Presiding over the indoor seating area is a plaque that simply reads: Worship in the House of Swine. There’s a 1930s edition of The Fayetteville Observer hanging not too far away. The people chopping up the fresh meat are all part of one local and close-knit family. This is Fowler’s, and it’s a bit like walking into a polished-up pig-pickin’.

It all begins with the family’s patriarch, Wade Fowler, and his food truck the Blind Pig. The Blind Pig, which has been in operation since April of last year, is notorious for providing Southern-style barbeque fare on wheels. Pulled pork sandwiches. Ribs. Smoked chicken. Traditional sides like cole slaw and potato salad.

But all the Fowlers seem to agree that they always envisioned opening their own brick-and-mortar restaurant together one day. And Feb. 28 was that day.

The other partners of the business include Wade’s sons David and Will, David’s wife Polly and their friend Jeff Warfield.

According to David, since the new restaurant’s opening, there has been a steady stream of patronage. Currently, Fowler’s is only open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch, but they hope to expand with a dinner menu in the near future.

“It’s a menu that has a lot of flexibility. We can do what we want with it,” said David Fowler. “But I think we also do the best traditional barbeque that you’ll get in Fayetteville.” David has an extensive background in the wine industry as a sommelier. He and his wife Polly came back to the town he grew up in to help his father open their dream business.

“The common thing for everything we do is we always want to cook something that we would want to eat. I want to serve the best product I can at the most reasonable price,” said David. “I also want to bring a different wine list to the restaurant scene here than what the rest of Fayetteville uses.”

The Fowlers pride themselves on the fact that all their food is local and fresh. The meat is straight from Heritage Farms in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Menu items include the standard barbeque dishes that the Fowlers still serve from their food truck. But they also offer some fusion cuisine such as the Angry Hawaiian dish – grilled pineapple with your choice of meat, housemade teriyaki sauce and pickled jalapenos – or the Q-ritto – a choice of meat burrito with house avocado cream and spicy slaw.

Polly said this has everything to do with showing the public that they like to experiment with their food as well.

But it’s the close ties to the city of Fayetteville that set this restaurant, this family, apart from the rest.

Wade Fowler and his children grew up in Fayetteville. Wade was in the first graduating class of Terry Sanford High School. He was an elected city councilman for years.

Not only do the Fowlers cater throughout the area, but they give back to Fayetteville as well. On the day of their interview, they were busy preparing for an event at the Coliseum that benefits the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County.

“We’re proud of being from Fayetteville. This is definitely home for us,” said David. “As far as restaurants in Fayetteville, we’re one of the only ones that do everything from scratch. That’s really what our style of cooking is: home-style, from scratch. No freezer. No microwave. No nothing. So you’re going to find something on (the menu) that you like, and that’s our goal.”

Fowler’s is located on 723 W. Rowan St. For additional information, contact the restaurant at 910-491-5721.

An audit by TRP CPAs of Fayetteville has found no indication of double billing or a pattern of systematic overbilling by the Fayetteville Public Works Commission. TRP was asked in January by PWC to conduct an audit of AIT billing after AIT’s chairman, Clarence Briggs, publicly accused PWC of double billing AIT. “The Commission was confident that the TRP audit of the AIT billing would confirm fair billing for this account,” said PWC Commission Chairman Wade Fowler. “We believe that TRP’s report validates that PWC’s information was accurate and the AIT claims were unfounded.”

Briggs disagrees, claiming that TRP “is not qualified to conduct utility auditing.” AIT had a unique electricity metering system that was requested by the company in 2000. Because of the arrangement, AIT’s bills were prepared manually. Monthly metering and billing data was collected and calculated for the 10-year period from January 2007 to November 2017, PWC said in a statement.

TRP found several minor clerical errors that had been previously disclosed and credited to AIT. The errors occurred over 100 months of billing and totaled less than $150. TRP certified public accountant Jason Poole found there was no double billing or overbilling. Briggs explained that the unique metering system he once used included electric meters on each floor of his three-story building. And, he said, there was a fourth main meter. He claims that until it was brought to PWC’s attention, all four meter readings were added up together when actually the total of the three separate meters should have equaled the total of the main meter. 

Briggs said as evidence of over billing, AIT’s daily electricity usage has declined from 6,000 to 3,000 kilowatt hours. Briggs has engaged an audit of his own.

“I believe it is important to... address AIT’s public claims, including one that an independent auditor could not conduct an unbiased investigation,” PWC general manager David Trego said. “This has no merit because a certified public accountant takes an oath to disclose the truth and can lose their license if they do not,” he added.

Trego explained that as a public authority, PWC answers to the U.S. Department of Energy and that customers interested in PWC’s annual reports will be provided a link to them.

City Attorney cites state law in dispute with mayor

Rarely, if ever, in her 17 years has Fayetteville City Attorney Karen McDonald had her understanding of municipal law questioned.

Earlier this month, freshman Mayor Mitch Colvin convinced city council, during an open meeting, that McDonald had not followed proper procedure when awarding contracts to Fayetteville lawyers Billy Richardson and Terry Hutchens. Both attorneys had volunteered to represent the city at no cost in a nationwide lawsuit against opioid distributors.

McDonald cited to Up & Coming Weekly that UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government guidelines for cities states contracts for professional services, such as those with consultants, attorneys and auditors, fall outside the scope of competitive bidding statutes.

Colvin “convinced city council to rescind a lawfully executed contract,” Richardson said in an opinion piece in last week’s Up & Coming Weekly.

Old Street trash barrels gone

It’s been three months since downtown business owners and the city of Fayetteville got rid of the dozen or so garbage cans behind the Blue Moon Café. The trash cans obstructed sidewalk pedestrian traffic in violation of two city ordinances for years. They remained on the sidewalk because “there was no apparent, viable solution to the problem,” said Sam Dubose, general manager of the Cool Spring Downtown District.

Officials identified the Arts Council across Hay Street as the best place to install a couple dumpsters. The city had a so-called trash corral built at a corner of the Arts Council’s rear parking lot, and CSDD contracted with Waste Management for the installation of two dumpsters.

“CSDD had assumed responsibility for the dumpsters,” said Dubose. Now business owners walk across the street, roll the garbage carts around the corner, fill them up, and roll them back to the dumpster site. It took officials a year to figure it all out, but now the roll out carts no longer clutter Old Street.

PWC adopts new electric rates

Fayetteville’s hometown utility buys most of the electricity it distributes from Duke Energy. And now, increased costs of doing business with Duke are partially to blame for a PWC residential rate hike. PWC electricity costs for the next two years will cover Duke increases over which Public Works has little authority.

“Ninety percent of the increase … goes directly to our power supply costs from Duke, and those costs are projected to increase nearly $10 million in the next four years,” said PWC Chairman Wade Fowler. PWC had to add a coal ash fee to customer bills because the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission allows Duke to recover the cost of cleaning up the multi-billion-dollar environmental disaster it caused when coal ash was dumped into the Dan River.

PWC’s portion of Duke Energy’s $2 billion cleanup expense is estimated to be $60-$70 million. PWC is using reserve accounts to pay most of the money needed along with a $2 monthly charge for PWC residential customers, which will be collected through 2024.

“PWC strives to provide safe and reliable services and maintain reasonable, competitive rates,” said PWC CEO and general manager David Trego. The new rates and the coal ash fee will begin May 1, 2018.

 

Meetings

For details about all committee meetings, including location where not listed, call Interim Town Clerk Debbie Holland at 910-426-4113.

• Veterans Committee Thursday, March 22, at 7 p.m.

• Public Meeting No. 3 Monday, March 26, 6-8 p.m., at Hope Mills Parks and Rec. The purpose of this meeting is to present transportation planning recommendations and to solicit public questions and feedback. To learn more, visit HopeMillsPlan.org.

• Parks and Rec Committee Monday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m.

• Appearance Committee Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m.

• Town offices closed for Good Friday March 30.

Activities at Hope Mills Parks and Recreation: 5770 Rockfish Rd.

• Easter in Hope Mills Saturday, March 24, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast with the Bunny: 8:30-11 a.m. Enjoy a tasty breakfast and get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny. Easter Egg Hunt: 11:15 a.m.-noon (broken into time slots for age groups). Hunt takes place in Municipal Park. Easter Crafts: noon.

Tickets cost $6 per person and must be purchased in advance.Contact the Rec Center at 910-426-4109 for more information.

Promote yourself

Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com

There’s far more to being an elected official in the town of Hope Mills than kissing babies and showing up for the occasional meeting.

Residents of the town can get a first-hand taste of what governing is all about by attending the Citizens Academy training sessions the town offers to become a Hope Mills Ambassador. It’s especially beneficial for anyone with political aspirations or those thinking about serving the town in any number of volunteer capacities.

Deborah Holland, interim town clerk, said the academy was started last April and has been wellreceived. A number of current elected officials have gone through the training, including Mayor Jackie Warner, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Mitchell and town commissioners Meg Larson, Jessie Bellflowers and Pat Edwards.

“One of the most amazing things that surprised all of us was how interested our citizens were in how our actual operations run,’’ Holland said. “It gives them a small sampling of what department operations are like and gives them an appreciation of what we do for the town. It helps us get a better insight from the residents’ side of what they need from the town. It’s kind of a win-win.’’

Much of the training is interactive, Holland said. For example, participants get to put together a mock town budget or a mock agenda for a meeting of the board of commissioners. Those attending the class also get a closer look at departments like fire, police, finance and even storm water.

