The Fayetteville Technical Community College Foundation is proud to present its 3rd Annual Trojan Fit 5K Color Run on April 22.

The event will take place at FTCC's Fayetteville campus with two different routes to accommodate all who want to participate. There will be a full 5K route for the more “color-tastic” runners and a slightly shorter route for strollers, bikers, and walkers.

This community 5K was created to include everyone and to have fun.

Participating in the event as a runner or walker costs $35.00, including the Annual Trojan Fit 5K Color Run Shirt. Participants can register, pay online and even explore the website for the race map and additional information. The map gives a visual of the path and labels where the color and drink stations will be located.

This race is truly created for everyone in mind to participate and support in their personal way. For those who do not want to run but still wish to participate, you can register as a sponsor and donate.
The race will also host various local vendors and the FTCC campus clubs. This is a great way to see what is locally available in Fayetteville and what FTCC students do for their campus community.

The Trojan Fit 5K Color Run is a huge campus event requiring a lot of support and coordination from faculty and staff. If you want to help support the Trojan Fit 5K team, you can also sign up to volunteer.
Volunteers will have various jobs, such as working water stations, checking-in, working color stations, and so much more.

The purposes of FTCC’s Foundation are (1) To raise money from private sources to build up the FTCC Foundation financial base, (2) To manage the collection, investment, and distribution of private gifts for FTCC students, faculty, and staff, (3) And to provide meaningful programs and services to FTCC alumni and friends by managing an effective alumni program.

The FTCC Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Providing a donation to FTCC Foundation means an opportunity to make a positive difference for qualifying students who are trying to improve their quality of life through education.

We hope you will come out to FTCC’s beautiful Fayetteville campus to support your local community and students of Fayetteville Technical Community College by participating in the 3rd Annual Trojan Fit 5K Color

Run! It’s a great way for everyone to enjoy outdoors on a spring day, to meet new friends, and to contribute in a positive way to the community by helping FTCC students.

For more information, please visit www.faytechcc.edu/foundation-events/, email foundation@faytechcc.edu, or call 910-678-8441.

March is Women’s History Month. This year's theme, “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories,” acknowledges the pioneering women, past and present, as important contributors to the achievements of the military services and civilian workforce, stated Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr., Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness in a memorandum.

“We recognize the accomplishments of women in the department and their contributions to national security which helps maximize the department’s warfighting capabilities,” he stated, providing examples:
These women and their stories represent the many untold stories in DOD of women who took on mission-critical assignments and advanced as leaders in the military, research, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, he stated.

“The department celebrates their collective victories which strengthen our workforce because we can leverage their unique experiences, perspectives and expertise in support of our mission. In addition, they inspire future generations of young women from all backgrounds who desire to be a part of the department and share in its mission,” Cisneros stated.

In 1971, women made up just 1% of the military services. Ten years later, it was 8.5%

However, women at that time were not allowed to serve in combat military occupational specialties like infantry, artillery and combat aviation.

As of Oct. 2022, there were 231,147 women who made up around 18% of the department’s active duty force and all jobs have opened to them in recent years. Also, about 33% of DOD civilians are women.
In the Coast Guard, as of Jan. 31, there were 6,220 active duty women out of about 41,000 total members.

In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. A special presidential proclamation is issued every year which honors their extraordinary achievements to include those who have or are serving in the armed forces.

Although there were instances of women serving in the military in every U.S. war, it wasn't until World War I when policy allowed them to serve in non-combat jobs to free up men to fight. Altogether, about 34,000 women served during World War II in the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The Army only allowed women to serve as nurses.

With the end of the war on Nov. 11, 1918, women in all military branches were demobilized except for some Army and Navy nurses. During World War II, the military once again faced a manpower shortage as they had in World War I. The services began accepting women who served in the Women's Army Corps; the Navy’s Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, more commonly known as WAVES; the Marine Corps Women's Reserve; and the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve.

The acronym for the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, interestingly, is SPAR, which stands for Semper Paratus — Always Ready. In June 1948 President Harry S. Truman signed the Women’s Armed Service Integration Act allowing women to receive regular permanent status in the armed forces, which by then included the Air Force.

In addition to Women's History Month, there’s also International Women’s Day, which is celebrated March 8 of each year. In a statement on that day, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III noted that DOD “recognizes the tremendous, enduring contributions that women soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, guardians and civilian employees have made in service to our country.”

From America’s first days, women have made profound sacrifices. They have made innovative contributions to national security and blazed trails for future generations, Auston said.

Since the Revolutionary War, more than 3 million women have served, even before the military fully recognized their service, he noted.

“Though the Department has made significant progress to break down stubborn barriers for women in the U.S. military, we know that we still have more to do to promote inclusion and well-being and to give all our teammates the opportunity to rise to their full potential,” Austin stated.

“I am personally committed to this vital work. To ensure that we continue to have the strongest fighting force in the world, we must draw on the full power of all our people,” he added.

Fayetteville PWC will host its premiere free and annual Power & Water Conservation Expo, allowing individuals and families to learn about conservation and how to save on their utility bills.

The Power & Water Conservation Expo is on Friday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at SkyView on Hay in downtown Fayetteville, located at 121 Hay Street. The event is open to all, and admission is free.

The event will feature a variety of experts from PWC. The Expo is an excellent opportunity for PWC customers to speak with customer service representatives in person instead of on the phone; they can help answer your questions.

Those in attendance can learn about PWC’s incentive programs, such as how attendees can benefit from the federal income tax credits by making their homes more energy efficient. That helps the environment while reducing energy costs by talking to an incentive program specialist who could help you save money.

PWC linemen will also be present for those in attendance to meet and answer questions about what they do.

The Watershed staff will also be available to explain how your drinking water quality is protected. Further, according to a representative from Fayetteville PWC, job seekers should also attend the Expo because a representative will be available to discuss the various job opportunities at PWC.

There will be free give-away boxes filled with conservation goodies, including LED bulbs, that will be available for those in attendance to take home. The first 500 in attendance will receive a free tote bag.

Attendees can also pick up a ‘Fat Trapper’ to help ‘Cease the Grease,’ and learn how to properly dispose of fats and oils to help prevent clogging pipes.

According to the PWC website, the ‘Fat Trapper’ is a plastic unit with a foil-lined bag to pour your fat and grease in. PWC customers can register to win a $100 credit on their bill.

The family-friendly expo will also have a ‘Kids Korner’ with fun activities for children to learn about conservation.

The expo is an opportunity for customers looking to learn, grow and conserve. So mark your calendar for Friday, March 24, and attend the PWC’s 9th annual Power & Water Conservation Expo.
For more information, visit https://www.faypwc.com/pwc-expo/ or call 910-223-4009.

On Saturday, March 11, at around 1:30 in the afternoon: I was brave.

Now, it’s not something for which I plan to make a full-time habit, but it's nice to know it’s in there somewhere.

When I was offered an opportunity to go “Over the Edge” for United Way of Cumberland County, I’ll be honest — I did not want to. Despite the wonderful work United Way does for our community by funding initiatives and connecting people to vital resources for the betterment of their lives, writing a check seemed like a better plan than rappelling down a 50-foot building.

