks about his mother and father separating; leaving his home with not a lot of male energy. His view of himself as a man is helped by the way Trump makes things happen.

4. If the president does not look good, we don’t either.

5. When a reporter asked why he said President George Bush did not care about black people, West responded that he was “programmed to think from a victimized mentality, a welfare mentality.” He has broken free of that destructive mentality.

6. “Stop and Frisk” is not a tool that would help relationships in Chicago.

7. Open industries in cities like Chicago so that people have employment. Implement tax breaks so that creating jobs in cities can be profitable. Bring jobs back to America.

8. Relook at how we teach. Kids lose interest in school because they are bored. Be creative, such as using playing basketball to teach math.

Look at that partial list of what West said to Trump. Now consider some of what was said in the media about his visit, as reported by Craig Bannister in an article titled “CNN Panel: ‘Kanye West Is What Happens When Negroes Don’t Read,’ ‘Token Negro of the White House.’”

“CNN panelists repeatedly slurred rapper Kanye West over his support for President Donald Trump, and host Don Lemon did nothing but laugh when they did. A former South Carolina state representative, Democrat Bakari Sellers, now a CNN contributor, warned that Kanye’s opinions show ‘what happens when Negroes don’t read:’ ‘Kanye West is what happens when Negroes don’t read. And we have this  now and now Donald Trump is going to use it and pervert and he’s going to have someone who can stand with him and take pictures.’”

“Another CNN contributor, Tara Setmeyer, called West the White House’s ‘token Negro.’ ‘He’s an attention whore, like the president. He’s all of a sudden now the model spokesperson. He’s the token Negro of the Trump administration.’ She went on to suggest that West’s support of Trump is a sign of mental illness.”

Note that Lemon, Sellers and Setmeyer are black; however, their attacks on Kanye are totally representative of what, without regard to race, gushed forth from liberal media types and their followers. Tucker Carlson asked the right question: “If they think he is crazy, why are they attacking him?”

They are attacking Kanye because he is thinking for himself and exposing the Democratic game of making amazing promises to Black Americans while delivering little or nothing. Democrats cannot afford to have black people start thinking for ourselves. That’s why they must stop the Kanyes of the world, almost at any cost. Desperation demands it.

Sadly, in pursuit of power, Democrats not only seek to control thought, but they will literally destroy lives in pursuit of power. That is especially the case when power seems beyond their reach and desperation sets in. The latest example here is their despicable treatment of then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh in his Supreme Court confirmation process. Equally reprehensible was their treatment of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. This lady made what proved to be totally uncorroborated sexual assault allegations from 36 years ago against Kavanaugh. She wanted to remain anonymous. Her allegation was only known to Democrats but was passed to the media. That act of leaking resulted in Ford losing her anonymity and having her life turned upside down.

The picture here is one of Democratic desperation that is producing a mob mentality, which results in loss of civility, attempts to control thought and employing tactics that unfairly negatively impact the lives of people. We cannot allow this mob approach to reside in America.

 The greater Fayetteville area is a transient community, and this election, many people may be voting locally for the first time. Voting places are assigned by the Cumberland County Board of Elections office when residents register or change addresses. Voters registering to vote for the first time will have provided required identification and will have received voter cards that indicate the names and locations of voting places. Or, voters may call the elections office at 910-678-7733 for locations.

There are 36 polling places in Fayetteville, five polling places in Hope Mills and 39 others across Cumberland County. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 98,744 to 49,686 locally, according to October 2018 board of elections statistics. Women typically vote more often than men in off-year, or mid-term, elections. Of the 218,339 registered voters in Cumberland County 113,817 of them are women; 92,686 are men.

Persons who move but fail to update their change of address by the registration deadline may go to their old precincts and fill out voter update/transfer forms. They would then take the forms to the new precincts where they will be allowed to vote.

Voting rules and regulations change in all 50 states from time to time. In North Carolina, residents are no longer able to register on Election Day, according to board of elections director Terri Robertson.

On Nov. 6, to receive a ballot, a voter must give his or her name and address to the election officials. North Carolina currently does not require voter identification. At most precincts, people can choose if they want to use paper or electronic ballots. If properly registered, they will proceed to the voting booth. If precinct officials are unable to locate registration records, voters may be asked to vote provisional ballots. They must return provisional ballots in the sealed envelopes provided to a precinct official.

If age or physical disability prevents someone from entering the polling place, he or she will be allowed to vote in their vehicle. Curbside voting is available at all voting sites on Election Day. Voting sites have designated parking spots for curbside voting as well as alert systems that advise election officials that a curbside voter has arrived. Before a ballot is issued to a curbside voter, the voter must swear an oath affirming his or her qualification.

Registered voters qualified to vote are entitled to assistance from a spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, in-law, stepparent or stepchild. Disabled voters may receive assistance from a person of the voter’s choice, other than the voter’s employer or agent of that employer or an officer or agent of the voter’s union or by telephone.

 In just a few days the midterm elections will be history, and many of us will be overwhelmed with joy.

Politics at all levels havegotten completely out of control, mean-spirited and ugly. And it’s not about the people and issues any more. It’s about power, it’s about control, and it’s about money– but mostly about power and control. And our current politics know no boundaries; just check your mailbox.

On the bright side, it was refreshing last week to read an article by a former North Carolina representative, Rick Glazier, in the Oct. 27 issue of The Fayetteville Observer. Glazier wrote about the need for civility in politics, saying, “I see campaigns again this election cycle demeaning the process, filling every media possible with disgusting, debasing, destructive ads. And, being positive on one side of a piece of a mailer, but talking smack on the other, hardly enhances public debate of policies and positions in an intelligent, informed and thoughtful manner – which is precisely what we look to and need from our leaders. Of course, campaigns do this because they believe negative campaigning works. To a degree they are right, if by ‘works’ you mean winning an election. But holding public office is a public trust that goes far beyond winning elections – a contract between the office holder and the people who elected him or her. We breach that contract when we fail to campaign with dignity, or use the power of our office in a retaliatory or intimidating manner, because once that breach of trust occurs, you never get it back – with your constituents or your colleagues with whom you have to work while in office.”