There’s even a session with parks and recreation where people can experience trying out for an athletic team. “No one is required to do that,’’ Holland said. “It’s all in fun.’’

Anyone who has interest in serving on the town’s various volunteer committees is encouraged to go through the academy, Holland said. “The more understanding they have of what it takes to get things done, the better they can take that knowledge and request certain events and projects get done.’’

Both the application for the academy and the current syllabus is available on the town website at www.townofhopemills.com.

The class is limited to 15 applicants, and the next one begins April 3 with classes running weekly on a variety of topics until May 24. Graduation will be held Monday, June 4, at the monthly meeting of the commissioners at town hall.

For further information, visit the website or contact Holland at 910-426-4113.

Photo: Debbie Holland, interim town clerk

Fayetteville’s second annual Ultimate Lip Sync Showdown brings music, fun and frivolity together to raise funds for the Child Advocacy Center. From Michael Jackson to Prince, Tina Turner, Elvis, Bruno Mars and more, guests will enjoy first class entertainment in support of a first-rate cause. The showdown takes place at the Crown Center Ballroom Saturday, March 24.

Julia Adkins is a longtime advocate for the CAC, having chaired the organization’s American Girl Fashion Show fundraiser for several years. “We didn’t know what to expect last year,” said Adkins. Even though it was the first time putting on a lip sync contest, “we had a sold-out crowd and raised more than $40,000 for CAC. It looks like we will have another sold-out crowd.”

With 14 acts competing and additional special entertainment lined up, Adkins is excited about the support the event has received from the community. “We have new special entertainment that will open and close the show for us,” said Adkins. “We have lots of local celebrities representing so many parts of the community – business, law enforcement, education, health care and more.”

Catalina Orrego works at Rainbow Pediatrics. Her group, the P.Y.T.s, is returning to perform a Michael Jackson mashup. “We had a blast last year,” Orrego said. “We have always supported CAC. Last year, the contest was such a big hit, we wanted to do it again. We had six in our group last year, and this year we have nine.”

She said it was not hard coming up with an act. “We went with Michael Jackson because he is so iconic,” she said. “And most people know his music.”

The group is going all-out with afros, bell bottoms and fringed vests for the Jackson 5 classic “I Want You Back.” For the “Beat It” performance, they plan to wear black and white. “For ‘Thriller,’ we will be zombies,” she added. “I danced when I was a little kid, and we have some former cheerleaders in the act, but thankfully this is a lip sync competition and not karaoke.”

While the group looks forward to a night of fun, Orrego noted, “We are excited to support CAC. They are an awesome organization. We hope this raises more than last year and that it sells out this year, too. We are excited to see the other acts, too.”

Last year, police Sgt. Peggy Smith entered the showdown with an all-female group of four under the moniker “Ladies of Law Enforcement.” This year, the group is called LOL + One. “We added a guy this year,” Smith said, explaining the name change.

LOL+One is bringing the ’80s to the stage with Cameo’s “Word Up,” but with a twist. “We have been watching the original video,” said Smith. “We will try to bring a police element to it, too. In his version, it starts with a detective … we end up arresting him.”

Smith will have another important role in the evening as well. “It will be the anniversary of two little girls’ deaths,” said Smith. “Last year at the Lip Sync Battle, we were called out to find two little girls. Once the dad told us where their bodies were, we stayed with them until the Hoke County officials could get there.”

Smith will perform the opening song in memory of those girls.

“When we put on a fundraiser, it is great to have fun, but we want people to know what we are raising money for,” said Adkins. “The exciting part is to see the community come together and raise money and awareness. We are a nonprofit charitable organization. We serve victims of child abuse and their families. Last year we served 696 children, and the numbers continue to rise. We provide a service that is invaluable. When a child comes in after having suffered abuse, the child can come in and tell their story one time, and because it is recorded, they only have to tell their story one time. Prior to the (CAC), they had to tell the story over and over again, and they had to relive it each time.”

The CAC is a safe place for children and families. It’s a place where people who can advocate for them listen to them and show them respect – where they can tell their experiences once and know the people who can help them will hear it. The center brings together people from organizations like the Cumberland County Dept. of Social Service’s Child Protective Services; CC Sheriff’s Office; Fayetteville Police Department; Hope Mills Police Department; Spring Lake Police Department; the medical community via Southern Regional Area Health Education Center, Cape Fear Valley Health Systems and Womack Army Medical Center; CC District Attorney’s Office; Guardian ad Litem; and Rape Crisis Volunteers of CC to work on behalf of victims 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

While working for children and families is a big job, the center is also proactive in offering classes and workshops to educate the community about child abuse awareness and prevention.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. To raise awareness, the CAC sponsors a pinwheel garden. The pinwheel represents a happy, safe and carefree childhood, one that every child deserves. Initiated by Prevent Child Abuse America, more than a million pinwheels have been displayed nationwide since April 2008 when the campaign began.

There will be a Pinwheel Garden ceremony Thursday, March 29, at noon in honor of the 696 children the center helped last year. It takes place at 222 Rowan St. and is free to attend and open to the public. The pinwheels will be on display through the month of April. Purchase your own pinwheel garden kit at www.childadvocacycenter. com/pinwheels-for-prevention-2/.

“The community’s support of Child Abuse Prevention Month has grown each year,” said Faith Boehmer, volunteer and prevention coordinator for the CAC. “We expect that this April there will be more than 10,000 pinwheels on display in Cumberland County,”

The Ultimate Lip Sync Showdown is March 24 at the Crown Center Ballroom. Cocktail hour is at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost between $50 and $75 and include hors d’oeuvres and desserts. There will be a cash bar as well. Visit www. crowncomplexnc.com for tickets and information.

You don’t have to attend to participate in the Ultimate Lip Sync Showdown. Visit the CAC website at www.childadvocacycenter.com/event/fayettevillesultimate- showdown/ and vote for your favorite act. It costs $5 per vote or $20 for five votes. Proceeds benefit the CAC.

The last time the restored Hope Mills Lake was restocked with fish, there was a miscommunication between the town and state wildlife officials. The result was the lake was drained after new fish had been put in, causing them to be lost.

Rod MacLean wanted to make sure that mistake wasn’t repeated when the restocking process started for the recently restored lake

MacLean is currently the chairman of the Hope Mills Lake Advisory Committee and has been serving on it for the last four or five years.

A dedicated fly fisherman, MacLean has worked as a volunteer for North Carolina Wildlife for close to 10 years and is active in the Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing program.

MacLean said he spoke with Hope Mills mayor Jackie Warner three years ago and assured her that when the time came to bring fish back into the lake, he would make sure there were no mistakes.

“I told her I would take care of getting them delivered and what types of fish,’’ he said.

MacLean researched the types of fish people used to catch from the lake, and he also consulted with a biologist from the North Carolina Wildlife Commission about what fish would be best to introduce.

Earlier this month, MacLean said 10,000 redear panfish and 10,000 bluegill panfish were put into the lake. At some time in the future, some 1,000 fingerling catfish and another 1,000 fingerling largemouth bass will be added to the population.

MacLean said the small panfish, the bluegills and redears, are introduced first so they can become established. “These are the fish the predators will eat, the largemouth bass and the catfish,’’ he said.

MacLean said it’s likely that the new bass and catfish that will be introduced later are already present in the lake. He said that’s because of what happened in this area when Hurricane Matthew struck.

There was a lot of flooding associated with Matthew, he said, some of it involving Lake Rim, which flooded and overflowed. Those waters wound up in some six ponds at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center.

“They went into the creek that ends up coming through Hope Mills, down Rockfish Creek and into the Cape Fear River and on to Wilmington,’’ he said. “Some of the fish have been in the creek from Matthew, and some got washed all the way down through Hope Mills.’’

After about three years to allow the fish population in the Hope Mills Lake to stabilize, MacLean said officials from North Carolina Wildlife will do a census of the fish in the lake. “They’ve got a specialized boat that has electrodes coming off it,’’ he said. “They’ll go around to certain areas of the lake and put out an electrical shock that stuns the fish.’’

The fish then float to the surface and are caught with nets, measured and sometimes tagged, he said. A few fish may have to be kept in order to verify their age, but the majority of the fish will be returned to the water.

Until the fish population is stable, MacLean said, the lake will observe a catch and release policy. He said after two or three years, the population should be stable and the fish should reach a size making them worth catching and keeping. “You don’t want to catch 15 sardine-sized fish,’’ he said. “Then we’ll harvest them according to North Carolina wildlife rules.’’

MacLean said the lake is also likely to attract eels from the creeks, but the dam is equipped with an eel ladder that will allow them to escape and head downstream.

MacLean said he’d discussed the idea of putting a special breed of carp in the lake to help keep the vegetation down. This particular carp is a possible choice because it is sexless and can’t reproduce. But he said since in some cases the carp do reproduce and they would be able to escape from the lake and go downstream, it was decided not to introduce them.

“We discussed different species from the knowledge of the biologist and this is what will be best for our particular location,’’ he said. “I’m quite happy with the decision.’’

Jack Britt cleared one hurdle last year on the road to building a competitive boys lacrosse program, but head coach Scott Menoher knows the Buccaneers still have a long way to go before they’ll be chasing state championships.

Last year, the team made its first appearance in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state playoffs. “We established we can build a competitive program,’’ Menoher said. “This year we were excited to see (that) with the conference shifts we were put in with Middle Creek, so we’ve got the defending state champion again.’’