The “Over The Edge” fundraiser called upon people in the community to help United Way of Cumberland County reach their goal of $140,000 by raising money for the opportunity to rappel down the Cape Fear Valley Medical Arts Center in downtown Fayetteville. Fun, right?

Initially, blind excitement edged out my well-documented fear of heights and general lack of athletic skill. However, as the days ticked closer, I had some doubts. My focus became less and less “this is going to be so awesome!” to “how do I get out of this?”

I went over every conceivable possibility of disaster. Sure, 50 feet may not seem like much, but for me, they may have well asked me to rappel from the moon. Two hours before my check-in time, I embodied the phrase “green around the gills.” A slow-moving dread made every step toward the brightly canopied kiosk not only difficult but painful. Still, with anxiety beating in my throat like a heart, I stepped up and signed in.

So, why bother? Great question, and the answer is twofold: one, I believe in what United Way is doing for Cumberland County, and two, I recently had a birthday.
While I won’t provide an exact number, chiefly because seeing it in print will make me cry, I can confidently say I’m old enough to remember hearing the Backstreet Boys’ debut single on the radio but young enough to reboot my own router. The point is the older I get, the more determined I am to do the things that scare me.

As a mother, I want my kids to see me at my most amazing, and as a wife, I want to remind my husband what a rockstar he married. Most of all, I just wanted to say to myself: yeah, you were scared, but you did it anyway.

And I’m so glad I did. The experience itself, despite weeks of worry, was phenomenal and went more smoothly than I could have imagined.

Upon entering the building, I was helped into my gear immediately by a very patient man who didn’t seem to mind my minute-to-minute pivot between nervous laughter and hyperventilation. He was thorough, checked everything twice, and when I was properly rigged, sent me to another gentleman for a final check. I can honestly say this reduced my overall fear by about 40%.

My journey to the roof by way of 24 stairs was a long one, each step bringing me closer to an experience I wasn’t sure I could handle. But I’d made a commitment to United Way and a commitment to myself — turning back was not an option.

It was a beautiful day, a bit cold but clear, and it felt comforting to stand in the sunshine to await my fate. After a short but effective lesson on how to use my gear, which ropes and levers to pull, and the many, many built-in safety features to keep me from plummeting to the earth, it was my turn.

Gulp.

I was helped to the edge of the roof, heels dangling over nothing, and panic ran through me like a current. Though I’d practiced sitting back in my harness and trusting it to hold me earlier in the week, it was nothing compared to taking that first step off the ledge.

Downtown Fayetteville is beautiful from 50 feet up in the air.

After that initial cautious step of faith, I had a little time to appreciate the view of our beautiful city. As I made my way down, I realized how silly I’d been. The lesson, though brief, helped me feel safe and confident as I scaled down the Medical Arts building with an agility akin to Spider-Man (I hope) and amongst the cheers calling for me to “go, girl!” I could hear my family urging me on from below. At that moment, I felt like flying.

Now, safely on the ground, I look back at the experience with no small measure of pride. I did a scary thing, and I survived. I need to keep that in mind. After all, to date, I’ve belly danced, shot 70 feet in the air over a fan, and made a valiant attempt to “hoist” myself through aerial rings (in front of people), none of which I’d ever thought I’d do.

It’s important to remember I’ve been brave before.

Editor’s note: Donations for the United Way of Cumberland County Over the Edge campaign can be made until April 11 at https://give.overtheedge.events/ote-UWCumberlandCounty?ref=sh_7BzjN7_ab_9JPwHafblln9JPwHafblln

Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr. has added two educators to his leadership team.
The Board of Education approved the administrative appointments on March 14., according to a news release.

Mellotta B. Hill was named chief academic officer.

Hill earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education at East Carolina University in 1993; a master of school administration degree from Fayetteville State University in 2003; and a doctor of education in educational leadership from Fayetteville State University in 2014.

Hill started her career as a fourth-grade teacher in Pitt County Schools. She moved to CCS and taught at Ferguson-Easley Elementary School. Since then, she has worked in numerous capacities, including North Carolina Principal Fellows intern; assistant principal and principal; assistant superintendent of K-12 instructional programs.

Jennifer L. Lloyd was named director of professional development.

Lloyd earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Pittsburg State University in 2001 and a master of science degree in education with a specialization in reading and literacy from Capella University in 2019.

An educator for more than 20 years, she began teaching third-graders in 2002 at Pocalla Springs Elementary School in Sumter, South Carolina. She relocated to CCS as a remediation tutor and then an instructional coach at J.W. Seabrook Elementary School. Lloyd joined the Central Services staff as grants management coordinator, K-5 English language arts curriculum specialist, and instructional programs coordinator.

The architect for the John W. Hodges Public Safety Center will ask for more than $1 million to finish the project when the town board meets Monday night, March 20.

Scott Garner says a budget amendment in the amount of $1,172,250 will cover the remainder of the building.
The Board of Commissioners will meet at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.

“The additional budget covers the Phase 1, survey and title insurance for the new parking lot portion, interest on the construction loan extension, and additional furniture and change orders, …” says town Finance Director Drew Holland in a memo to interim Town Manager Chancer Mclaughlin.

“We have reduced the budget amounts for building lease and miscellaneous, allocating $22,500 of the interest income we have received. A majority of the budget amendment is showing the remaining contingency of $730,426. This will allow the total project budget for USDA financing to equal the $17 million cap we set at the beginning of the project,” wrote Holland.

The town’s staff recommends approving the budget amendment.

In other business, a public hearing is scheduled on a contiguous annexation of 8.11 acres at Waldo’s Beach and Camden roads.

Also, the board will hear a rezoning case that would change 15.11 acres from R7.5 single-family residential to CP2 planned service and retail classification. The property is at 7050 Rockfish Road. The request was submitted on behalf of Crosspoint Church, owner of the property.

Anyone who wishes to speak during the public-comment period is asked to sign up 15 minutes before the start of the meeting and to limit comments to three minutes.

Under new business, the town will consider setting a public hearing at 7 p.m. April 3 on the proposed annexation of land contiguous with the town limits. The 8.23-acre property belongs to Bridgeport Homes and is near the intersection of Hunting Ridge and Rockfish roads.

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners on Monday, March 20 is scheduled to consider an agreement between the county and all its municipalities on how they will share sales tax revenue for the next two years.

Former County Manager Amy Cannon late last year warned the commissioners that the deadline to submit a request to the N.C. General Assembly to change the way tax revenue is distributed would be in April. County administrators presented the board an option of moving to the ad valorem method, which means distribution based on the proportion of the total tax levy each entity accounts for. That method would provide more revenue for the county.

The county currently distributes sales tax revenue on a per capita basis, but it has an interlocal agreement with the municipalities to share the growth in tax revenue on a 40%-60% basis, with the county receiving 40% of the growth revenue.

The issue is on the board’s consent agenda for its meeting scheduled at 6:45 p.m. Monday in Room 118 of the Cumberland County Courthouse. The item was not on the agenda at a meeting earlier this month when topics are considered for future board meetings. Items on the consent agenda of regular board meetings typically bypass discussion or debate. However, one commissioner may ask to have an item taken off the consent agenda for discussion.

