https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/


  • 27aThe Cumberland County Public Library is participating in the “31 Days of Love” campaign. Every library location is accepting donations of pet supplies for animals that are sheltered at Cumberland County Animal Services.

    Donations can be delivered to any library location and may include pet food, toys, blankets, newspapers and other animal-related supplies.
    Cumberland County Animal Services also has a donation wish list on the Cumberland County Animal Services website at https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/animal-services-group/animal-Services/volunteer-foster-donate!/donation.

    Pet adoption programs will also take place throughout October at different library locations.

    The pet adoption programs will be at:

    •Oct. 8 at Hope Mills Branch Library from 9 a.m.
    to 12 p.m.

    •Oct. 15 at Headquarters Library from 1 to 3 p.m.

    •Oct. 18 at Cliffdale Regional Library from 9 a.m.
    to 12 p.m.

    •Oct. 28 at North Regional Library from 9 a.m. to
    12 p.m.

    27bResponsible individuals can make a difference by adopting animals at the shelter who are looking for a home. Adoptions occur Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 1 to 5 p.m.

    You can also see the adoptable animals through Cumberland County Animal Services website Adoptable Animals https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/animal-services-group/animal-Services/pet-adoption/adoptable-animals . If you are interested in adoption, please call Animal Services at 910-321-6852.

    Cumberland County Animal Services is located at 4704 Corporation Drive in Fayetteville. They accept donations of pet supplies year-round during regular business hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 1 to 5 p.m.

    For more information about the library, please visit the library’s website at https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library or visit them on social media at https://www.facebook.com/CumberlandCountyAnimalShelter/.

  • 17After previously going forward with an AI-powered gunshot detection system, the Fayetteville City Council was split 5-5 at its Sept. 26 meeting after reconsidering the contract with ShotSpotter.

    The proposed one-year contract with ShotSpotter, the private company that operates the gunshot detection technology, would cost the city $197,500.

    Other cities in North Carolina — including Goldsboro, Rocky Mount, Greenville, Wilmington, Durham and Winston-Salem — already have the system in place.

    To detect gunshots, the company uses acoustic sensors placed in a specific coverage area. Sounds from those sensors are analyzed by artificial intelligence to determine if the noise is a gunshot.

    The data is then reviewed by analysts, and the police respond, if appropriate.

    Mayor Mitch Colvin, Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Dawkins and council members Kathy Jensen, D.J. Haire and Derrick Thompson voted in favor of the contract.
    Council members Shakeyla Ingram, Mario Benavente, Brenda McNair, Courtney Banks-McLaughlin and Deno Hondros were opposed.

    Given the tied 5-5 vote, the contract with ShotSpotter is not currently approved. The issue would have to be considered at a future meeting for more concrete action.
    It is not clear, however, what will happen next with the proposal. Mayor Colvin’s office did not respond to emails from Carolina Public Press asking if the City Council would consider the contract again at another meeting.

    ShotSpotter did not comment about Monday night’s council action.

    ShotSpotter’s gunshot detection system is controversial, as some studies show it can be ineffective while others have found it to reduce incidents of gun violence, Carolina Public Press reported.

    In an email to Carolina Public Press, a ShotSpotter spokesperson cited a study from the Brookings Institution that found just 12% of gunfire incidents are reported through a 911 call.

    “ShotSpotter is an acoustic gunshot detection system that fills that data gap by alerting police of virtually all gunfire in a city’s coverage area within 60 seconds,” Ron Teachman, director of public safety solutions at ShotSpotter, said. “We’re confident that our technology is effective in helping to save lives and capture critical evidence.”

    A 2021 report from the Chicago Office of Inspector General, however, found that the alerts from the ShotSpotter technology “rarely produce evidence of a gun-related crime, rarely give rise to investigatory stops and even less frequently lead to the recovery of gun crime-related evidence during an investigatory stop,” though the report did conclude that the technology may increase police response time.

    Council criticism of contract

    The council originally voted 8-2 on Aug. 22 to approve the contract with ShotSpotter. Benavente and Ingram opposed the move.

    At the council’s Sept. 12 meeting, however, newly elected council member Hondros made a motion to reconsider the contract. The motion passed 6-4 with support from Hondros, Benavente, Banks-McLaughlin, McNair, Ingram and Thompson. This led to the most recent discussion this week on the contract.