The good news for Menoher is the success the program has already enjoyed has apparently spurred increased interest in the sport. At Britt’s first practice this year, before players from basketball and wrestling joined the workouts, Menoher had about 31 varsity and junior varsity players out.

By the time the wrestlers and basketball players finally arrive, he expects the number to swell to 50 total with a 50-50 split between varsity and junior varsity.

“We want to continue to improve our game and make ourselves more competitive,’’ he said.

One way to do that will be by bringing lacrosse to athletes with no experience playing the sport. A good portion of the Britt team is made up of players who have ties to Fort Bragg and played lacrosse in other parts of the country, mainly the Northeast, before relocating here.

Two of the top players on this year’s team, Matt Swierkowski and Connor Funck, fit that mold. Menoher said Swierkowski is a senior and Britt’s lone team captain this season. “He’s taken a larger role, grown in maturity and become a leader,’’ Menoher said. “He is somebody I see as a guy who is going to be moving the ball down the field, directing the offense and leading the team forward.’’

Funck came to Britt as a sophomore last year with previous lacrosse experience from his days in New York near Syracuse.

“He’s one of those sparkles of talent we see,’’ Menoher said. “He was an attack man last year, but he’ll probably play midfield this year.’’

Swierkowski agreed with Menoher that making the playoffs last season was a big step. “Not many people thought a lot about us before that,’’ he said. “It was good to get a win so more people could recognize us.’’

To grow the sport locally, Swierkowski thinks it’s important to continue to introduce people not familiar with lacrosse to the game.

He thinks bringing it to the middle schools is especially crucial. “They can practice, start shooting, passing, getting into it with friends,’’ he said. “That’s the essential part, starting young.’’

Funck agreed exposure of the game is important. “More kids will want to play it,’’ he said. “There are kids that will want to try it out because it’s something new.’’

Introducing the game early is key, he said, because it’s not the easiest sport in the world to get used to. “When I first started playing lacrosse, it took me awhile to learn how to pass and catch,’’ Funck said. “I would say it took a good six months.’’

Menoher is convinced there’s another reason to keep growing lacrosse locally. He’s thinks it can pay for itself quickly through gate receipts.

“We bring another Friday night sport like football in the spring for people to watch,’’ he said. “It’s a fast, high-scoring sport. Once you get a fan base, you’d be surprised how quickly those stands fill up.

“It is a potential moneymaker.’’

Photos: Jack Britt boys lacrosse head coach Scott Menoher ; Connor Funck (left) and team captain Matt Swierkowski (right)

The Fayetteville City Council members must pause and decide, in the overall, what end they are pursuing. That is, as decisions are made regarding policy, budgeting, personnel and myriad other matters, what will be the overarching aim of all they do? I hold that the aim should be to govern this city in a fashion that serves the best interest of all citizens. More and more, council’s laser-like focus on ensuring diversity, even forcing it, disregards the best interest of the totality of Fayetteville citizens.

My contention that council is seriously digressing from serving the best interest of all Fayetteville citizens shows through in how the possibility of opioid litigation is being addressed. Without doubt, our city is in the midst of an opioid crisis. That fact is obvious in the following segments from a post on WRAL.com headlined “Fayetteville fights back: Radio stations host conversation on opioid crisis.”

“The Fayetteville area is 18th in the nation for opioid abuse. In 2015, emergency responders in Cumberland County administered 458 doses of Narcan, the drug designed to reverse opioid overdose. In 2017, that number nearly doubled. Fayetteville police administered the drug 14 times in 2015, and last year they administered 66 doses.”

Even further, the ever-increasing annual number of deaths from opioid use makes it clear that there is a horrendous problem across America. Tammy Grubb writes this in an article titled “Orange County joins growing push to make drug companies pay for opioid crisis.”

“Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under age 50. Nationwide, more than 64,000 people died from opioid poisoning in 2016. In North Carolina, there were 1,518 deaths – 90 percent more than in 1999. Half died from commonly prescribed medications, state reports show.”

Given the cost to governmental entities of addressing this situation, some states decided to bring lawsuits against various drug makers and distributors. An article by Wesley Young headlined “Winston- Salem joins lawsuit against opioid manufacturers” summarizes the basis for these lawsuits.

“The premise of the lawsuit, as stated in the city’s resolution approving the action, is that opioid manufacturing and distributing companies may have violated state and federal laws that are designed to prevent the diversion of prescribed medication into the illegal drug market.”

As the number of lawsuits increased, it became apparent that an efficient and effective arrangement for addressing the expanding number of cases was required. In an article titled “Can This Judge Solve the Opioid Crisis?” Jan Hoffman explains how this need was addressed:

“In December, a judicial panel gathered all the prescription opioid cases filed in federal court across the country and plopped them into Judge Polster’s lap. The consolidation of large numbers of similar cases is called a multidistrict litigation, or MDL; it’s usually done to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.

“The panel cited several reasons for selecting Judge Polster. Ohio has been hard-hit by the crisis and is also centrally located to the defendants. And Judge Polster has MDL experience. He mediated settlements in some 700 cases involving a medical contrast dye.

“This type of litigation is inherently unconventional, but the consolidated opioid lawsuits may be even more complex than most.”

Beyond the action reported in the Hoffman article, note the statement made regarding the complexity of these lawsuits. Also, the judge referred to is Judge Dan Aaron Polster of the Northern District of Ohio.

After the MDL was put in place, Polster provided guidelines for how the litigation would proceed. He was clear in saying that he would not hear from every attorney representing a client. The result was the formation of a consortium of these attorneys with defined rules and responsibilities. The organization approved by Polster is detailed in Case: 1:17-md-02804- DAP Doc #: 37 Filed: 01/04/18 1 of 1. Page ID #: 362.

That organization calls for three counsel co-leads, co-liaisons, an executive committee and steering committees. Concerning co-lead counsel, the approved petition says, “Lead Counsel is charged with formulating (in consultation with other counsel) and presenting positions on substantive and procedural issues during the litigation.” The petition also includes biographical information on attorneys who are filling all the positions except on steering committees. A review of that biographical information provides a very good feel for the high level of expertise and experience among those attorneys driving this effort.

At present, there are some 400 plaintiffs in this case. During a conversation with attorneys Billy Richardson and Keischa Lovelace of the Richardson Firm in Fayetteville, they explained that this is not a class-action lawsuit where any person or entity can, based on having a similar grievance, join the lawsuit. In this case, the consortium decides who joins. The process is that an interested party may request representation by the consortium or engage local counsel. If local counsel is engaged, that attorney must be acceptable to the consortium. Upon acceptance, a contract is signed with the consortium. In the event local counsel is not found acceptable, the plaintiff is not allowed to join the lawsuit. The selected counsel would then have to pursue the case independently and absorb the financial cost of doing so. The plaintiff could engage another attorney.

The consortium arrangement is that attorneys work on a contingency basis. Plaintiffs pay nothing for being part of the lawsuit. Attorneys involved will, under their agreement, divide 25 percent of any settlement, with the remainder going to plaintiffs.

Polster has been clear in saying he wants settlement of this case expedited. In fact, there are reports indicating some settlement discussions have already started.

At the bottom line: Fayetteville has an opioid crisis that is worsening and costly to city government; a well-organized lawsuit is underway. It is a complex case requiring experienced attorneys with proven records in this kind of litigation. This is expensive litigation that is conducted on a contingency basis; attorneys must be able to financially meet the demands of this process. Time for joining as a plaintiff is quickly expiring.

According to City Attorney Karen McDonald, the city of Fayetteville was approached by two local attorneys and invited/encouraged to join as a plaintiff in the litigation being conducted by the consortium. The first offer was presented to McDonald by attorney Terry Hutchens. Fully understanding the tremendous positive possibilities in signing on as a plaintiff, and having not been approached by any other firms, she discussed this offer with city council. Based on council’s consensus, McDonald engaged Hutchens’ firm to represent the city of Fayetteville.

Later, McDonald was approached by State Rep. Billy Richardson, D-Cumberland, who, in his capacity as an attorney, offered/encouraged having Fayetteville join the lawsuit as a plaintiff. Given that McDonald had already committed to Hutchens, she suggested that Richardson talk with him. In my conversation with Richardson, he confirmed that he did call Hutchens and they agreed to work together. A contract with the city was finalized, and the process was moving ahead.

As has been widely reported, Mayor Mitch Colvin then sent an email to McDonald, the city manager and members of council, indicating the action taken by McDonald was “unacceptable” because she used a “no bid” process. The city attorney has repeatedly stated that solicitation of bids is not required for legal services. I have not seen nor heard any contradiction of that assertion. The heart of the matter for Colvin is his contention that, under the city’s policy of seeking the inclusion of local and minority businesses when contracting, this service requirement should have been opened for bids. He put the item on the agenda for reconsideration at council’s March 5 work session.

In that meeting, Colvin made his minority inclusion case. There were several comments that deserve summarizing as follows: Councilman Crisp – The matter was settled by consensus in a February work session. Given that the city is not expending funds, this contract is below the $30,000 threshold requiring bids; Mayor Pro Tem Mohn – The city attorney has always had authority to select law firms in legal matters; Councilwoman Waddell – Could a firm approach Hutchens/Richardson and ask to work with them? Yes.