He continues, “Only we can break that cycle. Only we the people can stop empowering these tactics by voting, even outside our own party preference, for candidates who don’t lower public discourse into the gutter. Indeed, if we mean it when we say we hate negative campaigning, then now is our chance to prove it with our vote; otherwise it is just whining without meaning.

“Words here are no substitute for deeds. In the end, Admiral Hyman Rickover had it right: ‘Great people talk about ideas; average people talk about events; and small people talk about other people.’

“Let’s together elect folks to office who talk about ideas! Let’s give rise to our better nature and selves.”

These sentiments are not surprising coming from a Southern gentleman like Glazier. You may not agree with his leftleaning political ideology, but no one can argue against his integrity, sincerity, statesmanship and lethally effective utilization of facts, logic and common sense when it comes to discussing and debating important issues.

Glazier’s observations here are accurate. Common sense, logic, compassion and decency seem to have dissolved at all levels of government. In Fayetteville and Cumberland County, we must ask ourselves some very serious and important questions: Do we have the best and brightest filling our elected positions or have we given in and surrendered to identity politics, intimidation and political correctness? Are these people innovative, thoughtful leaders with ideas and vision for the future, or are they self-serving political hacks taking up space and collecting pay checks for literallydoing nothing?

This begs another question. Why are good men and women shying away from public office? I believe the short answer is that they do not want to be associated with these do-nothing, ineffective scoff-offs who have no incentives to cooperate or compromise. Their priority is to stay in office at all costs – hence the ugly slander, personal attacks and assault on humanity. This is all they have left in the absence of knowledge, vision and compromise.

The good news is, this is America. We are an innovative and self-correcting nation. We are resilient. We are a country that will not easily yield to this kind of craziness long term. We have a responsibility to leave our children and grandchildren a nation that is freer, safer and better off. In the short term, this might be painful. However, in the long term, logic, common sense and civility will prevail and return as we realize these traits are essential to our survival as the greatest nation in the world.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Playing the 50th Cumberland County Golf Championship on his home course at Gates Four Golf and Country Club, Jack Britt High School senior Spencer 

Oxendine wasn’t lacking for confidence. “I told my mom if I didn’t win this thing I’m going to be pretty upset,” the N.C. State golf commit said.

He had little reason to be upset Sunday after turning in a 74-72-146 that led him to the title over previous champions Billy West and Gary Robinson. 

Robinson and Thomas Owen tied for second, Robinson shooting 79-72-151 and Owen 74-77-151. West, the defending champion, recorded a 75-77-152. He apparently made history in the process, becoming the first CCGC champion in the tournament’s 50-year history to win the event while still attending high school. 

In 1984, Pine Forest product Mitchell Perry won the title after graduating the previous June. The tournament was held in September that year. Oxendine just began his senior year at Jack Britt this fall. 

Oxendine, who blistered the Gates Four course with a 62 this summer that was one shot off the course record of another Cumberland County high school star, South View’s Todd Gleaton, said his effort over the course this weekend was “nothing stellar.”

He felt he drove the ball well and kept it in play for the most part. “ I played the course how I always do,” he said. “I play this course very aggressive. This is not a golf course where you can hit it off line, because if you start to hit it off line, you can make some big numbers.”

 Oxendine’s goal was to keep the ball in play and get it on the green. The first day he recorded four bogeys and only three birdies. He finished Sunday’s round with three birdies and three bogeys.

 
His near-course record 62 over the summer featured nine birdies, an eagle and one bogey. He called the win a great confidence boost going into his senior season of golf next spring at Jack Britt and looking ahead to his freshman season with the N.C. State team a year from now. 

“Winning is always good no matter what it is,” he said. Oxendine said he was looking forward to playing the full three days of the tournament and was disappointed when bad weather forced cancellation of Friday’s first round. 

“I was kind of upset but there was nothing we could do about it,” he said. “We didn’t want to tear up Stryker.” The tournament had been scheduled to open on Fort Bragg’s Stryker Golf Course, which would have been a first for the event. 

“It didn’t change my approach,” he said. “My approach was I was probably going to shoot par on Stryker, maybe one or two under, then I would kind of tear it up on Gates Four. That was my mindset.”

When Tierra Ripley took freshman English at Gray’s Creek High School, her teacher was Joel Mayo, a poetry enthusiast who has helped organize poetry clubs at the school. 

“I’ve gotten to see her grow from an amazing freshman student,’’ Mayo said. “Her ability to tell a story is strong, one of the strongest I’ve ever seen.’’ 

Mayo isn’t the only one who feels that way. Ripley, now a senior at Gray’s Creek, was recently honored by the North Carolina English Teachers Association as the winner of its statewide high school Poet Laureate Awards. 

The award is named in memory of Kathryn Stripling-Byer, a former North Carolina Poet Laureate who died in 2017. 

Ripley’s winning entry was a short poem entitled “Seafaring Sailor” that uses nautical imagery to tell a story of unrequited love. 

Ripley said she’s been interested in poetry ever since her freshman year as Mayo’s student. 

“It’s a way of self-expression that I can talk about things that I have trouble verbalizing just normally,’’ she said. In addition to writing poetry, Ripley said she likes to write short stories, although she doesn’t do that as much now. 

   “I don’t have a set style or anything,’’ she said of her poetry. “I just write what comes to mind. Sometimes they rhyme, sometimes not.’’ 

   She’s not sure how many poems she’s written over the years but estimates she’s done about a dozen “really good ones.’’ 

   Her entry into the poetry contest came almost by accident. One of her former English teachers had information about the contest posted in her classroom. “It was like the last days of school,’’ she said, near the end of her junior year at Gray’s Creek. 

   The contest required her to submit an original poem that had not been published. It didn’t have to be about a specific subject. 

   She finished the new work in a couple of hours and submitted it in June. 