That request is voted on by the full board.

The distribution method among the county and its municipalities was discussed Feb. 3 by members of the Cumberland County Mayors Coalition, according to Brian Haney, assistant county manager and spokesman for Cumberland County.

“During this meeting, members of the Mayors Coalition expressed their concerns regarding the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners potentially voting to change the sales tax distribution method from per capita to ad valorem,” Haney wrote in an email to explain how the decision came about.

CityView requested a copy of the minutes of the coalition’s meeting from the town of Eastover, whose staff was responsible for the minutes of that meeting.

The Eastover town clerk has not responded to that request.

According to Cumberland County’s website, the coalition consists of the mayors of Eastover, Falcon, Fayetteville, Godwin, Hope Mills, Linden, Spring Lake, Stedman and Wade. The chair of the county commissioners also is a coalition member. The coalition meets quarterly at varying locations.

The current sales tax agreement was agreed upon and signed by all coalition members in 2003 and expires on June 30. If no agreement is reached and the county changes to the ad valorem distribution method, it could mean significant loss of sales tax revenue for the municipalities.

The county had offered an agreement that delays the change to ad valorem taxation until June 2025, but Cumberland County would receive 100% of any growth revenue. The agreement had to be approved by all municipalities before March 15 or the county would have proceeded with the move to the ad valorem formula.

On Feb. 3, Chairwoman Toni Stewart, a member of the coalition, and Vice Chairman Glenn Adams, along with county administrators, attended the Mayors Coalition meeting. Stewart was presented with an initial agreement proposing the renewal of the existing agreement for five years under the same terms.

“This renewal had been approved by all municipal boards but was done without consultation or discussion with the Board of Commissioners or county staff,” according to Haney.

Stewart and Adams met with the chair and vice chair of the Mayors Coalition and asked that they provide an alternative proposal to the five-year extension, according to Haney.

On Feb. 17, the county board received a letter from the Mayors Coalition stating that the “request to continue the current agreement for five years is negotiable” and that the municipalities “will support continuing current dollar amounts with the county receiving all the growth for a shorter amount of time to allow the municipalities to prepare for the loss of revenue,” according to Haney.

Stewart on Feb. 24 sent a letter to Mayors Coalition Chair Jackie Warner with a proposed amendment to the distribution agreement that addresses concerns raised by the Mayors Coalition while also taking into account the county’s needs. Haney said.

The amendment provides a transition period for implementing the ad valorem distribution of revenue, extending the agreement through June 30, 2025, with 100% of growth revenue during this period going to the county. The chairwoman requested that all municipalities adopt the agreement by March 15 since the Board of Commissioners must vote on any changes to the sales tax distribution method in April, according to Haney.

Since the agreement was adopted by all municipalities, the county will delay changing to the ad valorem distribution method until July 1, 2025. This would coincide with the implementation of the 2025 property reappraisal. Had the new agreement not been adopted, the commissioners would have voted on the ad valorem distribution method in 2023.

“At the direction of the Board of Commissioners, the county attorney drafted a new sales tax agreement with a two-year term and a provision that the county would receive 100% of sales tax growth,” according to a memo to the board from then-interim County Manager Renee Paschal.

“The agreement also puts the municipalities on notice that the Board of Commissioners intends to adopt the ad valorem distribution method effective July 1, 2025. The agreement was sent to all municipalities in Cumberland County with a due date of March 15, 2023. All municipalities have approved the attached agreement,” Paschal states in her memorandum to the board.

She recommended that the board vote to approve the interlocal sales tax agreement effective July 1 this year through June 30, 2025.

Other consent agenda items

Also slated for approval are the fiscal 2024 health insurance plan changes and a request for $350,000 for restoration of the historic Orange Street School.

Presentation

The board will hear a presentation on the fiscal 2022 compliance audit by a representative of Cherry Bekaert LLP, the county’s external auditor.
April Adams, a partner with Cherry Bekaert, is scheduled to present results of the audit, which was completed on March 9. The separate financial audit results were presented at the board’s Jan. 17 meeting, when the commissioners approved an audit contract extension through March 31 to allow time to complete the compliance audit.

There were two findings reported related to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program:

The county could not provide supporting documentation of the quality reviews for 54 of the 60 case files selected.

In one out of 60 cases audited, the supporting documentation of the rent payment in arrears did not properly support the amount of payment made.

In other business, the board will consider a proposed schedule for fiscal year 2024 budget work sessions and public hearing.

Author and filmmaker Kevin P. Duffus will speak about attacks by German U-boats on Allied forces during World War II off North Carolina’s coast in a lecture this week at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

The lecture is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 23 in the Tony Rand Student Center, 2220 Hull Road.

The talk is part of FTCC's Community History Lecture Series and is free and open to the public.

Duffus is the author of the book “War Zone: WWII Off the North Carolina Coast,” on which the lecture will be based.

Duffus has written five other books and produced four documentary films on maritime history topics, including shipwrecks and lighthouses as well as the German U-boat attacks off North Carolina’s coast in 1942.

Fayetteville’s first and only size-inclusive boutique, 2313 Glitter Ave., will have its grand opening on Saturday, March 25, at 1009 Marlborough Road in Fayetteville from 11 am to 4 pm.

Carrying sizes ranging from small to 3X in nearly every clothing item, the boutique encourages women of all shapes and sizes to “Wear the Whatever.”

Customers can look forward to gift-with-purchase swag bags, a personalized claw clip station, doorbusters, and giveaways on opening day. Spacious dressing rooms, inclusive swimwear, jewelry, shoes, and more await.

Originally an online boutique, customers can still shop 24/7 on the app and arrange local pick-up at 310 Blount St. in Downtown Fayetteville.

For more information visit join the VIP Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/2313GlitterAveVIP

Fayetteville’s hottest new bar is coming to town, but only for a limited time.

From March 23 to April 9, patrons can pull up a seat, tip their hat to the man behind the bar and listen to the sounds of “local color” unfold all around them.
Though it can’t be found on any map, revelers must look no further than the Cape Fear Regional Theater stage to find the city’s latest watering hole.

“Welcome To Arroyo’s!” is Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s newest production that will take the audience on a music-driven journey through New York’s Lower East Side as a brother and sister struggle under the weight of their shared grief and grapple with the complexity of identity.

Using hip-hop to weave an intricate tapestry, “Welcome to Arroyo’s!” is a “celebration of New York, hip-hop music and culture,” explained the play’s director, José Zayas.

“It takes place at a particular time in New York when things were changing.”

Originally written by Kristoffer Diaz in 2010, “Welcome To Arroyo’s!” is a coming-of-age comedy-drama that focuses on a Puerto Rican family, siblings Alejandro and Molly Arroyo, in the wake of their mother’s death.

Struggling in the aftermath of this tragedy, each must confront the intricacies of grief and the people that come into their lives to help make sense of it.

“I think this show will bring audiences a sense of hope,” actor Jarét Benét, who plays Officer Derek in the production, shared with Up & Coming Weekly.

“Whenever you lose someone close to you, it can take a long time to get over that, but whenever someone passes on, someone new always comes along. I think what the audience will take from that is none of us is struggling alone,” he said.