In the end, the consensus was to withdraw from the agreement with Hutchens/Richardson, and within a 15-day period, do a Request for Interest, or RFI. That means firms will have an opportunity to submit information that will allow them to be considered to represent the city in this matter. A committee of council members will review submissions and select a firm. This process moves the selection decision from a trained lawyer who has, for 16 years, served, I believe, with distinction as city attorney. Even further, she understands the caliber of firm required for this task and that there is no guarantee the firm selected by this RFI process will be acceptable to the consortium. Mohn and Councilwoman Tisha Waddell voted in opposition to this action. Councilwoman Kathy Jensen had departed when this matter was addressed. Colvin and remaining council members voted in favor of the course change.

Sadly, given that the litigation is moving quickly and there is no guarantee that the consortium will accept a firm selected by council, Fayetteville might miss this opportunity to recoup funds already expended because of this crisis. There is also the possibility of a monetary award due to projected future expenses. Given the tremendous risk associated with the course chosen by council, this action is definitely not in the best interest of all Fayetteville citizens.

The Student Learning Center at Fayetteville Technical Community College offers students the opportunity to be in charge of their own learning with the support of qualified, talented instructors. The center provides students with academic assistance and resources to further their comprehension in various subject areas.

The SLC, formerly known as the Learning Lab and the Success Center, has been serving students since the 1960s. It has been a focal point for numerous students across campus, having served thousands every academic year. Over the decades, the SLC has evolved into a place where students gravitate to receive one-on-one assistance and to focus on their individual academic needs.

Instructors of the 12-member faculty staff who tutor at the center strive to provide a friendly environment. A staff member welcomes the student with a smile and assesses his or her needs for the visit. A plethora of resources available to students includes computers, laptops, calculators, textbooks, subject-specific handouts, small rooms for study groups and comfortable tables and chairs. Staff at the SLC want to help all students succeed and accomplish their educational goals.

One of the center’s commitments is to bridge the gap between learning and understanding. Everyone learns differently, and the SLC’s staff members assist students who need additional help interpreting course material. Students are encouraged to come to the SLC as soon as they have questions or need help comprehending a concept.

Three specialized labs that offer detailed assistance on core subjects are located on the same floor as the main SLC. All students are welcome to use the SLC, but they may wish to take specific questions to the math, science or writing and communication labs. These labs are equipped with additional resources to help deepen a student’s understanding and are staffed with instructors who have achieved a master’s degree level of educational expertise.

To take advantage of the many academic aids available at the SLC, a student must simply be enrolled in an FTCC curriculum course and present his or her student ID at the center’s front desk. An SLC staff member will help with the quick and simple enrollment.

In addition to the one-on-one tutoring offered in the SLC, FTCC also provides NetTutor Online Tutoring Service for face-to-face and distance learners. NetTutor is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is a terrific resource for students who are not able to visit the center on campus.

The SLC is located next to FTCC’s Paul H. Thompson Library in the Harry F. Shaw Virtual College Center, Room 232. To learn more about the center, visit www.faytechcc.edu/ campus-life/academic-support/#slc. Students may contact the center at 910-678-8266 or learningcenter@ faytechcc.edu.

In 2017, approximately 442 people in Cumberland County were identified and met the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development definition of what it means to be homeless. It continues to be difficult for the homeless to find shelter, food, clothing and stability for a variety of reasons, including economic factors, job loss, mental illness, addiction and life’s struggles. Many others in the community are only one paycheck away from poverty. Each year, All About Fitness, Inc. hosts a hygiene drive that takes place January through May. The drive assists individuals in the Fayetteville, Raeford and Spring Lake communities.

“The hygiene drive is one of four drives that we have every year to help out the communities where we have our chapters,” said Dewayne Webb, president of All About Fitness, Inc.

Hygiene items that are needed include toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant and soap.

“The reason we do this is because there are a lot of men, women and children who live on the streets and in shelters,” said Webb. “We put these items in bags and take them to shelters that we are partnered with and pass them out to people who live on the streets.”

Webb added that there are a lot of people who go inside local businesses every day after they have slept on the street, under a tree or under a bridge to wash their face and brush their teeth.

Webb’s passion for helping those in need comes from his personal life and the economic struggles his family endured.

“I grew up without a lot of money, and my dad was in the military and people automatically assumed we had a lot of money, but we didn’t,” said Webb. “He was a low rank in the Air Force with five dependents, and my mom was a stay-at-home mom.”

Webb added these conditions forced him to grow up very quickly and take care of his brothers and sisters, which in turn taught him leadership skills and responsibility and laid the foundation for putting others before himself.

His nonprofit All About Fitness, Inc. came about in 2012 by accident. Today, the organization has over 15,000 followers from all of its social media platforms and continues to grow. There are eight satellite locations; the main location is in Fayetteville. There is a free fitness class for men, women and children every day of the week in the spring and summer and Monday through Friday in the fall and winter. Once a month, there are other types of free “fitness” workshops that include legal fitness, financial fitness and mental fitness.

“I truly believe that God has his hand in this because I never expected the impact of All About Fitness to be at the level it is today,” said Webb.

Hygiene items can be dropped off at the three workout locations: College Lakes Recreation Center, Spring Lake Recreation Center and Rockfish Community Center. For more information on how to join All About Fitness, or to make a donation, call 318- 918-8580 or visit www.allaboutfitnessfamily.org.

Photo: Dewayne Webb, president of All About Fitness, Inc. hosts a hygiene drive to benefit the homeless each year

As almost a lifelong resident of Fayetteville’s Haymount neighborhood in six different houses and on both sides of Morganton Road, I am delighted that the city continues its assessment of the historic area. Haymount is an imminently livable neighborhood at the heart of an urban area. It deserves not only preservation but enhancement.

In our community, the sprawling residential developments that serve our military families address a real need for proximity to Fort Bragg. But Haymount and several other older neighborhoods are the backbone of Fayetteville, and they welcome and embrace military families who choose them for their unique quality of life.

Haymount boasts homes built in the early 19th century to homes built for World War II soldiers starting careers and families to Mc- Mansions built in recent decades. Sidewalks line many of its streets, making Haymount an outdoor community with children playing in the fresh air as parents watch. Residents do yard work, exercise outside, walk dogs and regularly commune with each other. The small but vital commercial district houses one of the best community theaters in North Carolina as well as boutique shopping, a large church, a post office and private offices, and neighborhood residents often walk to those places.

Fayetteville commissioned the Urban Land Institute in the Triangle area to take a look at Haymount. Its study suggests more and enhanced sidewalks, more trees and traffic and parking changes. The city has a great deal on its plate, as always, but enhancing a neighborhood that has shaped and continues to enliven our city deserves to be near the top of the list.

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American parents may be having changes of heart.

We, like parents around the world, have historically favored boy babies by a significant margin. Gallup, the polling organization, has polled on this question since 1941, and every time, until recently, found that 40 percent of us want a boy, 28 percent want a girl, and the rest are happy either way. Rightly or wrongly, there has been a worldwide preference for boys, and China with its long-running one child policy now faces a society with far more men than women.

In the U.S., at least, that may be changing.

The New York Times reported last week on a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, indicating that having a girl first no longer means the parents will keep trying to have a boy. In fact, it means they are less likely to keep trying. Much remains the same, of course. Generally speaking, men prefer boys, as do first- and second-generation immigrants, less educated parents and Republicans.

Less clear is what has changed to lessen that preference.

The reality that American women’s roles in society have expanded dramatically probably plays into the shift. Women increasingly get further in schools and universities and do well in today’s jobs that require social skills and empathy rather than physical strength. There may also be a sense that girls are easier to raise and less trouble than boys, but experience tells me that every family’s childrearing experience is unique.

The Times story by Claire Cain Miller ends with this:

“The fading bias against girls should cheer all who desire a more equalitarian society. But there is a risk to society if what replaces it is a bias against boys.”

A hearty “Amen!” from this mother of both.

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If you have not discovered TED talks, you might want to give them a try. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, but I find the talks are about most anything. Whether you agree with the speaker or not, the talks are intelligent and thought-provoking. Think Monica Lewinsky talking about being the world’s first victim of cyberbullying.

Hmmm …

One with more than 20 million viewers was done by Robert Waldinger, a Harvard professor and director of what is thought to be the longest-running study of adult development in history – 75 years. He notes that recent surveys find that millennials overwhelmingly hold money and fame as their life goals. Wrongo, according to Waldinger and the study.

What really makes and keeps us happy and healthy are good relationships with family and friends. When we nurture these, we protect our bodies and our brains. Reach out to those with whom you are estranged, angry or resentful. Chances are those feelings are taking a bigger toll on you than on them.

You will likely be happier for it – and healthier, too.

Sitting courtside broadcasting high school basketball games with Trey Edge for DK Sports, the itch to return to coaching just became too much for Bill Boyette.

After a two-year absence, the coach who guided Terry Sanford High School to its first state basketball championship in 50 years will return to the bench this fall when he takes over as head boys coach at Fayetteville Academy.

“The first year I was out, I didn’t miss it that much,’’ he said of his abrupt exodus from Terry Sanford. “Sitting on the sidelines sort of brought that passion back to me, which I never really lost.’’

Boyette doesn’t dwell on the topic, but he also had painful memories of his exit from Terry Sanford, the result of a controversy over keeping a player on the team who was facing criminal charges that were eventually dismissed.

Boyette said he chose to resign from Terry Sanford after being presented with a set of parameters from school administrators that he did not agree with.

“According to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, we did nothing wrong,’’ Boyette said. “I chose not to go to the media because I did not feel the need to explain anything. “A lot of people thought I was fired. I was not. I chose to resign.’’

All of Boyette’s coaching experience has been in public schools, so he admits he’s got some things to learn about coaching basketball at the private school level.