   She learned she won in early August and was presented the award a couple of weeks ago. 

   “It meant the world to me,’’ she said. “I was so surprised. I entered the contest on a whim. 

   “To get such recognition and to be congratulated for my work was amazing.’’ 

   Ripley said she’s undecided on her college future. She’s just beginning the application process and will likely attend an in-state school. 

   She’d like to continue with poetry, but a lot of that will depend on what opportunities are available to her. 

   “I’d like to involve English in my career,’’ she said. “I’d like to be an author, writer or maybe a journalist, anywhere I can utilize English.’’ 

   Mayo said contests like the one Ripley won are great motivation for students. 

   “I try to provide as many opportunities as possible,’’ Mayo said, “things like our poetry club, the different contests we try to get kids involved in. I think it helps push them so they can have better opportunity to express themselves.’’ 

Photo: Tierra Ripley 

Like his eponymous character, J.M. Barrie’s tale of never growing up seems to never grow too old for a new audience. Cape Fear Regional Theatre will showcase the latest telling of the boy who refuses to grow up with “Peter and the Starcatcher” onstage Oct. 27 through Nov. 11. 

Barrie’s very own Peter first made an appearance in a chapter of his novel “The Little White Bird” in 1902. Barrie then made Peter the center of his play “Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up” in 1904. Following the play’s success, Barrie republished a few chapters of the first book under the title “Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens” in 1906. Barrie then expanded on the play’s storyline in his 1911 novel “Peter and Wendy.” 

The story of Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys and Captain Hook has been entertaining audiences of all ages in books, plays, movies and television shows ever since. 

“Peter and the Starcatcher” is intended to be a prequel of sorts to the story of Peter Pan. It is based on the 2004 children’s book “Peter and the Starcatchers” by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Their book was adapted for stage by Rick Elice with music by Wayne Barker. It uses an ensemble cast to portray several characters to include children, sailors, pirates, naval officers, natives and orphans. 

“It is an incredible origin story,” said Mary Kate Burke, CFRT artistic director. “It’s a smart, funny adaptation of characters everyone knows so well.” 

The story, Burke said, offers something for adults and children. “It’s about growing up, (asking) when does childhood end, and also (examining the) choices we make about growing up. And there’s pirates and swashbuckling and mermaids!” 

The play provides a backstory for beloved characters Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinker Bell, Mrs. Darling, Captain Hook and even a certain crocodile many may remember. 

“We know the end,” said Timothy John Smith, who plays pirate Black Stache, but “we’ll see those familiar characters before they became those characters.” 

“Peter and the Starcatcher” takes the audience on an adventure on the high seas and on Mollusk Island as a young girl named Molly befriends an orphan boy and together they battle pirates and thieves to keep a magical secret safe. The two face marauding pirates and jungle tyrants while the play explores the depths of greed, despair and the bonds of friendship, duty and love. 

If it sounds too heavy for some younger viewers, the script also includes poetry, fart jokes, lyricism and many Easter eggs that are sure to keep audience members of all ages interested. 

The heavy moments are balanced, said Paul Urriola, who plays Alf, a sailor aboard The Never Land. “(The writer) lightly weaves in brevity and humor into heavy moments.” He said it makes for a fun performance. 

Alf is a character who is new to the Peter Pan narrative. The audience doesn’t know him or how his story plays out, so we will get to see him transformed by his love for Mrs. Bumbake, Molly’s nanny, Urriola said. The role of Alf is only a slight departure from the actor’s last time on the CFRT stage, where he played Horton in “Seussical.” 

For those die-hard Pan enthusiasts, your reward is learning how the orphan becomes the legendary Peter Pan, what exactly a “starcatcher” is, what makes Peter fly and where that ticking crocodile came from. For those new to Pan, the tale promises to be fun and adventurous. 

When first staged, the original production of “Peter and the Starcatcher” deliberately used minimal sets and props. Subsequent productions have followed suit, staging scenes that relied on suggestion and imagination to do the storytelling instead of expensive, elaborate set pieces. 

Using stagecraft instead of elaborate sets and props mimics a child’s imagination, where children will use whatever props are available to carry out their adventures. 

“Something as basic as two beds become so much,” said Urriola. “The beds are beds, rooms and ships.” 

The characters use their imaginations to create another world. 

“It’s like kids in the backyard thinking, ‘what can we use to be a ship?’” said Becca Vourvoulas, who plays Mrs. Bumbrake. That creativity is something that has been both fun and challenging as an actor, she added. 

Creating such effects as water without the use of water is a challenge that director Michelle Tattenbaum is eager to present to CFRT audiences. 

“Looking at the script on the page and having to turn it into something magical … has been discovery and invention in the rehearsal room,” Tattenbaum said. The result, which is a testament to the strengths and quirkiness of the actors, she says, will entertain the audience. 

“Kids will be like – ‘yeah, this is what theater is,’ and their parents will feel childlike and surprised,” Tattenbaum said. “Parents will come out with a sense of magic.” 

Tattenbaum’s cast includes Urriola, Vourvoulas and Smith, as well as Graham Baker as Peter and Malena Pennycook as Molly. 

“Peter and the Starcatcher” runs Oct. 27-Nov. 11. Military Appreciation Night will be Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. A Sensory Friendly Performance sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield will be Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. Both of these performances will feature discounted ticket prices. 

Burke said the Sensory Friendly Performance is a “shush-free” performance designed for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, sensory sensitivities or other disabilities. During this performance, patrons can enjoy the play with family in an inclusive, relaxed space. 

Modifications intended to make the experience more pleasant include more space for audience members, lighting and sound adjustments, and an additional separate viewing room equipped with closed circuit television. 

These modifications can also alleviate the pressure on the parents, Burke said, for families who might have one child with a sensory issue and another child without. A parent’s guide for the play is also provided. 

It is also a good first point of entry to the theater for families with children who might not otherwise enjoy a regular performance where they have to sit still and be quiet for up to two hours, Burke said. 