As the play focuses heavily on Puerto Rican identity, presenting a cast that remained faithful to the playwright’s intentions and message was paramount to Puerto Rican-born Zayas as a director.

“It was very important to be as authentic as possible,” Zayas admitted. “There’s so many levels of identity to take into account. When you’re casting, you hope to be able to stay true to those rhythms and nuances of culture.”

For actors Jesse Muñoz and Alondra Belén, who play Alejandro and Molly, the magnitude of telling Latinx stories can’t be overstated as both share a homeland or cultural similarities to the characters they’ll portray on stage.

“These characters were born and raised in the Bronx; I was born and raised in Puerto Rico — my first language is Spanish,” shared Belén. “There are just so many cultural backgrounds to consider; we really want this to be an authentic experience.”

“Welcome to Arroyo’s!” was originally scheduled to run during the 2020 season. Due to lingering concerns about COVID-19, the production was pared down to a virtual reading, where Ashley Owen, CFRT’s Marketing Director, fell in love.

“This is one of the funniest plays I've ever listened to or watched,” Owen shared. “It’s a joyful play and would make a great adult night out. This play is so much fun, and that's what people need. If you’re 18-55, this is going to be your jam,” she joked.

In addition to the play’s universal themes and unique premise, “Welcome To Arroyo’s!” brings Hispanic stories, relationships and struggles to a space they’re not often seen — the theater.

“The Hispanic population is one of the fastest growing in North Carolina,” Owen explained. “It’s a part of our city that we recognize and see. We wanted to put on a play for people not used to seeing themselves on stage.”

To bring home the feel of a neighborhood bar, seating for the play will take place right on stage. For those with a fear of interactive performances, there’s no need to worry — the audience won’t be called upon to participate. However, CFRT still hopes to fully engage audiences in this performance with a slew of exciting touches and special events.

The “bar” in Arroyo’s will be a fully functioning concession stand where the audience can grab a drink before the show and enjoy one of the many activities scheduled for opening week.

• Thursday, March 23: District House of Taps will be in-house to host a complimentary beer-tasting before dress rehearsal.
• Friday, March 24: Guests can enjoy some pre-show hip-hop trivia.
• Opening Night, March 25: Fayetteville Latin Dance will teach a few Latin dance moves from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.
• Military Appreciation Night, March 29: Along with 25% discounted tickets for military personnel, a signature drink tasting featuring an Arroyo’s-themed drink will be revealed.
• Educator Appreciation Night, March 31: Educators will receive a 25% discounted ticket.

“Welcome to Arroyo’s!” is PG-13 and contains some adult language and themes. Tickets are $15-$28 and can be purchased on the theatre website https://www.cfrt.org/.
Cape Fear Regional Theatre is located at 1209 Hay Street.

During the early stage of the COVID crisis in 2020, my daily commute got super easy. Then it got scary hard.

While my staff and I worked from home for a few weeks, we soon concluded that some of our tasks could only be performed effectively in the office. So we resumed normal operations, albeit with some precautions.

At first, my springtime commutes from southern Wake County to my Raleigh office were delightful. The highways I traversed were lightly
traveled.

Then the speed demons took over. Whether they had always been would-be racecar drivers, or were just tempted into it by wide-open roads, I can’t say. But as early as seven in the morning, I regularly encountered motorists traveling 15 miles-per-hour or more above the speed limit on Raleigh’s Beltline and elsewhere, often dodging and weaving around slower-moving cars like mine as if they were playing some video game.

In many cases I witnessed two or more drivers clearly racing each other, oblivious to or unconcerned about the lives and property put at risk by their recklessness.
Today, almost three years later, I still witness the same behavior once or twice a week — only now the traffic is heavier and the hazards far greater.

Are bad driving habits fostered during pandemic lockdowns the sole reason North Carolina’s roads are becoming less safe? No.

After falling fairly consistently since the late 1960s, highway deaths per capita started rising about a decade ago. From 2011 to 2021, they went up 33%. More than half of that increase, however, happened over just two years: 2020 and 2021.

Although the number of people killed in car crashes in North Carolina in 2021 was the highest since 1973, we are a more populous state with more drivers on the road.

Despite the recent increase, our death rates remain far below the carnage of the 1960s and early 1970s. Our vehicles are better designed and maintained. Most of us wear seatbelts. Laws against drunk driving are clearer and more consistently enforced.

Moreover, while North Carolina’s recent uptick is worrisome — and our rate of 1.45 deaths per 100 million miles traveled is higher than the national average (1.34) — some of our nearby states are worse off, including Tennessee (1.59), Florida (1.60), West Virginia (1.66), Kentucky (1.68) and especially South Carolina (1.97).

In other words, there’s nothing unique about the recent increase in reckless driving on North Carolina’s roads and streets. It’s a broader phenomenon.

Nevertheless, we clearly have a serious problem. In most columns about such a problem, the author would conclude with a list of recommended policy changes to “fix” it. I’m not going to do that.

For one thing, it’s not clear to me that our current laws against speeding and reckless driving are inadequate, though I’m open to the possibility that we may need to hire and deploy more police officers and state troopers to enforce them. As New York police administrator John Hall observed in a 2021 Manhattan Institute paper, there is “considerable evidence that police traffic enforcement reduces crash injuries and fatalities.” (Hall also argued that increased use of automated enforcement such as traffic cameras won’t do as much to help, because there isn’t as much of a signal to passing motorists to slow down and because officers are more likely to detect and deter misbehavior such as late-night racing.)

Nor do I think North Carolina’s current messaging on highway safety necessarily needs an upgrade. The Governor’s Highway Safety Program, housed within DOT and ably directed by Mark Ezzell, already operates a range of awareness campaigns such as Booze It & Lose It and Speed a Little, Lose a Lot.

Rather than pinning our hopes primarily on legislation, I think all of us should accept a share of responsibility for combating the problem.
Let’s teach our young people to take driving seriously, control their tempers, and stow their devices. Let’s set a good example. Let’s show we know our roads aren’t racetracks.

Editor’s note: John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His latest books, Mountain Folk and Forest Folk, combine epic fantasy with early American history (FolkloreCycle.com).

The Fayetteville City Council voted during a work session March 6 to hold a public hearing on whether to extend the length of council members’ terms from two years to four years.

Council members and the mayor are currently elected every two years. If the proposed change is approved, council members would serve staggered, four-year terms, meaning some seats would be on the ballot one year and others in the next election.

The mayor would still be elected every two years. The changes would apply only to future elections. The terms of current council members would stay at two years.

Two council members, Mario Benavente and Kathy Jensen, voted against proceeding with the measure. The date of the public hearing has not been determined.

Council member Derrick Thompson presented the measure to the City Council. He said four-year terms would help with long-term planning and decrease the risk of abrupt changes in the council makeup.

“We run the risk of having a new board every election cycle, including the mayor,” Thompson said. “This will cause havoc for a city this size, if that was to happen.”

The council’s action only puts the issue before the public for feedback at a hearing. The City Council would then decide whether to extend the length of the terms.
In 2018, the issue was put before voters in a referendum, and nearly 65% of voters rejected the measure.