    Benavente has spearheaded the move to deny the ShotSpotter contract, speaking against the action on Aug. 22 and at the Sept. 26 meeting

    “We’re all under a lot of pressure to do something important and worthwhile as [it] relates to improving public safety. And I think that direction should be investing in our communities, not necessarily investing in private corporations,” Benavente said at the meeting.

    Benavente said that he had emailed Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins about any potential negatives related to the technology but had not received a reply. He also asked the same question at August’s meeting, but Hawkins said she could not answer at that time.

    “If we want to make it work here in Fayetteville, let’s learn from the mistakes that other municipalities have gone through,” Benavente said. “Let’s make sure that we’re not manufacturing consent for the police to overpolice certain neighborhoods. Let’s make sure that we’re not violating people’s Fourth Amendment rights. And let’s also make sure that we’re getting the data back to make sure this is actually a viable company.”

    No members of council who voted for the contract spoke Monday during the meeting.

    Mayor Colvin also did not respond to emails from Carolina Public Press about his support of the ShotSpotter contract.

    At the August meeting, Colvin said the technology would give the city “an extra tool in the tool belt” to stop gun violence.

  • 63It’s hurricane season, and with it comes the potential for severe weather in North Carolina. It’s also the time of year that gray squirrels, North Carolina’s state mammal, are raising their second brood of the year.

    Storms that produce high winds and heavy rain, as well as tree-cutting and trimming activity, can lead to young squirrels and their nests falling out of high perches. When this happens, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission receives an influx of reports from concerned citizens who have found grounded young squirrels and want to know how to help.

    “A good practice is not to assume immediate intervention is the best way to help,” explains Falyn Owens, extension biologist for the Wildlife Commission. “Pausing long enough to consult a wildlife professional before moving or caring for the animal can greatly increase its chance of survival.”

    A directory of licensed wildlife rehabilitators who specialize in caring for injured or orphaned wildlife can be found on the Wildlife Commission website. These professionals help people take the right action in a wildlife encounter, including when it’s best not to intervene. When it comes to a young squirrel that has fallen out of the nest, they’ll usually recommend allowing some time for the mother to retrieve it.

    “Humans simply are not as good at taking care of young wildlife as their mothers and not all young animals found by themselves have been abandoned,” stated Owens.

    She described that when a squirrel’s nest is disturbed and the young fall out, the female works as fast as she can to find her young and carry them back to the nest. If the nest is destroyed, she’ll build a new nest first, then bring them to the new nest. If a young squirrel is removed from the area before the female retrieves it, the chances of it surviving are significantly reduced.
    Although people mean well, handling wild animals, particularly very young ones, can do more harm than good — and taking one home is illegal.

    “The possession of live, native wildlife is illegal in North Carolina, except particular circumstances that usually require a license or permit,” Owens said. “Despite a person’s best intentions, a wild animal is best left where it was found, or in the hands of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.”

    For example, while giving a young animal food or water is often a person’s first instinct, it can be quite harmful and even deadly for the animal if done without proper training. Licensed wildlife rehabilitators have this training and are legally able to take in and care for wildlife so they can successfully be released back into the wild.

    If a wildlife rehabilitator doesn’t answer the phone right away, Owens advises to leave them a message rather than calling multiple times. They often have their hands full feeding or checking on the wildlife already in their care and may need a few minutes to get to the phone. When in doubt, even a rehabilitator in another county can provide solid advice on what to do in the short term.

    People can also contact the NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401 or hwi@ncwildlife.org for advice on how to help injured or orphaned wildlife, handle wildlife conflict issues and more. Helpline hours are Monday — Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    For more information on gray squirrels visit www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Mammals/Gray-Squirrel.

  • 8 The North Carolina of my childhood had an economy very different from that of the average state. Today our economy remains distinctive, though not by as much.

    When I started my first paid job in 1979 — teaching four-year-olds how to tap dance — manufacturing accounted for fully a third of North Carolina’s gross domestic product, 10 points higher than the national average of 23%. On the other hand, our financial sector had not yet vaulted into national significance. Banking, insurance, and real estate accounted for 11% of North Carolina’s GDP in 1979, vs. the national average of 15%.