To reserve your tickets or get more information, visit www.cfrt.org or call 910-323-4233. 

While the restored Hope Mills Dam safely protected humans in the community during the recent strikes of tropical weather, the animal kingdom didn’t come out completely unscathed. 

Don Sisko, interim director of public works for the town of Hope Mills, said the eel ladder at the dam did suffer some damage. 

The eel ladder was made a part of the Hope Mills dam restoration by order of the Army Corps of Engineers. 

Eels are not an endangered species, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in 2015 that “for the species’ long-term stability, the agency recommends continuing efforts to maintain healthy habitats, monitor harvest levels and improve river passage for migrating eels.’’ 

This is especially true around structures like the Hope Mills dam that block the natural migration of the eels from their spawning grounds in the ocean to the inland locations where they live and feed. 

The eel ladder allows then access to Hope Mills Lake. 

According to Sisko, tail waters caused by the storm backed up below the dam and damaged wiring to a pump that powers something called the attractor. 

   The attractor creates an artificial waterfall that naturally attracts the eels to the eel ladder. 

   “The downstream pump (the one that was damaged) is the attractor that creates a small water flow,’’ Sisko said. “The biologists have figured out that’s what attracts the eels. That brings them to the ladder, and they carry on and get up into the lake.’’ 

   The pump that feeds the eel ladder keeps water flowing at all times so the eels are in their natural environment. There is a material inside the ladder that allows the eels to get traction so they can migrate and move up it into the lake. 

   Twice a year, from March 15-June 15 and from Sept. 1-Oct. 15, the town does a count on eels that are caught in a basket at the end of the eel ladder. 

   Sisko said the damage to the ladder pump took place sometime during Hurricane Florence, interrupting the eel count that was scheduled to start in September. 

   “Once we remove them from the basket, we count them and release them a little further up the lake so they stand less a chance of getting sucked in by the pump that feeds the eel ladder itself,’’ Sisko said. The last complete eel count was conducted in the spring when 229 eels were recovered and relocated in the lake. 

   Since the next period for counting the eels doesn’t come until mid-March, Sisko said there is no need to rush the process of repairing the damaged pump. 

   Sisko said the problem will be presented to the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners at a future meeting. “It will be part of the FEMA claims and insurance,’’ he said, referring to the cost of repairs. 

   The total cost for the eel ladder when it was first installed was $35,000. 

The global business services provider eClerx has cut the ribbon in celebration of its Fayetteville delivery center at 235 N. McPherson Church Rd. Local elected officials and business leaders toured the center on the second floor of the building, which houses Hamrick’s Department Store. 

The company has more than 9,000 employees worldwide, but the eClerx location in Cumberland County is the company’s only delivery center in the United States. The company expects to create 150 new jobs. eClerx says it offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. 

Headquartered in Mumbai, India, the firm provides business operations service to over 50 Fortune 500 companies around the world. Its clients include financial service, cable and telecom, retail, entertainment, manufacturing and technology firms. 

At the ribbon-cutting celebration in Fayetteville, eClerx presented donations to representatives from Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina and Americares to assist with relief efforts associated with Hurricane Florence. 

Trump approval slipping among service members 

President Donald Trump’s approval rating among active-duty military personnel has slipped over the last two years. That leaves today’s troops evenly split over the commander in chief’s job performance, according to the results of a new Military Timespoll of active-duty service members. 

About 44 percent of troops had a favorable view of Trump’s presidency, the poll showed, compared to 43 percent who disapproved. 

The poll was conducted in September and October and indicates a decline in military members’ support of Trump since he was elected in fall 2016. A similar Military Timespoll from 2016 showed that 46 percent of troops approved of Trump compared to 37 percent who disapproved. During that same period, the number of neutral respondents has dwindled from almost 17 percent to about 13 percent. 

   Peter Feaver was an adviser to former President George W. Bush and is now a political science professor at Duke University. “In this case, we’re seeing military members shifting along with the public but still staying a little more pro-Trump than the rest of the country,” he told the Military Times. 

   The new survey results also show that enlisted men show Trump the most overwhelming support. Military women, meanwhile, have a much harsher view of Trump’s time in office. Officers still have a lower opinion of his presidency than enlisted soldiers. 

Watch out for deer 

   Fall weather corresponds with a higher than usual number of car accidents involving deer. Animals darting onto roadways increases the risk of vehicle damage and personal injuries. Deer are more present on the roadways throughout the fall and early winter due to the hunting and mating seasons. Unfortunately, they also tend to travel more at times when it is harder to see them, including dawn and dusk. 

   The North Carolina Department of Transportation said there were 18,540 animal-vehicle collisions in the state in 2017, which was 629 more than the year before. The total number of animal collisions over the past three years was near 54,500. 

   The DOT’s latest study on animal collisions shows those crashes killed 14 people, seriously injured 69 others and resulted in 3,265 injuries. For the 15th year in a row, Wake County had the largest number of animal-related accidents. Cumberland County ranked 46 in the state last year. 

   The DOT has some helpful tips for motorists to decrease their risk of being in a deer-vehicle crash: Drive slowly in areas posted with deer crossing signs. Reduce speed in heavily wooded areas, especially during the late afternoon and evening. If your vehicle does strike a deer, do not touch the animal. A frightened and wounded deer can hurt you or further injure itself. Get your car off the road if possible and call 911. 

Flu vaccines available 

   The Cumberland County Health Department is offering flu vaccinations to children and adults at the immunization clinic at 1235 Ramsey St. Uninsured children six months to 18 years old may receive the vaccinations free of charge. For adults, the fee depends on the type of flu vaccine received. 

   The Health Department’s Immunization Clinic is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., every second and fourth Tuesday until 7 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon. Walk-ins are welcome except for Friday afternoon service, which is limited and available by appointment only. 

   For more information, call 910-433-3633 or 910- 433-3657. 