When Benavente asked Monday why the council couldn’t put the proposed change on the ballot in another referendum, Thompson said, “Because we don’t have to.”
Thompson said that the public hearing would give city residents a chance to have their say on the proposal.

“Everybody will have an input on how we move forward,” Thompson said.

He said he could fill City Hall with people from his district who would support the plan, but he added that he wants to hear from people who live in other districts. Jensen, who opposed the measure, said constituents in her district are against term extensions.
“I know what my district has told me over and over again, so I'm not going to be able to support this,” Jensen said.

Last time I wrote about honeybees. I've learned more I want to share, beginning with where the term “Queen Bee” comes from.

She is truly a queen. Her court as I call it has a 24-hour royal service. Bees do not sleep, and the average bee produces one and one/half teaspoons of honey in a lifetime. Honey comes from the nectar of flowering plants and bees gather pollen and perform the vital service of pollinating fruit, vegetables and other types of plants in our food chain.

Honey is as old as written history and sacred writings in Egypt and India. Cave paintings in Spain have depictions dating back to 7,000 B.C. and fossils date back about 150 million years. Honey was considered valuable and often used as a form of currency, tribute or offering. In Germany, the peasants paid their feudal lords with beeswax and honey.

The earliest recorded beekeepers were found in the sun temple near Cairo and were often symbolized as royalty. Honey cakes were often baked by the Egyptians and Greeks as offerings to the gods.
Honey is the first sweetener known to man. Bears love honey but it isn’t just for the sweetness. They raid beehives in search of honey and will consume the bees, and larvae, which adds protein to their diet. The hives satisfy their sweet tooth with a quick meal of vitamins and minerals. Honey also has a presence in Christianity with the use of beeswax for church candles. There are also mentions of honey in the Bible.

John the Baptist was said to have survived off of wild honey and locusts in the dessert. Samson ate honey out of a skull of a lion carcass. Jacob sent his sons with gifts of spice, balm, honey and myrrh with pistachio nuts, and almonds for the Pharoah of Egypt. The armies of Israel found honey but were instructed not to eat it by the order of King Saul, so they would not be distracted.

A very poignant reference is when God spoke to Moses through the burning bush with the promise to deliver his people to a good and spacious land flowing with milk and honey. However, this could also be viewed as a figurative as well as literal description of the Promised Land.

Bees were thought to have special powers and were found on many emblems such as those of Pope Urban VIII, a sign of the King of Lower Egypt during the First Dynasty, Napoleons’ flag and robe, the symbol of the Greek goddess Artemis, and the emblem of Eros and Cupid.

There are about 320 varieties of honey that vary in color and taste, odor and flavor because of the plants the bees visit. Honey contains mostly sugar and a mix of amino acids, minerals, vitamins, zinc and antioxidants. It is also a natural sweetener, and anti-inflammatory agent. It is used to treat coughs, burns and wounds for healing. Local honey is beneficial for allergies.

There is a difference between raw and regular honey. Raw honey comes directly from the honeycomb but, today, honey purchased in grocery stores is processed thru pasteurization which involves heating. During pasteurization, additional sugar may be added.

Raw honey comes from the honeycomb. The beekeeper will filter the honey to remove debris of pollen and beeswax. Because it is not pasteurized it may appear cloudy or opaque, but it is still safe to eat.
Honey contains about 80% sugar and can be a good substitute for people with diabetes. Keep in mind that although healthy it contains 64 calories per tablespoon.

Live, love life and honey.

Almost every day each of us has opportunities to learn something new. This past Monday’s [Feb. 27] Fayetteville City Council meeting was such an experience for me.
I learned why the [Mayor Mitch] Colvin administration is so very much against electing council members by the city rather than a multitude of so-called districts.

If the City Council were elected citywide the current cabal of racist, politically corrupt members would be out of office.

There would be people in those positions who would be expected to consider the welfare and benefit of the city rather than their own political interests.
The case of the PWC Commission position would be decided on the qualifications of the candidates rather than race or political connection.

After the original six candidates for the PWC position were announced, a lifelong Fayettevillian told me at a civic organization meeting that I should tell Joe Hallatschek to not waste his time, that former Councilman Davis would be chosen for the position.

I asked why he thought that. He said it was the way politics are done in this town.

Full disclosure: Joe Hallatschek is my son-in-law. I know his character and his technical qualifications for the job. A probable majority of the City Council knows that too.

But that’s not the way they voted. Joe is a West Point graduate, an Eagle Scout and a solid rock for me as I struggled through the loss of my wife of 64 years.

As Bill Bowman said in his editorial Actions speak louder than words: “That behavior speaks volumes to the leadership they are NOT providing... the Council lacks integrity, intelligence and common sense... I see bias, racism and good ole boy politics taking precedence over what is right and good for the citizens of Fayetteville. Fayetteville deserves better.”

The city has a lot going for it that is being wasted. A beautiful baseball stadium, the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, the coming Civil War and Reconstruction History Center, the Dogwood Festival, Methodist University and hundreds of very committed citizens who want the best for our community.

As long as Colvin and company have political control of our city we won’t get what is the best. Just more of the same shenanigans and self-serving acts.

We are in desperate need of more and better investigative reporting. With elections coming in November we need to spread the word about what is happening in city government.

Let’s encourage more people to get involved and question their so-called representatives. We do deserve better.

—Pat King, Fayetteville

Editor’s note: The referenced Publisher's Pen by Bill Bowman ran in the March 1 issue. It can be found at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/9578-mayor-actions-speak-louder-than-words

SAN DIEGO — Petty Officer 2nd Class Yasmine Jackson, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is one of more than 5,000 sailors serving aboard the self-contained mobile airport, USS Carl Vinson.
Equipped with a full flight deck and more than 60 aircraft including attack fighter jets and helicopters, aircraft carriers are one of the largest warships in the world.

Jackson graduated from Jack Britt High School in 2011 and joined the Navy six years ago.

“I joined the Navy to travel and see the world,” said Jackson. “My relatives, as well as my father, served in the military and it was important for me to follow in their footsteps.”

Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found in Fayetteville.

“I grew up in a military town where I was exposed to diversity and people from all different walks of life,” said Jackson. “Working and living with people from all different backgrounds and points of view is what makes this Navy great.”

Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s Naval forces. For more than 100 years, they have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.

According to Navy officials, aircraft carriers are versatile and have unique mission capabilities that make them a more strategic asset for the Navy than fixed-site bases. They are often the first response in a global cruise because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s ocean.

In addition, no other weapon system can deploy and operate forward with a full-sized, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier’s speed, endurance, agility and the combat capability of its air wing.
This year commemorates 50 years of women flying in the U.S. Navy. In 1973, the first eight women began flight school in Pensacola. One year later six of them, known as “The First Six,” earned their “Wings of Gold.”

Over the past 50 years, the Navy has expanded its roles for women to lead and serve globally, and today women aviators project power from the sea in every type of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aircraft.

According to Navy officials, our Nation and our Navy is stronger because of their service.

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.

“Our mission remains timeless — to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy.”

As a member of the Navy, Jackson is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“The Navy is the global force at sea protecting not only American interests, but also supporting our allies and democracy across the globe,” said Jackson. “We ensure travel and trade are able to continue safely on a daily basis.”