    Forty years later, in 2019, our state’s manufacturing base was still larger than that of the average state: 16% vs. 11%. (That’s the last year for which a clean comparison is possible. The onset of COVID skewed the 2020 figures, and we don’t yet have granular data for 2021.)

    If you work out the ratios, you’ll see that the relative contribution of manufacturing to GDP in North Carolina and in the nation as a whole didn’t change much during this period. But the actual shares of GDP are much lower. That’s not because manufacturing cratered. Output went up significantly. In inflation-adjusted terms, the output of manufacturing businesses in North Carolina was about $64 billion in 1979. It was $98 billion in 2019.

    What really happened is that service industries exploded. Look at the aforementioned financial sector. Banking, insurance, and real estate now account for 21% of the country’s GDP. North Carolina’s overall proportion is the same, while our banking share is a bit higher than the national average.

    To broaden the story a bit, North Carolina is more populous and prosperous than it was back when I was attempting to corral the rambunctious preschoolers sliding across my dance floor. In 1979, some 5.8 million lived in the Tar Heel State. Their average personal income was an inflation-adjusted $26,665. By 2019, our population totaled 10.5 million and personal income averaged $48,261. Over those four decades, then,

    North Carolina’s per-capita income rose about 81% in real terms, somewhat outpacing the regional (77%) and national (71%) averages.
    I think these statistics are useful for level-setting. They are difficult to square with the extreme claims of partisan activists, professional boosters, or professional worrywarts.

    For example, contrary to what you may have heard, North Carolina has not seen its manufacturing base disappear, or the formerly sunny prospects of its “working people” fade into a depressing dusk. These are gross exaggerations. Mainstay industries such as textile, apparel, and furniture did shed lots of employees — primarily because of technology-fueled gains in productivity, not trade deals — but other manufacturing enterprises began or expanded in our state during the same period, as did many other sectors that hire many people to make, sell, or deliver many wonderful goods and services.

    On the other hand, it is also true that North Carolina has not always outperformed the rest of the Southeast or United States over the past 40 years. It is true that some communities and groups within our state are clearly struggling to make ends meet. It is true that North Carolina’s progress remains hampered by a long list of problems that can sometimes seem intractable. These problems include educational deficits, infrastructure woes, legal and regulatory impediments, declines in family formation, increases in violent crime, and rampant substance abuse.

    Some of these problems are worse than they were back then. Some are better. When I was a teenager of modest means in 1979, however, I was largely unaware of broader social conditions. I thought primarily, and optimistically, about my own future and that of my peers. I figured we’d live more comfortable lives than our parents or grandparents had. I figured I’d find a fulfilling career that paid enough to support my future family (though even then I suspected that career might not be tap dancing). For the most part, I figured correctly.

    Are today’s teenagers so optimistic? Should they be?

  • 7What would you do with an extra $700 in your pocket each month?

    This is the question families across our nation should be asking, as the highest inflation in four decades is costing the average household an estimated extra $717 each month compared to January 2021.

    As I travel across our region, I constantly hear how this inflation crisis has impacted every community and every part of our lives. Just last month, grocery prices spiked at their fastest pace since 1979. Household electricity prices are up nearly 16% from one year ago. And the average price of gas remains close to $3.80 a gallon, up from $2.38 on President Joe Biden’s first day in office. I am really concerned too about increased costs to heat your home this winter — especially for folks on a fixed income.

    These economic challenges have been primarily driven by out-of-control spending in Washington and the Left’s war on American energy production and jobs. The consequences of these actions are forcing families to make hard decisions around the kitchen table.

    Yet, the challenges facing you and our nation unfortunately do not stop there.

    At our border, roughly 5 million illegal immigrants, including nearly 80 people on the terrorist watchlist, have crossed since President Biden took office and stopped deportations, the wall, and the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy. In August alone, more than 203,000 migrants crossed — almost the entire population of the city of Fayetteville.

    This border crisis is a threat to every community, especially through the increased flow of deadly drugs.

    Due in part to record amounts of fentanyl crossing our border, overdose deaths hit an all-time high last year, becoming the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45.

    North Carolina alone had 3,759 deaths from opioid overdoses. This includes 183 in Cumberland County — 100 more than in 2019.