Donated veterinary supplies benefit local dogs and cats 

   Cumberland County Animal Control has received 10,000 doses of dog vaccines and 6,300 doses of cat vaccines from GreaterGood.org, in partnership with Elanco Animal Health. The organizations donated the vaccines to areas affected by Hurricane Florence. Animal Control Director Elaine Smith said the combined 16,300 vaccines were more than the animal shelter could use, so Cumberland County shared them with a dozen other counties as well as local rescue groups and animal welfare organizations. 

   “Vaccinating dogs and cats on intake at the shelter is considered to be the standard of good care and can be a considerable expense for shelters,” said Smith. 

   Animal Control has also been awarded a $14,000 grant from the Banfield Foundation to purchase veterinary medical equipment, which will allow minor surgery to be performed on animals at the shelter. The equipment will allow Dr. April Kelly, who recently joined the department as staff veterinarian, to provide a more advanced level of medical care for animals at the shelter. 

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. 

Senior Citizens Advisory CommitteeWednesday, Oct. 24, 4 p.m., at Hope Mills Parks Senior Center. 

• Veterans Affairs CommissionThursday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m. at Parks and Recreation Building.* 

Activities 

• Pumpkin decorating for seniorsTuesday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m.-noon in the small activity room of Parks and Rec. No fee, but advanced sign-up is required. Only 20 pumpkins are available. Prizes will be awarded for the best three pumpkins.  

• Ghostly Gala for seniorsWednesday, Oct. 31, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Parks and Rec community room. Advanced sign-up at the reception desk required. Costumes are preferred. There will be a costume contest and pumpkin decorating contest. Potluck social. Bring main dish, side dish or dessert. 

• Trunk R TreatWednesday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m. at Hope Mills Municipal Park. For details, call 910-426-4109. 

Promote yourself:Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com. 

The first Trojan Challenge benefitting the Gary Weller Foundation is in the books, and organizers couldn’t be happier with the results. 

Cumberland County Commissioner Jimmy Keefe had a hard time restraining his excitement when he talked about the event, which drew approximately 135 participants to the two obstacle courses set up for competitors of various ages at the Sturtz Family Farm. 

Keefe said the goal was to sign up 100 participants the first year, with proceeds from their entry fees going to support the Weller Foundation. The foundation, named after former Pine Forest football coach Gary Weller, is seeking to raise money to present scholarships annually to deserving athletes from Pine Forest High School. 

“We were blessed,’’ Keefe said of the results of the first Trojan Challenge. “The mosquitoes were gone. No glitches. The weather was perfect. It was a great, festive day.’’ 

But the event wasn’t without a scare or two. Tropical Storm Michael was bearing down on the region just days before the race was scheduled on Oct. 13. 

   Rain from Michael forced a last-minute redesign of the course laid out by Josh Sturtz because some areas were either underwater or too wet to traverse. 

   One of the reasons the event ran so well was an abundance of volunteers, many of them students at Pine Forest, alumni of the school and just friends of the project. 

   The Westarea Volunteer Fire Department had a rescue vehicle and rescue personnel on the scene. Keefe said that, happily, they didn’t have anything to do during the race. 

   “Nobody got hurt,’’ he said. 

   Keefe doesn’t have the final figures yet, but he’s hopeful the foundation raised close to $4,000 for the first year of the event. 

   He described the experience as being similar to the debut of the popular television show “American Idol.” 

   “We didn’t know if it was going to be a hit or crash and burn like the other eight or 10 ‘reality shows’ that year,’’ Keefe said. “When the first racer, who was a competitive runner, came across the finish line and said the course was tough and she enjoyed it, that gave us the confidence we did it right.’’ 

   Even with the initial success, organizers are anxious to improve things as they start preparations for next year, with the race tentatively scheduled for Oct. 19, 2019. 

   Weller, who handed out medals with his wife Cathy at the finish line, praised the event organizers, including Keefe, Vallery Shoe, Andy Dempster and Sturtz. 

   “They went above and beyond what anybody would expect,’’ he said. “It was unreal. We had great responses from people that participated. It was just a good community event.’’ 

   Weller said they plan to get some input from people who have experience competing on obstacle courses to look at possible changes for next year. Some simple fixes they are exploring include adding a changing area for the runners along with a place to clean up and store valuables. 

   While the foundation bears Weller’s name, he stressed that it’s not about him. “It’s what we’re doing to raise money for that scholarship,’’ he said. “It’s awesome to be able to give that money to some kid that deserves it.’’ 

   Keefe said the foundation has a three-year goal of raising $50,000, and this year’s event is a good start in that direction. 

   “It was amazing,’’ he said. 

The Hope Mills Citizens for Change PAC, which began with just four founding members, has grown to 24 members in the last few weeks. The group, which unofficially refers to itself as the “Getting Stuff Done Committee,” has wasted no time getting stuff done. Last week, the group filed with the Cumberland County Board of Elections as an official political action committee and purchased signs to support its first objective: convincing the public to vote no on the four-year referendum in Hope Mills. 

The PAC formed due to a shared concern over the actions of the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners. During their short tenure, the board members have doubled their salaries and given themselves stipends for travel and cell phone costs as well as other benefits. But by all accounts, they haven’t accomplished much else. 

In early February, Commissioner Mike Mitchell suggested changing the town’s charter to allow board members to serve four-year staggered terms beginning with the 2019 election. The mayor and the top two vote-getters would all serve four-year terms while the remaining three seats would convert to four-year terms in the 2021 election. 

The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners held a public hearing in April to consider citizen’s input. After citizens argued against the referendum, the board immediately voted to move forward. In July, the board voted to approve Resolution 2018-10, and the referendum was placed on the November ballot. 

It’s been argued that four-year staggered terms would lend continuity to the board and decrease the period of adjustment for freshman commissioners. Mike Mitchell served four years and then took a brief hiatus before returning to the board in 2017. Since returning, he’s struggled to re-acclimate himself. During a January meeting, Mayor Jackie Warner had to remind him of details that had been discussed years earlier during one of his previous terms. 