“I’ve known (Fayetteville Academy athletic director) Chip Bishop awhile, and we have had a very good relationship,’’ Boyette said. “I’m not that familiar with private schools and I’ve got to sit down with Chip and find out what the main differences are.’’

Bishop is the former head basketball coach at the Academy and guided the Eagles to state titles in previous seasons.

“I don’t think my style will change, regardless of public school or private school,’’ Boyette said.

Boyette will not serve on the Fayetteville Academy faculty, which will allow him the freedom to continue two newer pursuits he has come to enjoy.

“They were willing to work with me,’’ Boyette said. “I did not want to give up my radio shows.’’

Boyette said he will continue to appear with broadcast partner Trey Edge Monday nights from 6-8 p.m. on The DK Sports Page talk show they host on WFNC, 640 AM. He will also continue to do high school football broadcasts for DK Sports, but he will have to give up broadcasting high school basketball with Edge since that would conflict with his coaching job at the Academy.

As soon as he learns the rules regarding offseason workouts for the private schools, he plans to start working with Academy players during the offseason.

“I want to sit down and meet the players, get to know them a little bit,’’ he said. “We’ll go ahead and start a few days a week with individual workouts. This is a situation where all I have to do is coach, there’s no teaching involved, and that fits right in with my schedule.’’

Boyette said he’s glad to be back. “I missed working with the kids,’’ he said. “I’m a competitive person. It’s in my blood.’’

Photos: Bill Boyette (right) and Trey Edge (left).

Once upon a time, there were two German brothers named Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. You may remember them from Grimm’s Fairy Tales, which once were read to small children before the advent of the iPhone ended most parent/child reading time.

The Grimm boys liked folklore from the Middle Ages. They collected these stories and published them as a series of books beginning in 1812. Many of our fairy tales originated with the Grimms, who brought us Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Snow White and Rumplestiltskin, among many others.

The original versions of the folk stories were not the sanitized versions that ended up in Disney movies. Life was rough in the Middle Ages. People lived in vast, dark forests. Wolves were literally at their doors. A lot of things happened in the Middle Ages. Not all of them were good.

For your consideration, kindly ponder the story of “The Juniper Tree,” which features things you would not be comfortable reading to your 5-year-old. If you are faint of heart, or not inclined to think of anything more unpleasant than the daily news, skip the rest of this column and go read “News of the Weird.”

If anyone is still out there reading this stain on world literature, allow me to commence with the unfiltered story of “The Juniper Tree.”

Once upon a time, there lived a wealthy couple who had everything they wanted but a child. They offered daily prayers to be sent a child, but for many years, the prayers went unanswered.

One winter day, the wife was standing in the snow peeling an apple under a Juniper tree. Why she chose to stand in the snow to peel the apple instead of remaining inside remains a mystery. Perhaps a case of cabin fever.

In any event, she managed to cut her finger while peeling the apple. Drops of her blood fell into the snow. Thinking this might be an omen, she prayed for a child who was white as snow and red as blood. That summer, the wife ate too many berries from the Juniper tree and became deathly ill. She made her husband promise to bury her under the Juniper tree if she died. As luck would have it, she gave birth to a son about a month later and died of happiness. Her husband kept his promise, burying her under the Juniper tree.

After a decent interval, the husband married a lady who brought him a series of casseroles, once again proving the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. The new wife, who is the prototype for the Wicked Stepmother of a zillion tales, had a daughter of her own, Marlinchen. Naturally, the Wicked Stepmother hated her stepson. She was mean to him. If the Department of Social Services had existed, she would have been hauled off to juvenile court for her abuse of her stepson. Stepmom wants her daughter Marlinchen to inherit the husband’s wealth instead of his son. You can see where this is going.

Stepmom lures stepson into the kitchen, promising him a treat from a cedar chest full of Honeycrisp apples. Stepson leans over the chest to take an apple. Stepmom slams the lid onto his neck, cutting off his head. Yuck.

To cover up her crime, Stepmom straps sonny boy’s head to his body, propping him up in a chair with an apple in his lap. Marlinchen, who knows nothing of Stepmom’s bad behavior, comes home from school and asks her brother for the apple. Stepson, being dead, doesn’t answer. Stepmom makes Marlinchen swat her brother on the ear, causing his head to fall off. Marlinchen thinks she has killed her brother and cries her a river.

Stepmom cuts up stepson and makes a tasty stew out of him, which she feeds to her husband. (I told you this was a rough story.) Marlinchen buries her brother’s bones under the Juniper tree to hide the uneaten evidence.

After burying the bones, a dense mist appears around the tree, and a bird flies out. The bird flies into the village, telling anyone who will listen that Stepmom killed her stepson. The bird’s story is so interesting that a goldsmith makes the bird a gold chain, a shoemaker makes a pair of red shoes, and a miller gives the bird a millstone.

The bird flies back home and delivers the gold chain to the husband and the red shoes to Marlinchen. This makes the Stepmom madder than a wet hen. She goes outside to cool off. The bird drops the millstone square on her head, killing her deader than a bug on a 60-mile-an-hour windshield. Flames break out, and the bird turns back into the son. Everyone is happy as a clam to be rid of Wicked Stepmom. They all go back inside where they finish off the stew and live happily ever after.

So, what have we learned today? Do not eat too many Juniper berries. Some stepmothers are better cooks than parents. If a bird flies over your head carrying a millstone, go back inside.

New E.E. Smith High School boys basketball coach Dontrell Snow has no trouble understanding the history of Golden Bull basketball. For the past few years, he’s worked with a man who lived it.

Snow, a 2005 graduate of Jack Britt and 2010 graduate of the University of Mount Olive, has both played and coached basketball with Ike Walker Jr., son of longtime E.E. Smith boys coach Ike Walker.

No one has to tell Snow how important tradition is at Smith and how crucial it is to expose today’s players to living examples of that rich history.

“A lot of guys have reached out, and I’ve reached out to a lot of guys,’’ he said, referring to former players from the Smith athletic program.

But returning the Golden Bulls to their former glory days will involve more than just reuniting today’s players with former stars.

Snow said that’s where he learned another valuable lesson working as an assistant coach with Walker for the past five years while he was serving as a health and physical education teacher at Reid Ross Classical.

Prior to joining the faculty at Reid Ross, he taught at South View Middle and Lake Rim Elementary. He’s been assisting with the basketball program at Jack Britt since 2012.

“Being around Coach Walker, we don’t necessarily have one emphasis,’’ he said, referring to specific offensive and defensive philosophies. “It’s basically based off the talent we have that year. One year we might be picking up full court and pressing. The next year the talent might change where we’re taller and bigger and have to go zone.’’

Regardless of the personnel he has available, Snow said he will lean toward being defensive-minded and high energy with a lot of communication taking place.

“You’ve always got to have something in your bag to change up,’’ he said. “It will change as players develop.’’

One thing that has changed a lot in Cumberland County basketball in recent years is the migration of players from public school to private school ranks.

Snow thinks a big reason for that is coaches heavily involved in Amateur Athletic Union basketball have taken roles on the staff at some of the private schools, and the result has been the funneling of some of their AAU players to private school teams.

“I know a lot of college coaches, so I know how the business works,’’ Snow said. “My biggest thing is about building relationships with kids in the community, not just at E.E. Smith but all over. Once you build a relationship with the kids, they are going to play with who they have a good relationship with.

“I adapt to any situation. If that’s the climate we’re in, then that’s what we’re in. If you build a relationship with the kids, it’s not going to matter.’’

Snow will complete the school year on the faculty at Reid Ross but will join the faculty at E.E. Smith in the fall heading the in-school suspension program.

He’s already scheduled a team meeting and plans to begin offseason workouts with his new players by the end of March.

Photo: E.E. Smith boys basketball coach Dontrell Snow

Sexual violence is a heavy topic, and raising awareness is critical to changing the societal paradigms that allow it. Every year, the Rape Crisis Center of Cumberland County invites local men to participate in its fundraiser Walk Awhile in Her Shoes to raise awareness for this cause, but also to have some fun. For the men, it means donning fabulous red high-heeled shoes and walking through downtown. For the Cumberland County Rape Crisis Center, it means being able to help more people throughout the year. Walk Awhile in Her Shoes takes place Friday, March 23, from 7-9 p.m. in downtown Fayetteville.

“This is our annual fundraiser and a really cool way to raise awareness against sexual violence in our community,” said Deanne Gerdes, executive director at the RCCC. “We primarily deal with sexual violence; last year we had 538 victims that we served.”

The victims range from very small children to adults. “We serve a lot of our active duty soldiers,” said Gerdes. “Our services are a 24-hour crisis line, support groups, individual counseling – and we respond to the hospital and any law enforcement leads 24 hours a day and seven days a week.”

Gerdes added that oftentimes women in the military do not want to report or obtain any services on Fort Bragg due to it affecting their military career or them not trusting their command. If they receive mental health services, she said, they are often afraid of this affecting their security clearances.

When a victim reports a rape, the Rape Crisis Center gives them options. “We leave it entirely up to the victim and we give them options and resources,” said Gerdes. “We are led by the victim. Mainly we want to empower victims to make their own choices, such as reporting to law enforcement, receiving medical services or using military resources.”

The walk will be led by drummers from the Fayetteville State University Band. Goldie from WFNC, along with the command staff from the special victims unit of the Fayetteville Police Department, will also lead the walk.