    On top of this, our communities continue to be plagued by a rise in violent crime. National homicide and aggravated assault rates have risen roughly 50% and 36% respectively, compared to this time in 2019.

    Tragically, these come as intentional killings of law enforcement have reached a 20-year high.

    Under one-party rule in Washington, it is clear that America’s economy, safety, freedom and strength are all under threat like never before.

    I have opposed Washington Democrats’ agenda which will only worsen these crises, such as their so-called ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ that will raise your taxes and hire 87,000 more IRS agents to come after you.

    Washington Democrats are ignoring the crises they have helped create and don’t have a plan to fix them. House Republicans, however, have a plan.

    Called our “Commitment to America,” House Republicans have recently released a detailed plan to take our country in a new direction and establish a future of security, freedom and prosperity for you and your family. You can read our plan at CommitmentToAmerica.com.

    First, we have a plan to create an economy that’s strong. The economy remains the most pressing issue facing families across this country. We are committed to getting it back on track by curbing reckless spending, making America energy independent again, and creating an economic environment that encourages growth, job creation, and lower costs.

    This involves bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. and standing up to adversaries like China that feel emboldened after last year’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.

    We also have a plan for a nation that’s safe. We will work to tackle the crime wave plaguing our communities by rejecting anti-police and soft-on-crime agendas. Our plan hires an additional 200,000 police officers and gives law enforcement the resources and support they need to get the job done.

    We will also work to secure our border and stop the flow of fentanyl through proven measures such as ‘Remain in Mexico,’ finishing the wall, and by implementing my HALT Fentanyl Act.

    Finally, we are committed to keeping our nation safe by supporting our troops and their families.

    We also have a plan to secure a future built on freedom. This means giving you control of what happens in your kids’ school and confronting big tech censorship.

    It also means personalizing your health care to provide affordable options and better quality.

    In Congress, I have helped move us in the right direction by voting to cap insulin costs at $35 and advancing my bipartisan MOBILE Health Care Act, critical legislation to expand access in rural and underserved communities.

    Finally, we have a plan to build a government that’s accountable. This starts by standing up for your God-given rights like life, and the First and Second Amendments. It also means making sure the government in Washington fulfills its obligations to you through oversight and transparency.

    It is an honor to serve you, Fort Bragg, and our community. In Congress, I have always sought to work across the aisle on commonsense solutions to the problems facing you and your family.

    However, it is clear that two years of one-party rule in Washington have put our economy, safety, and prosperity — as well as an extra $700 a month — in peril.
    Instead of electing more rubber stamps for President Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the choice this November is simple: If you want an economy that’s strong, a nation that’s safe, a future built on freedom, and a government that’s accountable — then we Republicans are prepared to deliver on our Commitment to America.

    Will you join us? 

    Editor's note: Rep. Richard Hudson is serving his fifth term representing North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. He currently serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and in House leadership as the Republican Conference Secretary.
    Rep. Hudson grew up in Charlotte, graduated from Myers Park High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte,
    He and his family live in Moore County.

  • 20Walmart is hosting a Driver Open House event across the country and hiring up to 8 CDL-A drivers in the Hope Mills area.

    Each year, Walmart’s nearly 13,000 drivers travel over 900 million miles and deliver millions of cases of merchandise to 4,700 Walmart and Sam's Club locations across the nation — all while remaining one of the largest and safest fleets on the road.

    Walmart truck driving jobs are considered among the best in the industry, and the company is recruiting the best and safest drivers to join its team as the business continues to grow.
    Across the country, Walmart is planning on growing its private fleet, which includes 8 drivers in Hope Mills.

    While there are different factors that make up a driver’s pay, new drivers can earn up to $110,000. Drivers also have access to company benefits on day one and can earn as much as 21 days of paid time off in their first year.

    To drive for Walmart, a commercial driver must have at least 30 months of full-time experience with no serious traffic violations in the last four years.
    Walmart benefits also include medical coverage, a 401(k) match, an associate stock purchase match, paid maternity and parental leave, various associate discounts and no-cost college, with Walmart paying for 100% of the cost of college tuition and books through its Live Better U program.

    The Open House will give people a chance to learn about driving jobs with Walmart, information on pay and benefits offerings, meeting local management, touring offices/shop and checking our equipment and asking current drivers about their careers with Walmart.