   In July, the board voted to hold a public hearing to get public input on the offer made by Lone Survivor Foundation to buy municipal land. A week later, the board voted to cancel that hearing until they’d received the initial results of a Hope Mills Parks and Recreation survey. Board members were told in January the survey would not include detailed instructions on how to develop the available municipal lands. 

   The board received those results Oct. 1, and LSF president Tim Byrom submitted a second offer to purchase land the same day. He also asked to be added to the Nov. 5 meeting agenda to formally present his offer and field questions. While citizens waited for the board to set a date for a second hearing, the board voted to reject LSF’s offer. 

   Hope Mills citizens have used social media to express their disappointment and to accuse the board of wrongdoing. It’s been suggested the board never meant to hold a public hearing, fearing the results would be overwhelmingly in favor of the sale to LSF. To date, three citizens have publicly spoken against selling land to LSF. 

   It’s also been suggested the board voted quietly and quickly because Commissioner Jerry Legge would be absent during the November board meetings. With his absence, the vote would have been 2-2, and Warner, who has consistently supported the sale, would have been the deciding vote. 

   Grilley Mitchell, a founding member of the PAC and one of the citizens who spoke against the referendum, has lost faith in this board. He said, “I want someone in office that will only vote on the facts and do what is best for all of the people. Someone that will allow the citizens to have a voice to address issues that matter. Someone that will share the whole truth and not bits of information that only complicate issues.” 

   While the PAC was only established in the last few weeks, its members have created a long-term agenda to address the systemic issues plaguing Hope Mills politics, and they’re optimistic about creating positive change. 

   You can help by staying informed. Up & Coming Weeklyis committed to bringing readers news from Hope Mills every week. Also read hopemills.net. Every article posted is full of links to tangible evidence of the board’s wrongdoing. And you can get involved by joining the PAC. The group is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HopeMillsCFC. 

Better Health will host its 60th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting and Open House Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 5-6:30 p.m. at Better Health. 

“We were founded in 1958, so we are celebrating 60 years of being a nonprofit and providing free services to our community, which is exciting for us,” said Amy Navejas, executive director of Better Health. “We decided that we were going to do a ribbon-cutting in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce as well as an open house, and it will be at Better Health.” 

She added, “We are going to have our board there as well as our staff. We will be able to offer tours of our facility; it is a small facility, but there is a lot that goes on within those walls.” 

Better Health has a new children’s program called Fayetteville Fit, for children who have been struggling with childhood obesity. Better Health’s partners in this program are KidzCare Pediatrics, Cape Fear Valley Pediatric Endocrinology and Fayetteville Parks and Recreation’s Massey Hill site. 

“We will have some people from our new kid’s program to talk to people who want to learn more about it, find out what that program is and share what their experience has been,” said Navejas. “They will be participating in our Red Apple Run, which is exciting for us because it is a really hard thing to do when you struggle with your health.” 

   There will also be a tour. “We will show our different education rooms, supply rooms and the things that we do,” said Navejas. “We will also have our dietician, Anna Matteson, do a couple of small cooking demonstrations just to give people a feel for the types of things our clients would experience when they come into Better Health.” 

   Better Health’s programs and services include emergency direct aid, emergency dental extractions, eye exams and glasses, foot screenings, help with limited travel to Duke and Chapel Hill, Fayetteville Fit program, loaning of medical equipment and diabetes clinics. 

   “As part of our diabetes program, one of the things we do is talk a lot about nutrition, but we also do cooking demos, and there will be some samples and recipes,” said Navejas. “We will also have blood sugar screenings for diabetes available. People can meet with the nurse and see if there are any indications of anything there.” 

   The event will have food and wine. “The food is going to be catered by Dorothy’s Catering 2. They are donating the food for our event,” said Navejas. “We will also have drawings for prizes. We invite everyone to come out and meet our incredible staff and board members. We are the best-kept secret, and we want you to ask questions and learn more about what we do.” 

   Better Health is located at 1422 Bragg Blvd. For more information, call 910-483-7534. 

Many residents of Hope Mills are scratching their heads trying to figure out the thought processes and logic behind Mayor Pro tem Mike Mitchell and Commissioners Meg Larson and Jerry Legge’s position on rejecting the Lone Survivor Foundation’s offer to purchase property on Lake Bed #2 for the construction of a $1.5 million military veterans retreat. The retreat would serve local vets and their families by dealing with the numerous physical, emotional and mental injuries caused by the ill effects of combat. 

What are these commissioners thinking? This proposal was rejected without much discussion or debate. More puzzling and even more disturbing to the residents of Hope Mills is that this hasty decision was made without a public hearing that would give the residents an opportunity to voice their opinions on how they felt about the LSF project or the best use of the town’s assets. 

There are so many questions and so few answers as to why this trio of elected officials would be so adamantly against a Hope Mills economic development project that would generate jobs, benefit local military veterans and area businesses and uplift the entire community – especially when Hope Mills is participating in Cumberland County’s Hometown Heroes celebration, and the local Hope Mills Chamber of Commerce is honoring the Lone Survivor Foundation and all local Hope Mills veterans at its annual Chili Cookoff Nov. 10. 

Maybe we can remedy some of this frustration with an explanation. First, Larson and Mitchell don’t get along with each other. Both of them have their sights set on being the next mayor of Hope Mills. However, they bonded together after finding one objective they had in common, and that is to make sure they dismiss, obstruct and eliminate any and all Hope Mills initiatives that may reflect positively on Mayor Jackie Warner. 

In other words, neither of them are going to do anything, say anything or initiate anything that would reflect positively on the mayor – even if it means ignoring the citizens of Hope Mills, stifling economic development, retarding business growth or embarrassing and damaging the reputation of the town. This is why they nixed the LSF project and then concocted the conspiracy theory that the mayor and her son Teddy, who works for the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation, were in collusion on the LSF deal. 