The walkers consist of men from all walks of life. “We have hundreds of guys putting on their shoes and wobbling around, strutting and peacocking,” said Gerdes. “The majority of them say the shoes are the wrong size, and I tell them they are not the wrong size – that’s the way highheeled shoes feel.”

The walk starts at the Market House and ends at the AIT building.

“Come out and join this great, fun, family-centered event,” said Gerdes.

There will be a reception, including refreshments, at the AIT building after the walk as well as an awards ceremony. On-site registration begins at the Capitol Building at 6 p.m. Registration is $25 for walkers and $15 for students. If you want to borrow a pair of red shoes, the cost is $10.

For more information or if you are interested in becoming an advocate, call RCCC at 910-485-7273.

Meetings

For details about all committee meetings, including location where not listed, call Deputy Town Clerk Deborah Holland at 910-426-4113.

• Lake Celebration Committee Monday, March 19, at 5 p.m.

• Mayor’s Youth Leadership Committee Monday, March 19, at 6:30 p.m.

• Hope Mills Board of Commissioners Monday, March 19, at 7 p.m. at Hope Mills Town Hall, Bill Luther Meeting Room.

• Lake Advisory Committee, Tuesday, March 20, at 6 p.m.

• Veterans Committee Thursday, March 22, at 7 p.m. • Public Meeting No. 3 Monday, March 26, 6-8 p.m., at Hope Mills Parks and Rec. The purpose of this meeting is to present transportation planning recommendations and to solicit public questions and feedback. To learn more, visit HopeMillsPlan.org.

•Parks and Rec Committee Monday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m.

• Appearance Committee Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m.

• Town offices closed for Good Friday March 30.

Activities at Hope Mills Parks and Recreation: 5770 Rockfish Rd.

• St. Paddy’s Bash for seniors 55 plus Friday, March 16, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Community Room. Free. Bring a dish to share. Drinks and entertainment will be provided. Sign up to attend at the front reception desk. Only 100 seats available. Call 910-426-4109 for more information.

• St. Patrick’s Day Dance Saturday, March 17, 6-8 p.m.

• Easter in Hope Mills Saturday, March 24, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast with the Bunny: 8:30-11 a.m. Enjoy a tasty breakfast and get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny. Easter Egg Hunt: 11:15 a.m.-noon (broken into time slots for age groups). Hunt takes place in Municipal Park. Easter Crafts: noon. Tickets cost $6 per person and must be purchased in advance. Contact the Recreation Center at 910-426-4109 for more information.

Promote yourself

Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

The fourth Friday of the month is a special time in downtown Fayetteville. From 6-9 p.m., galleries open new exhibits, shops stay open late, and there are activities and performances throughout downtown. This month, 4th Friday falls on March 23.

The Arts Council is set to open an exhibit called “Impressions: More than Skin Deep.” Scheduled to hang through May 12, the exhibit celebrates tattoo artists and their creativity. It recognizes that these artists who create art on skin also create in other mediums. It is a juried exhibit. Mediums include but are not limited to drawing (pencil, ink, marker); painting (watercolor, acrylic, oil); photography; animation; sculpture (clay, stone, metal); mixed media (collage, assemblage); printmaking (linocut, etching, woodcut). Learn more at www.theartscouncil.com.

The 4th Annual Power and Water Conservation Expo is set to take place March 23-24 at SkyView on Hay. It is hosted by Fayetteville Public Works Commission and is designed to share ways to save on energy and water bills. Attendees will receive free tote bags along with conservation items like LED bulbs, a fat trapper and tree saplings. There will be updates about projects like LED streetlight installation and annexation installation as well as demonstrations and Q&A session on topics like stormwater issues, watersheds and more. It is free to attend. Bring a donation for the Pay It Forward Food Drive for Second Harvest Food Bank. This event runs from noon to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Visit www.faypwc.com/pwcexpo to learn more.

4th Fridays at the Market House make the historic landmark accessible to the public. Discover the permanent exhibit “A View from the Square: A History of Downtown Fayetteville.” There are rotating exhibits throughout the year as well. This month’s exhibit is “Civil War History.” Admission is free. Call 910-433-1457 for details.

Fascinate-U Children’s Museum opens from 7-9 p.m. for 4th Friday. Guests can enjoy free museum play and make a craft. With Easter right around the corner, guests can look forward to an “egg-cellent” activity. Learn more at www.fascinate-u.com.

At 7 p.m. in the Pate Room, the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center presents The Parsons. For more than 20 years, Jon and Caroline Parsons and their sidekick Jerome Hawkes have performed string band music. It’s a unique sound the trio has perfected. They all sing, write songs and play several instruments. There will be light refreshments. Call 910-483-1344 for more information.

The Rape Crisis Center of Cumberland County will host Walk Awhile in Her Shoes at 7 p.m. This event raises awareness of sexual violence. Proceeds benefit the RCCC in combatting and preventing sexual violence.

Cape Fear Studios opens its Alpha Romeo Tango “ART” exhibit March 23. Military personnel and their family members and retires answered a call for art to put together this exhibit. There will be a people’s choice award for the beginner and professional categories. Call 910-433-2986 for details.

To learn more about 4th Friday and the many activities that take place downtown, call the Cool Spring Downtown District at 910-223-1089.

Each spring, children around the country anticipate a visit from the Easter bunny. The Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation takes things a step further, offering an entire morning with the Easter bunny to include activities and more. Breakfast with the Easter Bunny and Easter Egg Scramble is set for Saturday, March 31, at 7:30 a.m. in the lobby of the ASOM.

“This is a fundraiser to raise money for the museum, and it is a great way to get the kids involved in this family event,” said Jim Ryder, director of public relations and marketing. “We also have the Easter Egg Scramble, which typically draws up to 2,000 people.” Ryder added that for the egg scramble they put out thousands of eggs. Inside each egg is a toy or a piece of candy. The kids run out and pick up as many eggs as they can.

Breakfast will consist of sausage, pancakes and drinks. “The money we raise is used for the upkeep and maintenance of the museum as well as modifying any new exhibits we might have,” said Ryder.

The Easter Egg Scramble is broken down into age groups to keep things fair for younger participants. Children 2 and under hunt at 9:30 a.m. and 10:20 a.m.; 3-year-olds at 9:40 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; 4- and 5-year-olds at 9:50 a.m. and 10:40 a.m., 6- and 7-year-olds at 10 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.; and 8- to 10-year-olds at 10:10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

“We look forward to this event and invite everyone to come out and enjoy breakfast and the egg scramble,” said Ryder.

ASOM opened in downtown Fayetteville in 2000. It tells the story of the airborne and special operations soldiers from 1940 to the present. It houses a permanent display that is designed as a self-guided tour on the main floor and hosts exhibits throughout the year in its temporary gallery.

Ticket cost for breakfast with the Easter Bunny is $10 for adults, $5 for children 3-5 and free with a paying adult for children 2 and under. The Easter Egg Scramble is free. The Easter Bunny will also be available for pictures.

For more information, call 910-643-2778. Registration is required. Visit http://shop.asomf.org to register online.

Some big names that were fixtures on the Cape Fear High School softball roster for the last few seasons are no more.

Stars like Haley Cashwell, Bri Bryant, Kaitlyn Knuckles and Kayla Molivas graduated, leaving Colt co-coach Jeff McPhail more than a few holes to fill this season.

“We’re probably going to go back to being young again,’’ he said after leading the Colts to the 4-A championship series with North Davidson last year. “It will be hard to replace Haley and Bri and all of them, but these kids have been at workouts over the fall and winter, really working hard at it.’’

The good news for McPhail is pitching returns intact – with an important addition. Both Katie Murphy and MacKenzie Peters are back for the Colts. They’re joined by a senior newcomer, Frankie Steins.

Steins was an All-State selection at J.L. Mann High School in Greenville, Sout Carolina, last year. Originally from Southern Regional High School in New Jersey, she’s won a United States Specialty Sports Association World Series title and the Pony Nationals. She has committed to play for North Carolina Central University.

I think she’s going to help us,’’ McPhail said. “With Murphy and Peters throwing the ball, we’re going to be loaded up with three pitchers.’’

Replacing all the offense lost with the exit of Cashwell and Bryant will be the big concern for McPhail.

Fortunately, some productive bats do return in the form of Sammi Jo Loney, Alyssa Goshorn and Sidney Gronowski.

Loney batted .450 and was second to Bryant in the county in RBIs with 48.

Gronowski batted .333 and drove in 32 runs. Goshorn had 28 RBIs.

“Sammi Jo is the leader of the crop,’’ McPhail said.

Loney said the feeling is a little different on this year’s team with all the graduation losses, but she said that familiar Cape Fear chemistry is there. “Everybody has gotten the feel for it,’’ she said. “We’re getting to know each other and working really good together.’’

She thinks with the addition of Steins, pitching will continue to be solid. “She’s a good pitcher and has pretty good movement,’’ Loney said.

Aside from the changes in personnel, the Colts will be facing some new opponents when it comes state playoff time. Realignment moved them into the 3-A classification, and in some ways McPhail thinks the road to a state title could be tougher than it was as a 4-A team.

“Hillsborough Orange is back and West Brunswick is bringing everybody back,’’ he said. Greenville D.H. Conley, a familiar Cape Fear playoff rival from 4-A, is also dropping down to compete at the 3-A level.

“If we do make it to the playoffs, the competition will still be there,’’ Loney said. “I think we’ll do well this year.’’