    OPEN HOUSE DETAILS:

    Interested CDL-A drivers are invited to attend the open house Oct. 3 – 7: Monday/Wednesday/Friday in person from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. On Tuesday, a virtual event will be held at 8 a.m. On Thursday, the virtual event is scheduled for 2 p.m. at 1057 Sand Hill Road in Hope Mills. The job fair will be on-site. Applicants can register at wmtcareers.com/drivers.
    To learn more visit www.drive4walmart.com.

  • vote yes3 copy I support Vote Yes Fayetteville because this structure change would give every citizen more voice in our city council with six council members accountable to them versus just the current two.

    I served on City Council under both structures as an at-large and district representative, like most of the major cities in North Carolina. During my service when the council had at-large seats as part of the structure, I saw that the major issues of the city were given adequate attention.

    While serving as a district representative, I witnessed continued infighting over what benefited the elected person’s district and less attention to the big picture.

    For example, it took over eight years to get the Parks & Recreation bond to a vote while we argued over which district received what new facilities.

    Even today, commitments made to District 2, like the Fields Road Park and the Cape Fear River Park, remain undone because money gets moved to other districts.

    We were never able to fully fund stormwater to protect our most exposed citizens from the next flood because flooding only threatens a few districts but is costly to everyone.

    Our major gateway to Fort Bragg continues to include the Shaw Heights blight because of City Council’s unwillingness to spend the funds to address this citywide issue.

    Our community has changed over the years. There are 38% more Black voters than white in Fayetteville today. Both Blacks and whites have a similar voter turnout, and Black candidates continue to be elected in many at-large seats, including the fact that two of our last four mayors were Black.

    I served alongside Marshall Pitts, who was first elected at-large and then became mayor.

    We have tried the current model for over 20 years and can clearly see that Fayetteville is not keeping up with the rest of the state.

    Our growth rate is lower than NC’s other major cities while our crime and poverty rates are higher.

    We should recognize that the progressive cities in our state use a model that provides more representation for every citizen and more balanced attention to city-wide issues.

    Most recently, we have seen our mayor and some council members spend thousands of taxpayer dollars to keep this referendum off the ballot. They were unsuccessful as the courts ordered the referendum be placed on the ballot and citizens be given the right to vote.

    I encourage each of you to support this Charter Amendment and to Vote Yes Fayetteville on Nov. 8 to provide for more representation on our City Council.

    More representation. Not less.

    Editor's note: Bobby Hurst served on Fayetteville City Council from 2007 - 2017.

  • 44The Cumberland Choral Arts season is kicking off with a theme of “Connections.” Throughout the 2022-2023 season, the CCA will be making connections with their audiences, community and businesses.

    To kick off the season, CCA will be performing “The Sacred Veil,” a 12-movement work and the most recent collaboration between Eric Whitacre and poet/lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri. It tells a story of life, love and loss. The piece was inspired by Silvestri's wife, Julie, who died of ovarian cancer at age 36.

    Dr. Michael Martin, the Artistic Director for the CCA, chose the piece because of its ties to cancer and because October is Cancer Awareness Month.

    “So Eric Whitacre set in motion the idea of writing music to some of her blog posts, to the poetry that her husband wrote to try and cope with her passing and kind of put it together,” Martin said. “The best way to describe it is like a modern requiem to a person who passed of cancer. And it just seemed like the most appropriate type of music to dig into for cancer awareness.”

    The choral piece will be backed by cellist Paul Kirkpatrick who has worked with the CCA before.
    Martin did say that this piece may not be fully appropriate for children, but do bring a pack of tissues.

    “Be prepared. It's something relatively very new. It's not the kind of thing where you're going to be able to stand up and start dancing to this kind of thing. I mean, some choral music is great and it's uplifting and it's very rhythmic. And then there's some that pay tribute to people and can be quite moving. This is certainly that kind,” Martin said.

    In honor of the music and its inspiration, Cumberland Choral Arts decided to partner with local health organizations to host CHOOSE HEALTH, a free community health and wellness event on the same day as the concert.

    Kathy Thaman, the event coordinator of the CHOOSE HEALTH event, says that they hope to get a great turnout for the event.