Jackson has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“Finishing our 2022 seven-month deployment successfully during COVID, as well as climbing to the rank of petty officer second class, have been my proudest accomplishments in the Navy,” said Jackson.

As Jackson and other sailors continue to perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.

“Serving in the Navy is something that people should be proud to say they have done and gives others a role model to look up to,” said Jackson. “It is a rewarding experience that gives you unmeasurable skills and stories that you can take with you anywhere you go.”

Jackson is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I would like to thank my family and friends who have supported me while I have been away and took care of things back at home,” added Jackson. “The friends and family I have made while serving have also been a huge support for getting through the hard days.”

The cost of electricity, water and sewer services are going up for Fayetteville residents.

The Public Works Commission on March 8 approved rate increases that will go into effect in May. The estimated increase in the monthly costs for a typical family will be $12.97.
PWC has said inflation made the rate increases necessary, CityView reported.

At previous PWC meetings, staff members cited the increased cost of water treatment and electric transformers and higher costs related to annexation in recent years.
The rate increases are the first decision made by newly appointed PWC Treasurer Chris Davis, who was sworn in by Mayor Mitch Colvin at the beginning of Wednesday’s meeting.

“I’m just glad to be a part of a team. I’ve been able to watch it from the sideline for years,” said Davis, a former Fayetteville City Council member.

“It is a dynamic team, an amazing team, and I’m just proud to be part of it.”

The appointment to PWC took several months as the City Council, the body that decides who is appointed, did not come to a majority agreement until earlier this month at a council meeting.
PWC Chair Ronna Garrett said she understands the appointment process, even though it took some time for this decision.

“People are very passionate and care about where they live, and sometimes it’s frustrating when you have passionate voices who have an opposing view of what you might think is the proper thing,” Garrett said.

“But I know one thing is for certain: This board, myself, this team, the city, all want one thing, and that’s for the greater good of this community.”

In February, the North Carolina Democratic Party’s state executive committee elected 25-year-old Anderson Clayton state party chair.

How and why this young woman beat the incumbent who had the support of Gov. Roy Cooper are important and interesting questions for another day.

But the more important question for today is: what does she do now?

What can she do to mobilize the state’s Democratic voters whose candidates’ poor performances in the recent gubernatorial and state legislative races were disheartening?

She might find a useful example in the actions of a Republican, Thom Tillis. Although Tillis is currently a U.S. Senator, in 2010 he was a recently elected member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. His only prior political experience was a term on the Cornelius town board.

Realizing that so long as his party was in the minority he would have little influence, he went to work, driving across the state to identify and recruit candidates to run as Republicans in the upcoming elections, raising money to support those candidates, inspiring and training them. His tireless work, helped by national trends that favored Republicans, brought about victories for enough Republicans to change control of the North Carolina House of Representatives.

In 2011, the House elected Tillis speaker.

What do Tillis’s experiences mean to Ms. Clayton?

She should consider taking a personal role, as Tillis did, in recruiting, training and finding financial support for candidates of her party, being careful not to let conflicts within the party diminish her efforts.

Several important state political figures have given and gained valuable experiences as state party chair.
In 1985, Raleigh attorney Wade Smith served as Democratic Party chair. On his travels throughout North Carolina, he used his well-tuned trial lawyer skills to recruit and mobilize. He told stories, sang songs, and used humor to bring the audiences together before making his “support the party” pitch.

At the end of his meetings, he always said something like “We don’t want to get rid of all Republicans. We want to preserve at least one to put in a museum for history’s sake.”

David Price retired in January as a member of Congress representing North Carolina’s Fourth District. Prior to his election to Congress in 1980 he had served as chair of the state Democratic Party. He learned how to deal with the state’s major political figures and how to show them his strengths. His state party leadership experience helped prepare him for his first congressional campaign.

Former Congressman Bill Cobey, who coincidently lost to Price in the 1986 congressional elections, served as state Republican Party chair between 1999 and 2003. He reminded me that a party chair cannot simply travel, raise money, and motivate voters. The party chair may have a fractious organization to bring together as well as fundraising responsibilities and various complicated projects to manage. For instance, under his leadership, the party purchased a new headquarters building.

Robin Hayes represented the Eighth congressional district between 1999 and 2009. From 2011 to 2013, and from 2016 to 2019, he was chair of the Republican Party. In 2019 he was accused in a bribery scheme and later convicted of lying to the FBI. President Donald Trump pardoned Hayes on January 20, 2020. The matter showed there can be a thin line in the work of public officials between properly serving public constituencies and bribery.

Chairs of both parties have brought a variety of strengths and weaknesses to the job. But the youth that the 25-year-old Clayton brings could make possible a fresh and positive approach that could change the party for the better. Or, her lack of experience-honed judgment could lead to detrimental decisions and actions that could plague the party for a long time.

For the sake of all North Carolinians, we should hope her tenure will inspire all citizens of our state to take a role in politics and participate in positive and constructive ways.

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

If you’ve been in the Fayetteville community a while, your heart probably smiled when you heard the news about professional basketball coming back to Fayetteville. The city has a unique relationship with basketball. We have legendary players and coaches, active professional players, overseas superstars, you name it. Though the city is filled with talent in every corner, and fans eager to see basketball being played, the hoop city hasn’t had a professional basketball team in over 16 years.

In 2001, the Fayetteville Patriots launched its opening season and were one of eight franchises in the National Basketball Development League. The team held games in the Crown Complex arena, where the games were full of entertainment and great basketball. The Patriots won the semifinals in their 2002-2003 season. The franchise lasted a total of five seasons, bringing the organization to a close in 2006.

Fans have been awaiting a return of professional basketball since then. Sources around the city have been buzzin’ with rumors about another team forming in the city for the past couple of years, and in January of 2022 the Fayetteville Stingers announced that they will be forming a team under The Basketball League.

The Fayetteville Stingers organization is spearheaded by the team marketing owner Ken Bishop and General Manager Ray Phillips who are both Philadelphia natives. Both have coaching and leadership experience in their communities. Since announcing the team, and hiring all-star coaching duo Don Gardner and Robert Brickey, they’ve been on a mission to create opportunities and build a solid foundation here within the community.

In an interview with sports podcaster Tiras Ray, of “Say what Say it again,” Bishop explained why he chose Fayetteville when picking a city. He said “you guys have a lot of history here, to not have a team in one of the most polarizing sports (basketball) was a head scratcher to me, like why is this not happening? I did my research more on the community and something inside of me just said ‘Make this Happen!’”

After reaching out to Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin about bringing the team to Fayetteville, Bishop and Phillips began to set their plans in motion. After the hiring of Brickey and Gardner, the four have been able to be on the same wavelength with similar expectations for the organization.

In the podcast, Bishop and Brickey agreed that a goal is to bring a winning aspect to the game, for the team and entertainment wise for local audiences. “We want everybody to have fun, this is a game that can take you places. We all have the same goals, make it the playoffs, compete at a high level, and keep taking things to the next level for the community.”