Photos: (L) Frankie Steins; (R) Sammi Jo Loney

Fayetteville City Council isn’t satisfied with the draft of a revised ordinance the city attorney’s office has proposed to deal with panhandling in the city. Police Attorney Brandon Christian outlined an ordinance that would fine occupants of motor vehicles for giving items to panhandlers in the roadway.

“There is ambiguity in the way the ordinance was drafted,” Christian admitted. He told council the U.S. Supreme Court has held that offering money to someone is a First Amendment form of protected free speech.

Council members urged the city attorney’s office to concentrate on dealing with beggars as a public safety issue instead of a panhandling issue. Six months ago, council member Jim Arp raised concerns about panhandlers disrupting business, noting that customers are often preyed upon in busy shopping areas by men begging for money.

Freshman Councilwoman Tisha Waddell urged her colleagues to stop referring to the ordinance draft as a panhandling regulation. “It’s about the safety of the streets,” Waddell said.

Others agreed with Waddell’s views, including Police Chief Gina Hawkins.

“We don’t have the manpower to enforce panhandling,” she said. She and others noted the existing ordinance and the new draft treat violations as civil not criminal issues. “I’m in favor of keeping safe streets for everyone, and right now it’s not safe with people in the medians,” Hawkins said.

Mayor Pro-Tem Ted Mohn said he wanted the administration to recognize enforcement differences along residential streets and thoroughfares. He said he would be in favor of changing the ordinance to allow the exchange of items between pedestrians and motorists on neighborhood streets that are not clearly marked as traffic lanes. That, he said, would allow ice cream venders to conduct business in residential communities. He cited it as one example of the difficulty of crafting an ordinance on panhandling.

Councilman D.J. Haire said he has concerns about penalizing people for giving money and clothing to panhandlers. Johnny Dawkins agreed. “I’m not going to support fining people for giving money,” he said.

The city’s original ordinance, which is still on the books, was adopted in 2008. It bans panhandling in the downtown area, and everywhere in the city after dark. It prohibits panhandlers from begging while standing on roadway medians and shoulders, but as a practical matter it is rarely enforced. Courts have declined to prosecute panhandlers.

“We have to deal with this in a comprehensive way,” Arp said. He and most other members of council want to undertake a massive public education campaign designed to discourage residents from giving money to panhandlers while at the same time keeping panhandlers out of the streets.

“We’ve missed the point … it’s not about giving; it’s where they give,” Arp said. City staff will continue efforts to perfect an ordinance.

When Robin Burnum relocated from Rhode Island to Hope Mills eight years ago, she’d never worked in a restaurant or experienced life in a small Southern town.

But operating her own restaurant was something that had been on her bucket list. After her mother passed away in 2010 and left her some money, she headed South toward Fort Bragg, where her brother was stationed.

“I was driving through Hope Mills while I was visiting and I saw a for rent sign,’’ she said. It was on the restaurant on Main Street in Hope Mills formerly known as Big John’s.

Burnum decided to take a leap of faith and opened Robin’s on Main. “All of it is a challenge,’’ she said. “Every day’s a challenge, just learning how to cook Southern. That was a big challenge.’’

She said it took her about a year to learn the ins and outs of preparing Southern favorites like grits and biscuits. She took tips from her helpful customers who showed her how to do it.

Those same familiar customers became the heart and soul of her business, everyday folks she said she would be lost without.

She’s currently open Tuesday through Friday from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturdays from 6 a.m.-1 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Beginning April 3, those hours will change. From Thursday through Saturday, her hours will be extended until 7 p.m.

That’s because of the long-awaited return of Hope Mills Lake, which Burnum has never experienced. When she arrived in town, the lake had disappeared for a second time when the repaired dam failed.

“It’s a beautiful lake,’’ she said. “People tell me I’m going to be extremely busy.’’

That’s not surprising, lake or no lake, with the offerings Burnum features on her menu.

A breakfast favorite at Robin’s on Main is something called the Fried Pan Pileup. It includes home fries with egg, cheese, bacon, peppers and onions, topped with sausage gravy and piled into a single bowl.

With the coming extended hours, Burnum is planning some menu changes.

A new dinner staple will be mashed potatoes, corn and chicken or steak with gravy for dinner. On Saturdays she’ll offer T-bone or ribeye steaks.

But Burnum isn’t just about making a profit for herself. She also gives back to the community during the holiday season.

On Christmas Eve she offers a free meal to first responders, including police, fire and emergency medical personnel. From 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. they can dine on a buffet that includes prime rib and shrimp among other delicacies.

On Thanksgiving, she opens her doors to provide free meals to the homeless and others down on their luck. “It’s for anybody that needs a meal,’’ she said.

At the moment, the person most in need of help may be Burnum herself. The building her restaurant calls home is old and in need of remodeling. Her grill recently went out, and as of this writing she’s been closed a little over a week waiting for it to be replaced. By the time this story is published, she hopes to be back in business with a new grill.

“I believe I’ll be okay,’’ she said of her regulars. “I’ve reached out to my locals and told them I’m closed.’’

Part of the reason she thinks she’ll be fine is the nature of Hope Mills.

“It reminds me of the ‘Andy Griffith Show,’’’ she said. “Mayberry. It’s a small town, and I believe everybody sticks together and is willing to help each other.’’

Photo: Robin Burnum

Jack Britt High School’s time to savor sharing last year’s first-ever share of a conference baseball championship with Cape Fear is over.

Not only do the Buccaneers no longer have time to celebrate, they won’t even get to defend the title. Realignment by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association moved Britt out of the defunct Mid-South 4-A Conference and into the realigned and powerful Sandhills 4-A Conference, where multiple teams, including Scotland, Pinecrest, Richmond Senior and Hoke County, have state baseball championships on their respective resumes.

But Britt head coach Dr. Christopher Dague is looking at the season ahead with anything but a negative attitude. “I feel we have a lot of positive pieces coming back,’’ Dague said. “The kids have had a good fall, and we worked hard. A lot of the reason we were successful last year is the kids bought in. I think if we do that this year, we’ll be fine.’’

The good news for Dague is he returns a solid core of pitchers who have already committed to play baseball at the college level. The group includes Brennen Herbert, Brendan Shea and Nick Lee. Herbert will attend Appalachian State University, Shea William Peace University and Lee Wake Technical Community College.

“Looking at it as a former pitcher, pitching wins championships,’’ Dague said of the trio.

Herbert was 7-1 last season with a 1.25 earned run average. Lee and Shea recorded 36 and 28 strikeouts respectively.

The big question for Dague is where the team’s offensive production will come from.

“We’ll have to see once the season starts,’’ he said. Herbert is also among the offensive leaders returning with a .337 batting average that included a double, two triples and two home runs. He was second in Cumberland County Schools last season with 25 RBIs.

“This year we’re going to try and win another conference championship and make a name for ourselves,’’ Herbert said. “We lost a lot of good leaders, but we can replace some of those guys. The seniors have got to do what we’ve got to do and leave on a good note.’’

Some of the younger players Dague will be counting on to take on bigger roles are shortstop Alex Reyna and catcher Chandler Cannon.

Cannon batted .314 for the Buccaneers last season. Reyna had five doubles and a triple and drove in 15 runs.

“We’ve got to have a couple of guys step up and replace those guys that left,’’ Herbert said. “We’ve got to stick together."

“We’ve got to be a team and listen to Coach Dague and all the other coaches. We’ll be fine.’’

Photos: (L) Brennen Herbert; (R) Dr. Christopher Dague

Fayetteville’s Dogwood Festival has been designated the best event in the southeast U.S. by the Southeast Festivals and Events Association. The honor was announced at the association’s annual conference in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Events in eight states were eligible for awards.

“We are beyond thrilled to bring home this prestigious award for our community,” said Carrie King, Fayetteville Dogwood Festival executive director. “The spirit of the Fayetteville community made the Dogwood Festival a natural choice for the award.”

The Dogwood Festival has received top honors from local, state, regional and international organizations. The annual event is a private undertaking committed to providing a variety of family-centered activities each spring and has done so for 36 years. The 2018 festival will take place April 26–29 in downtown Fayetteville.

Mayor concerned about racial inequities

Fayetteville City Council has withdrawn City Attorney Karen McDonald’s selection of two local attorneys in a nationwide civil action against prescription opioid manufacturers and wholesale distributors. Attorneys Terry Hutchens and Billy Richardson volunteered to represent the city of Fayetteville in cooperation with two national groups of lawyers who have taken the opioid manufacturers and distributors to court.

The lawsuit is being presided over by a single federal judge. The objectives of the legal consortiums are to recover the costs of dealing with opioid abuse and to eventually reimburse local communities for their costs of fighting the epidemic.

Mayor Mitch Colvin objected to McDonald’s awarding of the contract to the lawyers without going through the city’s bidding process. Colvin told Up & Coming Weekly that local attorneys Jonathan Charleston, Allen Rogers and Lila Washington, all black, had asked him why they hadn’t been offered an opportunity to represent the city.

“There needs to be local and minority inclusion in this city, and it has not happened for years,” Colvin said.

McDonald disagreed with Colvin’s characterization of events.

“This is a cultural change,” Colvin said.

City council revoked McDonald’s action and ordered the administration to invite other attorneys to offer their services. No money is at stake except that eventually cities and counties could receive damages and the lawyers would earn compensation.

Cumberland County Primary Election preliminaries

The 2018 May Primary Elections are just around the corner. Local and state primaries are May 8 this year. Early voting begins in mid-April. Six voting places have been established for one-stop voting.