    “We really want more connection with our community. We want our choir there to look like our community. Come for the health fair, get all those services for free. Find out more about our organization and consider joining us,” Thaman said.

    This event will offer activities and health information for all age groups. Partners include Cape Fear Valley Regional Medical Center, Better Health, the Care Clinic, Fit 4 Life, Guiding Wellness Institute, Earth Monkey Energies, and more.

    There will be opportunities to donate blood through the Cape Fear Blood Mobile, attend free Qigong (a type of Tai Chi), Chair Yoga and Mat Yoga classes, make a ribbon in honor or memory of a cancer patient, win a free Reiki session, and get healthy snacks for the kids.

    The health event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 1601 Raeford Road on Saturday, Oct. 15.

    “The Sacred Veil” will be performed that night at 7:30 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children and students with ID.

    Tickets can be purchased at cumberlandchoralarts.org, through their Facebook page, or at the venue beginning at 6:30 p.m. Doors will open at 7 p.m.

  • 51The Sandhills Orchid Society is open to people who love orchids and enjoy growing them. Whether you just bought your first orchid and have no idea how to care for it, or you are a seasoned grower, SOS offers something for everyone. The club strives to facilitate the understanding of orchids and their care and provide opportunities to meet other people with similar interests. Anyone interested is welcome to attend as a guest.

    The club was formed by Southern Pines resident Jack Webster, a man who had lived in South America for several years and had developed an encyclopedic knowledge of the many species found in that area. Passionate about teaching others about growing orchids, Jack mentored novices and experienced growers alike and eventually brought a group of enthusiasts together into a vibrant, active organization dedicated to the spread of information about orchids.

    Today, the Society meets monthly on the Tuesday following the second Monday of the month. Most meetings feature a guest speaker with expertise with a specific type of orchid. Presentations focus on the “how to” for these specific plants. This year, our speakers will come from New Mexico, California, Montana and South Carolina. Generally, the speakers bring plants related to their specialties which Society members can purchase.

    Monthly meetings also feature the Show Table — a space made up of blooming orchids that members bring to the meeting to share their successes. As many orchid growers strive to grow bigger and better plants, their competitive spirits are recognized when our guest speakers or experienced club members pick out the outstanding plants in the exhibit. The membership then votes on their favorites from these selected plants and the grower is awarded points towards an annual tally. Members with the most points at the end of the year are rewarded with a monetary award.

    Per club bylaws, one of the primary objectives of SOS is to provide education regarding orchids. As part of that mission, the Society hosts an annual Grower’s Day. This year, the one-day tutorial will be held Oct. 22 at our regular meeting place, Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church on Raeford Road. Steve Arthur, an entertaining and charismatic speaker, accredited American Orchid Society judge and a commercial grower is the keynote. He will present a full day of growing information geared to beginners through experienced growers. This annual event, which includes lunch and a blooming plant to take home, also features the raffle of specimen plants.

    The most meaningful function of SOS is the mentoring that experienced growers happily provide to less experienced growers. Members are always anxious to show off their personal growing conditions, demonstrate how to repot orchids or simply answer questions about growing conditions for a specific type of orchid. Orchid enthusiasts of all levels of expertise bond and connect through this ethos of mentoring and sharing.

    There is always something new to learn at every meeting. Join us for a meeting or the annual fall Grower’s Day and learn more about the Sandhills Orchid Society. We promise you a blooming good time!
    Editor's note: A version of this article first ran in the September issue of Women's View Magazine.

  • 46The Soul Food Funk Fest II is set for Oct. 8 at the J. P. Riddle Stadium.

    “This is the second annual Soul Food Funk Fest,” said promoter Reginald Lewis, owner of Cladom Enterprise and festival creator.

    “It’s just something that I wanted to put together because... I used to be stationed at Fort Bragg... and Fayetteville is my life.”

    The Soul Food Funk Fest II is Fayetteville’s chance to enjoy mature music in a family-oriented environment. Guests include national recording artists.

    Freddie Jackson is best known for the 1980s Capitol Records mid-tempo soul hits “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake),” “You Are My Lady” and “Have You Ever Loved Somebody.” Nominated for two Grammy awards, Jackson continues to record music.