Collusion? And to what end? Wanting to bring economic growth and development to Hope Mills? Attempting to sell virtually useless land for the purpose of providing veterans medical and therapeutic services that could enhance the lives of thousands? 

Unfortunately, Larson and Mitchell will continue to be obstructionists when it comes to anything the mayor could possibly get credit for or anything they feel would further ingratiate her into the hearts and minds of Hope Mills residents. Well, to that I say, “lots of luck!” 

Mayor Jackie Warner loves Hope Mills, and Hope Mills loves her. She and Commissioner Jessie Bellflowers were the only Hope Mills elected officials who took the time to attend Cumberland County’s State of the Community Luncheon hosted by the Greater Fayetteville Chamber last week. They were surrounded by the Hope Mills management team that Warner so graciously recognized. Warner didn’t speak long and barely looked down at her notes as she spoke about Hope Mills with pride and confidence. 

Here is a leader who is honorable, talented, compassionate, empathic and energetic. She has no reason to feel threatened by petty politicians like Mitchell and Larson, who have already exposed the flaws of their character. Legge sits to their left hopelessly waiting for his only relevant directive, which is to raise his hand when he gets their nod. 

The two beacons of hope for the town are allies Commissioner Pat Edwards, who has never wavered from supporting Warner, and Bellflowers. Bellflowers once fell victim to the pressure and intimidation of Larson and Mitchell, but, unlike Legge, has seen the light and has begun to think for himself and express his own opinions without being bullied or influenced by the others. 

At this moment, Hope Mills has one of the most talented and competent leadership teams ever assembled under the direction of Town Manager Melissa Adams. These hardworking folks create a solid foundation upon which to build a bright and prosperous future. We see people coming forward and Hope Mills organizations starting to form to discuss the future of the town and the type of leadership that is capable of achieving goals. This is a good thing. Actually, this is a great thing. We do not see four-year terms for elected officials in Hope Mills’ future, but come 2019, we see not a wave of change but a tsunami of positive leadership coming forth for the betterment and growth of the Hope Mills community. We can’t wait. 

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. 

Photo: Mayor Jackie Warner

Fayetteville State University will celebrate its 2018 homecoming week Monday, Oct. 22-Sunday, Oct. 28. 

“Homecoming is a welcoming home for our alumni, supporters and the community; we ask the community to celebrate in homecoming with us,” said YaKima Rhinehart, senior director of alumni affairs at Fayetteville State University. “We also want to acknowledge our students; it is their homecoming as well.” 

Rhinehart added this is the time when students will begin to create their own traditions of how they celebrate, create their memories and do the things that will bring them back to campus years from now. 

The homecoming activities will begin Monday and progress through the week. “The student activities that kick off the week are the coronation for Ms. Fayetteville State and Ms. Homecoming,” said Rhinehart. “Fayetteville State has long been a campus that supported a large commuting student population, and we are always very deliberate about making sure our commuter students feel (as) much a part of the on-campus experience as possible.” 

“On Thursday evening, Oct. 25, we will have alumni headquarters set up at two hotels, which are the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel and The Holiday Inn on Cedar Creek Road,” said Rhinehart. “That evening at 7 p.m., we will have a Bronco Paint & Sip Expo at The Holiday Inn as an opportunity to mingle and reconnect with one another while sipping on a glass of whatever it is you choose and paint.” 

   The homecoming parade takes place Saturday, Oct. 27, at 10 a.m. followed by the football game at 2 p.m. FSU will play Livingstone College. “After the game, we will celebrate our class that is in their 50th reunion,” said Rhinehart. “That will be with a reception at 5 p.m. on the lower level of The Rudolph Jones Student Center.” 

   Saturday evening concludes with the Fan2See Fest Concert featuring Young Dolph, G Herbo, Key Glock and special guests at 8 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum. 

   Other homecoming activities include the Gospel Explosion, Greek Yard Fest, the Alumni Sundown Party, the IA Homecoming Cookout, a Heroic Women-Comic & Pop Culture Art Exhibit, Toni & Terence Live Homecoming Podcast, McDougal Scholarship Dinner, SAC/WAC Bazaar, tailgating, The Alumni Welcome Center, Miss FSU Alumnae Queens’ Legacy Tea and much more. 

   “I like to remind our alumni that it is not just about reconnecting, it is also about reinvesting in the university as well,” said Rhinehart. “We would not have careers and these livelihoods that we have was it not for the time we spent and were shaped and molded along with the education we received at Fayetteville State University.” 

   Following homecoming, on Oct. 28, FSU will host The Walls Group and Koryn Hawthorne, a Gospel concert, at Seabrook Auditorium as part of the Seabrook Performance Series. It starts at 6 p.m. 

   For more information about FSU’s scheduled activities, visit www.uncfsu.edu. 

Haylie Bragg 

Gray’s Creek • Cross Country • Junior 

Bragg has an unweighted grade point average of 3.69. She recently placed 12th in the Patriot Athletic Conference cross country championship meet with a time of 21:46.10. 

 Garrett Sirois 

Gray’s Creek • Football • Senior 

Sirois has an unweighted grade point average of 3.91. As the kicker on the Gray’s Creek football team, he’s made 20 of 23 extra points and two field goals for 26 points as of Oct. 17 – the third-best kick-scorer among Cumberland County Schools kickers. His late 32-yard field goal gave the Bears a 25-22 win over Jack Britt. 

Richard Jenrette was a North Carolina boy who made good. 

Born in Raleigh in 1929 – just before the stock market crash that brought on the Great Depression – to an insurance salesman and his gardening wife, Jenrette went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, known then as Carolina. After a stint in counterintelligence during the Korean War, he headed to Harvard Business School, and the rest is both a stunning success story and American financial history. In 1959, he and two other Harvard Business School grads founded the first American brokerage firm to sprout since the Great Depression and took it into the financial stratosphere. 