Also in the podcast, when asked why he chose the name Fayetteville Stingers, Bishop says “it was a play on the basketball teams that are already here in the state of North Carolina. Charlotte has the Hornets, the G-league team is named the Swarm, let’s play off the history.”

Since establishing the Stingers, the managers and coaches have hosted a series of combines, training camps, clinics and try outs to build their staff and roster for the opening season, which has already begun. Most of the staff and players are Fayetteville natives or a part of the community in Cumberland County.

Phillips recognizes that the city is a gold mine of talent from all walks of life. “It’s our job as an organization, as the Stingers and representing the TBL to give people a second chance at something they love to do and that’s not just on the basketball court, that’s off the basketball court as well,” Phillips says.

The Stingers decided to keep the organization as local as possible. They have intern partnerships with Fayetteville State University and Methodist University. Giving students opportunities and work experience in different fields within the basketball world is beneficial to the organization and the community.

The Stingers also kept their combines local and accepted players in the Fayetteville, Hope Mills and surrounding areas. The roster being mostly Fayetteville natives is extremely important for the next generation of basketball players to see, especially on a professional level.

While also playing their games in the historic Crown Complex and staffing their organization with key figures of the community, it’s clear to see the Stingers are dedicated to the city of Fayetteville.
With the community on their side, along with a dynamite coaching staff and roster, the Fayetteville Stingers are underway in their opening season.

Their next home game will be played this Friday, March 17, at the Crown Complex arena, starting at 7:30 p.m. Don’t miss the chance to see and support the newest basketball here in our city.
Single game tickets are available at the box office and on Ticketmaster.com. You can also check out season pass options on the team website https://fayettevillestingers.com/.

Up & Coming Weekly sat down with General Manager Ray Phillips to discuss his role with the Stingers and what the organization is bringing to the city of Fayetteville.

“My favorite part of being the General Manager of the Fayetteville Stingers is being able to have an impact of the lives of these young men, and the staff members that come through. It gives me a chance to impart my wisdom and knowledge, but most importantly a listening ear.”

Phillips notices that a lot of times in the Black and brown community, guys don’t have a chance to express themselves to other men. He says, “we’re constantly told to man up or that we’re being too soft, nobody cares about what you have to say. But I want to be that ear because I do care and love you, even if I don’t know you. I want to hear what you have to say.”

With the responsibility of a team and the lives of the staff and players, communication is key and an important foundation in Phillip’s role in the organization. As General Manager, he is the right-hand man to every staff member and oversees everyone from the Dance and Media teams to the players.

His role also consists of handling team partnerships and representing the organization during media interactions and promotion. Though he wears many hats, Phillips said he feels that his most important role is to build a great relationship with the community.

Back in January, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Stingers were able to adopt B Street in downtown Fayetteville. Phillips took 12 young men, walked down B Street and voluntarily did a trash pickup.
He says, “It’s important for the people in the community to see us out there, because without those people, we’re nothing.”

Even as they ride out inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainty, women owners and executives of small and mid-size majority-women-owned businesses have an optimistic outlook about the near-term future of their businesses, according to a recent survey.

The PNC Bank survey found that women business owner expectations for their own companies remain strong, with 41% feeling highly optimistic — up from 29% in the fall of 2020 but down from 67% in the fall of 2021 — while the share of those feeling pessimistic has held constant at just 1%.

The survey also indicated that more than eight in 10 women business owners are very confident about their future success and nearly half say it comes from their own hard work and drive. Similarly, 79% are very satisfied with their role as a business owner or leader compared to 67% of men business owners.

“We are seeing a new pattern of self-empowerment among women business owners that is very encouraging,” said Beth Marcello, director of PNC Women’s Business Development. “Their own hard work to survive the pandemic is the source of their confidence and optimism today.”

The survey suggests that women have a take charge, can-do attitude. When it was difficult to find employees, 49% of women business owners versus one-third of men business owners say that they or their managers stepped in to cover open staff hours themselves.

“For the first time, we have evidence of increased financial confidence among women business owners. They are two times more likely than men to say they’re considering a new loan or line of credit to support business growth,” said Marcello. “They are monitoring their cash position and have a cash reserve, but they’re investing excess cash rather than stockpiling it; they are continuing to leverage the increased efficiency of the digital financial tools they migrated to during the pandemic; and they are confidently increasing pricing as the economy allows for it.”

While women business owners have concerns about inflation, profitability and the supply chain, they believe they’re prepared for these challenges.
Women business owners also intend to maintain or expand on policies they initiated during the pandemic, including allowing flexible work arrangements (48%), increasing compensation (38%) and implementing employee health or safety enhancements (33%).

Women business owners are more likely than men business owners to adopt Corporate Social Responsibility policies or practices, including gender pay equity (34% vs. 9%) and diversity and inclusion (29% vs. 14%).

These disparities could be an indication of why fewer women business owners (30%) than men business owners (43%) are finding it harder to hire new staff compared to six months ago.
Identifying and addressing challenges faced by women financial decision makers is a component of PNC’s Project 257: Accelerating Women’s Financial Equality, an initiative to help close the 257-year economic gender gap. More information about these efforts as well as helpful resources for women financial decision makers can be found at pnc.com/women.

While the pandemic created new economic challenges, many with lasting effects, women business owners largely overcame these obstacles, taking away lessons that have inspired their optimism and confidence today.

Join the Cumberland Choral Arts for their upcoming concert, “Got Ear Candy?” Friday, March 24 at Jack Britt High School, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

“Ear candy is that music we love to hear and sing over and over again,” explained Sandy Cage, alto and President of the Board of Directors for Cumberland Choral Arts. “The harmonies really stand out in the pieces we’ll be singing, and we’re having such a good time rehearsing them.”

With a run-time of around 90 minutes with intermission, the family-friendly performance will feature about 20 octavos or small pieces of choral music, many of which were chosen by members of the choir. Under the direction of Dr. Michael Martin and Assistant Director, Amy Stovall, concert-goers will be treated to a mix of songs, styles and genres that promise a little something for everyone.

In addition to CCA, attendees will also hear performances by the Campbellton Youth Chorus, directed by Sarah Szopinski; Cross Creek Chorale; and the Jack Britt High School Chorus, led by Richard Butler. With piano accompaniment provided by Susan Eissle, the evening promises to be a showcase of the enormous talent found here in Cumberland County.

The concert, sponsored in part by community donations and a grant from the Arts Council, is a passionate tribute to the art of music and the magic it can often create.
Founded in 1991, the Cumberland Choral Arts is “dedicated to bringing classical choral works to the greater Cumberland County area,” according to their website. The choir, now over 100 voices strong, continues to grow and is always on the lookout for new members.

“We’re always excited to have more people join our group,” Cage offered. “We’re a community choir; anyone who wants to sing can sing — no auditions necessary. We’re thrilled we’ve reached 100, and we’re excited to keep growing.”

The same invitation extends to Cumberland County’s next generation of singers. The Campbellton Youth Choir, with over 30 members, wishes to open its doors to even more youth in the community who have the urge to sing. “Children can join the youth choir at no cost,” Cage explained. “It’s important to create that space for any child that wants to sing in a group — it’s just us making sure we do what we can to encourage the future of choral music.”