The Board of Elections voting hours are:

Thursday-Friday, April 19- 20; 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Monday-Friday, April 23-27; 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday, April 28; 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Monday-Friday, April 30-May 4; 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday, May 5; 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Cliffdale Recreation Center, North Regional Library, Hope Mills Recreation Center, East Regional Library and Gray’s Creek Recreation Center voting hours are:

Thursday-Friday, April 19-20; 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Monday-Friday, April 23-27; 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 28; 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Monday-Friday, April 30-May 4; 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 5; 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Grove Street bridge closed for repairs

The Grove Street bridge over the Cape Fear River has been closed this month for repair and maintenance work that will extend its longevity. Concrete repairs are being made below the bridge. Deck joints on the driving surface are also being fixed. The bridge was built in 1974 and carries about 25,000 vehicles a day. Portable detour signs have been erected.

While the bridge is closed, locals are being detoured using Cedar Creek Road and Clinton Road, which becomes Person Street, and U.S. 301/Business 95.

For updates on the bridge closure or other realtime travel information, go to DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

PWC water changes may be noticeable

The Fayetteville Public Works Commission has temporarily stopped adding ammonia to its water treatment disinfection process. The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources requires all water systems that add ammonia to their drinking water to discontinue its use for a one-month period annually. PWC will resume adding ammonia to the water treatment disinfection process April 1.

This month, fire hydrants are being opened frequently to flush the water distribution system. During the month, chlorine may be more noticeable, and some customers may experience discolored water because of the flushing.

FTCC hosts Fayetteville’s fourth annual Foodtrepreneur Forum this Thursday

Kent Hill, FTCC director of the Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Small Business, is excited that the school, alongside the Center for Economic Empowerment and Development, is cohosting Fayetteville’s fourth annual Foodtrepreneur Forum Thursday, March 15. The conference and expo focuses on the rapidly growing opportunities for food trucks and other mobile food service options, such as pushcarts and pop-up coffee bars. The event will begin at 8 a.m. in the Tony Rand Student Center at FTCC’s Fayetteville campus, located at 2201 Hull Rd.

Attendees will be offered a variety of learning opportunities, including how to build a solid business plan for any food truck and how to collaborate with other local mobile businesses. There will be advice and testimonies from successful restaurateurs and food truck owners. Food industry experts will be on hand offering advice. There is even a tour of the successful “R Burger” food truck scheduled.

In addition, there will be a panel discussion about how to get started in the food truck business, managing costs, food truck public and trade relations and obstacles to avoid in food truck marketing.

Kent Hill and FTCC’s Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Small Business is the go-to resource for helpful business seminars, one-onone confidential business counseling and expert guidance to assist entrepreneurs in launching new businesses or to help existing businesses grow their companies. All these FTCC SBC services, seminars and resources are free.

Online registration is required for entry to the free Foodtrepreneur Forum on March 15. Seating is limited, so early registration is highly recommended. Visit http://tiny.cc.ftccsbc to secure your spot.

 

The Fayetteville City Council voted 9-1 to approve $300,000 of city funds for the baseball stadium construction with the only holdout being District 2 Councilman Tyrone Williams.

What is that all about? The Fayetteville Observer reported that Williams’ rejection was because of his concern over the costs. Few people are buying that explanation, and many are hoping he will provide a more detailed and justified explanation in the very near future. After all, his District 2 includes the heart of downtown Fayetteville and is in the best position to benefit from the baseball stadium development project.

Another reason for disappointment in and skepticism of his vote is that the baseball stadium is the biggest economic development opportunity Fayetteville has seen in decades. And, even though being fiscally responsible with taxpayers’ money is the highest priority of every council member, the people expect the city council, including Williams, to know and understand all the short-term and long-term economic benefits and positive quality-of-life implications a project of this magnitude will have on the community.

Here are my thoughts about this major undertaking and why nine out of 10 council members did support the additional $300,000 of city funding.

The baseball stadium and the new development that will come to Fayetteville as a result will no doubt be a catalyst for future economic growth. We already have indicators predicting that. This means Fayetteville and Cumberland County will be able to recruit new businesses and industry to the community. This means new job creation and the ability to expand our tax base beyond residential property owners. What’s not to like about that?

In addition, the new baseball stadium will be the home of the World Series Champions – the Houston Astros. Fayetteville will receive national exposure as the country focuses on the Astros’ Minor League training and development of the superstars of tomorrow. All of this will be great for attracting new businesses and industry to Cumberland County. Fayetteville negotiated a $9 million, 30- year lease with the Astros. This is a longterm investment.

Another unique and encouraging feature of the baseball stadium project is that it comes with an immediate private commitment and investment of $65 million of new economic development, including renovation of the Prince Charles Hotel (again), a much-needed flagship hotel that will be named very soon, a parking deck, residential condominiums and corporate office spaces.

It’s all part of the master plan with a projected $7.2 million in annual economic output. The annual labor income is projected $1.7 million with 1,086 fulltime construction jobs just to build the stadium. In addition, we can expect new property tax revenue and increased sales tax revenues for both the city and county. More hotel beds, more restaurants, more shopping and more visitors.

If that’s not enough, consider this: No tax rate adjustments are anticipated for the stadium funding model. Lease payments provide 17 percent of the funding; parking revenues are expected to provide 8 percent of the funding; new development at the Hay Street site estimates city and county taxes to provide 15 percent of funding; and the savings from a variety of areas within the General Fund are expected to provide 60 percent of the required funding.

I am not well-versed in all the details of the baseball stadium project. However, everything I mentioned above provides national exposure and makes Fayetteville and Cumberland County attractive to newcomers and new business and industry. All of this works in conjunction with the prescribed city and county mandates to help retain current business, increase Fayetteville’s civic and community pride and improve quality of life for our residents.

I’m sure Councilman Williams of District 2 has a better understanding of the stadium project than I do. In the big scheme of things, $300,000 sounds like a pretty good investment to me. I hope he comes around. We need leaders with vision. This is no time to be on the sidelines playing it safe or being coy. This is the future of our community. We need to move aggressively forward with the baseball stadium master plan and do it in a way that fosters inclusion, enthusiasm, excitement and cooperation. In other words, it’s time for us to “play ball,” and we desperately need to win this game.

For the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community, this is our World Series. It’s the last inning of the final game, the score is tied, the bases are loaded, and (your name here) is coming up to bat.

Thank you for playing, I mean, thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Dr. Bob Kretzu, pastor at Hope Mills United Methodist Church, thinks there’s a connection between art and faith.

“Art is an inherently spiritual activity,’’ he said. “It’s like a meditative, creative process.’’

That’s why for the second year in a row he’s offering something called Paint and Pray. Every Friday from noon until four through Good Friday, all are invited to come to Hope Mills United Methodist Church at 4955 Legion Rd. and work on their own artistic creation while taking part in a time of prayer and meditation.

Before he got into pastoral ministry 25 years ago, Kretzu, a former resident of Honolulu, Hawaii, had extensive experience in the world of art. He started as a child, taking classes at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Eventually he got into industrial design, commercial art and computer graphics.

All that took place while he was out of the ministry. Painting is actually a late addition to his talents. He didn’t take that up seriously until 2012.

“It’s a really accessible way of using art in a pastoral setting,’’ he said of the Paint and Pray gatherings.

He especially likes doing portraits and prefers to work in oils, but for the purpose of the Paint and Pray meetings he tries to keep things simple for potential newcomers to the world of art.

“For working with kids or adults, teaching art, acrylics are so much faster,’’ he said. “They dry faster, are easier to work with and wash out with water.’’

He got the idea for Paint and Pray when he was pondering what to do for the Lenten season last year at Hope Mills. “This church didn’t have a tradition of Stations of the Cross,’’ Kretzu said. So instead of actually observing the Stations of the Cross, Kretzu decided to offer people the chance to paint them.

This year, he’s shifted the emphasis to the seven days of creation.

People from all over are invited to come and bring their own art supplies and take part. Kretzu said acrylic paint, inexpensive paint canvas and easels are readily available from a number of local businesses.

To keep purchases at a minimum, Kretzu said you can get by without an easel, although he prefers to use one. For colors, he suggests focusing on red, blue, yellow, black and white. He only uses two brushes, one flat tip and one pointed tip. For a palette, he suggests a plastic plate.

Some people have kept things really simple, he said, and just brought a pad of drawing paper and either pencil or charcoal.

“People make their own interpretation, and I think that’s a good process,’’ he said. “This year we’re each doing our own interpretation of creation.’’

Kretzu thinks the community aspect of the program helps encourage people both in exploring art and in developing spiritually.

“It’s easier to be in a fitness program if you’ve got an accountability partner,’’ he said. “Obviously, some artists do fine working alone, but I think there’s a significant number that need that kind of collaboration, encouragement and accountability.’’

For those with no background in art, Kretzu is glad to lend his guidance and expertise.

He shares advice on choice of colors and tips on how to create an image.

“We try to get it all done within four hours,’’ he said. “It involves simplifying the image. I go around and help people with color mixing.’’

Kretzu said he once read a story about a ballerina who was asked after a performance what it meant to her. He said the ballerina replied, “If I could have put it in words I wouldn’t have danced it.”

“When you paint, there is something spiritual I believe that happens, whether you are painting a sacred subject or not. There’s a spiritual dialogue going on. You meditate on the subject matter.’’

Newcomers are welcome to join the weekly sessions each Friday from now until Good Friday on March 30. For more information, contact Kretzu at the church at 910-425-0108.

Photo: Dr. Bob Kretzu