Along the way, he collected, preserved and lavishly restored more than a dozen of our nation’s finest historic homes, including Ayr Mount outside Hillsborough, North Carolina, and the Roper House in Charleston, South Carolina, where he died earlier this year at 89. He was a meticulous and disciplined record-keeper and left behind a handwritten list of 24 rules of what he had learned about success and living a long and happy life. The rules were first shared with those who attended an intimate service for family and friends shortly after Jenrette’s death. 

   It is hard to argue about someone who apparently achieved both great success and happiness, goals deeply held by most human beings no matter our situations in life. Here are Jenrette’s rules, distilled through the lens of his well-lived life. 

1. Stay in the game. That’s often all you need to do – don’t quit. Stick around! Don’t be a quitter! 

2. Don’t burn bridges (behind you). 

3. Remember – Life has no blessing like a good friend! You can’t get enough of them. Don’t leave old friends behind – you may need them. 

4. Try to be nice. And say “thank you” a lot. 

5. Stay informed. Keep learning. 

6. Study – stay educated. Do your homework. Keep learning. 

7. Cultivate friends of all ages – especially younger. 

8. Run scared – overprepare. 

9. Be proud – no Uriah Heep for you – but not conceited. Know your own worth. 

10. Plan ahead but be prepared to allow for change when opportunity presents itself. 

11. Turn problems into opportunities. Very often it can be done. Problems create opportunities for change – people (should be) willing to consider change when there are problems. 

12. Present yourself well. Clean, clean-shaven, dress “classically” to age. Beware style trends. Look for charm. (Use) good grammar. Don’t swear so much – it’s not cute. 

13. But be open to change – don’t be stuck in the mud. Be willing to consider what’s new, but don’t blindly follow it. USE YOUR HEAD – COMMON SENSE. 

14. Have some fun – but not all the time! 

15. Be on the side of the angels. Wear the white hat. 

16. Have a fallback position. Heir and the spare. Don’t leave all your money in one place. 

17. Learn a foreign language. 

18. Travel a lot – around the world, if possible. 

19. Don’t criticize someone in front of others. 

20. Don’t forget to praise a job well done – but don’t praise a poor job. 

21. I don’t like to lose – but don’t be a poor loser if you do. 

22. It helps to have someone to love who loves you (not just sex). 

23. Keep your standards high in all you do. 

24. Look for the big picture, but don’t forget the small details. 

Dick Jenrette was not known as the “last gentleman of Wall Street” for no reason. 

The addition of live music and a beer garden highlight the major changes for this year’s 19th annual observance of Ole Mill Days in Hope Mills. 

The weekend event, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 27, with a street dance kicking things off the day before, is the town’s annual celebration of its heritage as a mill village when textiles were king in North Carolina. 

Kasey Ivey, who heads up senior programs for the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department, doesn’t think of this year’s Ole Mill Days as expanding. “More like a revision, I would say,’’ she said. 

The party actually starts Oct. 26, with a Friday night street dance on Trade Street featuring a live deejay. 

There will be food trucks, and some of the Trade Street businesses will be open to customers during the dance. 

The beer garden and the live music are among the biggest new offerings the following day. 

The town’s board of commissioners approved the sale and consumption of alcohol at Ole Mill Days, and a local business, Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom, will be the vendor for the beer garden. 

Ivey made it clear that access to the beer garden will be controlled and people who take part in it won’t be allowed to wander around other Ole Mill Days events with beer in their possession. 

She said town officials are working on finalizing the map for the various activities, which will be taking place on the two ball fields at Hope Mills Municipal Park. 

The addition of the beer garden and the live music is causing them to rethink where everything will be located. 

For the beer garden, she said plans are being made to keep it totally separate from the various child-related activities that are offered on Ole Mill Days. She said the town has portable fencing and a physical barrier will be erected to contain patrons of the beer garden and keep them from milling around freely with the rest of the crowd. 

   Patrons who are of legal drinking age will be provided with a wristband to indicate they’ve been cleared to purchase alcohol. 

   The other new attraction, live music, will be the Cumberland County Line bluegrass band. They are scheduled to perform from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27. 

   Ivey said the band was included in hopes of encouraging people to stay around longer at Ole Mill Days, or to get them to return later in the day and bring other people with them. 

   One of the new attractions for children is Zorb Balls. These are giant inflatable balls that people can actually get inside of and bounce off each other. 

   The rest of Ole Mills Days features traditional favorites. 

   Things get started at 10 a.m. with an assortment of food vendors, craft vendors, some local businesses as well as appearances by various politicians running for office. 

   One event that will be missing from Ole Mill Days is the annual Chamber of Commerce Chili Cookoff, which has been moved to Nov. 10 and will be hosted by Dirtbag Ales. 

   The activities for children will also start at 10 a.m. and, in addition to the Zorb Balls, will include a variety of inflatable attractions like bounce houses. 

   At noon, Mayor Jackie Warner will give the official welcome, followed by the playing of the national anthem and an introduction of various local beauty queens named during the year. All of this will take place on Fields 1 and 2 at Municipal Park on Rockfish Road. 

   From noon until 4 p.m., the antique tractor pull, a staple of Ole Mill Days, will be held. Plans are also in the works to have a petting zoo and pony rides. 

   The extremely popular wing-eating contest sponsored by Zaxby’s is scheduled for 2 p.m. 

   Another popular event of the festival, the annual reunion of millworkers, had to be relocated this year because the recreation center is still closed due to damage from Hurricane Florence. 

   The millworkers will gather in the boardroom at Town Hall from 2-4 p.m. The reunion is coordinated by the Historical Commission of the town and sponsored by the parks and recreation department. 

   The day will close with a showing of the family-friendly movie “Hotel Transylvania” at 6:30 p.m. in the park. 

   Ivey said parking is first-come, first-served and people will need to be patient because there will be fall league ball games taking place on the fields adjacent to Fields 1 and 2 at Municipal Park. 

   If anyone has questions about Ole Mill Days, they can call 910-426-4109 or send messages through the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department Facebook page. If they need to meet someone face-to-face, the recreation department offices are temporarily located in Town Hall. Stop by the front desk there during normal business hours.