Tickets for “Got Ear Candy?” are $15 for general admission and $5 for students. For those wanting to purchase their tickets early, visit https://www.cumberlandchoralarts.org/. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

“This is so exciting for us,” Cage shared thoughtfully on behalf of CCA. “Music is so universal — it’s the heartbeat of a thriving community. Music brings us all together, makes us feel good, and makes us smile and clap our hands. It takes our memories back in time to when we first heard a song that moved us — anybody that loves music should definitely come.”
Jack Britt High School is located at 7403 Rockfish Rd.

For more information about Cumberland Choral Arts and its affiliated programs, visit https://www.cumberlandchoralarts.org/.

Methodist University’s Black Student Union has come a long way — in both reach and impact — during its eight years of existence. So much so that the organization has expanded to both undergraduate and graduate students.

The University is home to more than a hundred student organizations including the Black Student Union, which was originally formed in 2015 with the purpose of creating a community among Black MU students.
Sophomore TiyeNandi Alexander, a Nursing major, recently took the reigns as student president of the Black Student Union, a position that has helped her grow as a person in the past year or so.

“Normally, I would keep to myself a lot. But in my freshman year, the former president and vice president of the Black Student Union came up to me and took me under their wing,” Alexander said. “I started coming to events and meetings. Eventually, they trusted me to carry on the legacy of the Black Student Union.”

MU’s Black Student Union regularly hosts dozens of events and discussions throughout the year including information tables, poetry slams, movie nights, powder puff football games, spirit week and much more. Currently, more than 50 students are members of the Black Student Union.

Although young in age, the Black Student Union has helped provide an important voice during discussions of how to make Methodist University a more inclusive place — helping the University rank No. 1 as the most diverse university in North Carolina.

“It’s important to have representation and inclusivity because we are a minority off and on campus,” she said. “We want to create a brotherhood and sisterhood while offering a safe space for Black students to feel like they belong. We want to help them feel like we have people who are like them in their ideas and their culture.”

While the undergraduate chapter has been in place since 2015, the graduate chapter of the Black Student Union is newly born. Tajze Johnson, a Doctor of Occupational Therapy student who is expected to graduate in 2024, started the graduate chapter after he noticed the need for better Black representation.

“The occupational therapy field is predominantly made up of Caucasian women. When I came to MU’s Occupational Therapy program, it was eye-opening to see that there were other Black people in the program with me,” said Johnson, who is the inaugural president of the chapter.

“However, I noticed there wasn’t clear space to have a conversation about it, so we created this graduate chapter. We simply wanted to create a place where African-American graduate students could go so they don’t ever feel like they don’t belong.”

While most of the original participants are from the Occupational Therapy program, Johnson wants to make it clear that the graduate chapter of the Black Student Union is open to all students from graduate programs — including MU’s Physician Assistant, Business Administration, Physical Therapy and other programs.

Although new, the graduate chapter of the Black Student Union is active. In the last month, the organization helped to host a presentation by Dr. Khalilah Johnson — an assistant professor of Occupational Science at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. The following week, the graduate chapter held a meet-and-greet.

While Johnson hopes to organize more events and workshops throughout the year, he said the bigger purpose is to leave a steady organization behind for future Black graduate students.

“I want to help build a foundation for the next cohorts to come,” he said.

“Hopefully, when they come in, there will already be a strong organization in place so they immediately have a community they feel like they can bond with.”
To stay up-to-date on all MU events, visit https://www.methodist.edu/events/.

About Methodist University
Methodist University is an independent, four-year institution of higher education with approximately 2,000 students from across the U.S. and more than 50 countries.
MU offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs (including doctoral-level options) on campus and online. MU has been named the “No. 1, Most Diverse University in North Carolina,” one of 10 “Must-Watch Universities in North America,” features more than 100 student clubs and organizations, plus 20 NCAA intercollegiate sports (with nearly 40 team national championships).
To learn more about Methodist University, visit www.methodist.edu.

Cumberland County residents can view a virtual public meeting on the future of the Ann Street Landfill at www.cumberlandcountync.gov/annstreetplan.

The county is seeking feedback on the plan to extend the life of the landfill and asking residents to voice any concerns they have about it, according to a release from the county government.
The virtual meeting will be available until March 17.

Comments may be provided on the website, by emailing annstreetlandfill@cumberlandcountync.gov, by calling 910-505-9334, or through standard mail at 698 Ann St., according to the news release.

The Ann Street Landfill, which has operated at its current site since 1980, will reach capacity in just seven years, the release said. Before then, the county must plan for waste disposal beyond 2030.
County leaders have concluded that building a transfer station at the landfill is the most feasible short-term solution, the news release said.

The county is seeking feedback from neighboring residents and businesses and the greater Cumberland County community, the release said. The feedback will help identify strategies to reduce the impact on the neighborhood.

The project website also includes a Frequently Asked Questions section, Alternative Disposal Analysis Report, Environmental Justice Report, information on how a landfill operates and the County’s ongoing efforts to Reimagine Ann Street Landfill and Solid Waste in Cumberland County.

Need a place to reassess your physical, mental and spiritual health? The 3rd Annual Good Vibrationz: Metaphysical & Holistic Wellness Expo is back in Fayetteville and is the place to be if you are interested in connecting with open-minded people. The expo will take place at the Crown Expo from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on March 18.

 Ayreka Plowden, the owner of Aje Noire Creations and creator of the wellness expo, says this is one of her favorite events to put together. This will be the first year Plowden has organized this event by herself. Her husband, who was her partner in this event, passed away last year. She tells Up & Coming Weekly she is doing this event in honor of her late husband.

“I'm not doing this primarily for myself. I'm doing it for those that are participating and for those that are coming. Because there's a reason why those people that chose to participate, not just to earn money and to bring awareness to their business, but because somebody needs what they have,” Plowden said.

“I tell people that I have not actually made any money off of my events and I've eaten a lot of cost hosting these events. But to me, they are worth it because I've heard nothing but great things from people that have participated as well as people that have a tent.”

This year, there will be over 20 metaphysical and holistic vendors. Each vendor will have a chance to present what they offer to everyone on the main stage. For those who are interested in a particular vendor after their presentation, they can check out their tent.

There will also be a sound bath session, a collective guided meditation, nutrition specialists, and more. Plowden says this will be a family-friendly event and all are welcome.

“I'm trying to have something specifically towards children there. So that way the kids can have a space of their own to learn about ways to maintain healthier food options, things of that nature, kind of trying to incorporate the same thing for the adults. They understand a lot more than we give them credit for. That's why they say little kids are sponges because they absorb information. Why not give them good information to absorb?”

Plowden says that anyone coming to the event for the first time should have an open mind.

“Be open to not know everything. Not expecting everything to be what you're expecting it to be, but to come with an open mind and know that you're coming here because there's something here that you need or something that you need to hear. And these people are going to be able to either point you in the right direction of where you need to go or offer you a service that may be able to get you to the point that you are trying to get to. Just know that everything and everyone is connected somehow,” Plowden said.

Tickets are $12 for General Admission and $6 for children ages five to 12. Anyone below the age of 5 can enter for free. Tickets can be bought at https://bit.ly/3JqV3xe.