    Case had a string of 1990s hits such as “Touch Me, Tease Me” (featuring Foxy Brown and Mary J. Blige), “The Best Man I Can Be” (featuring Ginuwine, Tyrese and R.L.) and “Happily Ever After.” Russel Simmons signed Case to Def Jam Records in 1996.

    Tom Browne, a multiple gold record certified trumpeter, is best known for the early 1980s tunes “Funkin’ for Jamaica (N.Y.),” which peaked at number 1 on Billboard Magazine’s R&B chart, and “Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move),” which made it to number four.

    Cherrelle is an R&B singer known for “Everything I Miss at Home,” “Where Do I Run To” and “I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On,” plus the duets “Saturday Love” and “Never Knew Love Like This,” with Alexander O’Neil. She has worked with music producer (and renowned fusion drummer) Narada Michael Walden and toured with Luther Vandross.

    “The stage is going to be set up on the second base... and only [customers] with field tickets can come on the field,” Lewis said. If you don’t have a VIP field level ticket, seats will be in the upper level [general admission] bleachers or the reserved lower level seating behind home plate, he said.

    VIP tickets are $65, reserved seating is $55 and general admission is $40. There is a surcharge of $10 per ticket and $10 up-charge the day of the event.
    The Soul Food Funk Fest II opens its gates at 4 p.m. There will be food vendors serving pulled pork, Cajun-style seafood and barbecue chicken and turkey. Tickets do not pay for food or drinks. The show begins at 5.

    Tickets for the Soul Food Funk Fest II are on sale in Fayetteville at both Super Beauty World locations, Rhudy’s Pawn Shop and Lavish Beauty. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.MyEvent.com/SoulFoodFunkFest2.

    Cladom Enterprise is promoting this event and can be reached at 800-341-6672.

    J.P. Riddle Stadium is located at 2823 Legion Road.

  • 36Like moths to a flame, most of us are interested in seeing original works of art by our favorite celebrities. What would be the subject of a painting or drawing by Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash or Mohammed Ali?

    What art style would Jimi Hendrix prefer that reflects his musical genius or Richard Petty when he was not racing cars?

    From sophisticated paintings to whimsical watercolors, the newest exhibit at Gallery 208, The Alex Munroe Collection: Artwork by Celebrities, which opens Oct. 11, reveals what multitalented superstars have chosen to create in paint, colored pencils or watercolors during their private life.

    The exhibit is also as much about the collector as it is about the exhibition. The Alex Munroe Collection: Artwork by Celebrities reveals much about the collector's personality, his personal life choices, and why he has chosen to collect over 200 works by celebrities.

    Curiosity will bring you to the gallery to see the original works by the following celebrities: Janice Joplin, John Lennon, Grace Slick, Mohammed Ali, Jacques Cousteau, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Sid Cesear, Nancy Wilson, Red Foxx, Jimi Hendrix, Tony Curtis, Johnny Cash, Michael Jackson, Charleston Heston, Phyllis Diller and Richard Petty.

    You will leave the exhibit with an unexpected and surprisingly pleasant experience. We can compare what we have already experienced, the mass media way of knowing a celebrity, juxtaposed with something that feels personal and private. The more you know about each star, the more you will appreciate the experience of seeing the exhibit.

    For example, Jimi Hendrix's career gained popularity with his first single, “Hey Joe,” and his follow-up, “Purple Haze.” A pioneer as one of the most outstanding instrumentalists in rock music history, Hendrix manipulated the distortion and feedback from an electric guitar into a type of fluid language.

    While superstar Hendrix is on the road traveling, in a motel room waiting for a concert, or home — what and why did he choose to paint, and what style best suits the fluid language of his music? Would it be a narrative story and have a figure in the painting? What would the figure be doing?

    Hendrix was likely sensitive to seeing color as sound. Instead of a narrative style, Hendrix selected patterns and abstract-colored shapes to create movement across the surface of the page. Each color chosen creates a rhythm: the color yellow pops forward, sky blue slows down the repetitive beat and holds us in a musical pause, while the color deep red, like a symphony slowly increasing in volume, gains momentum in the overall composition.

    Hendrix didn't need to know Chromesthesia is the name of a neurological phenomenon in which the stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to an involuntary experience of another sensory way. If we are familiar with Hendrix, all we need to know to enjoy his work is that a musical genius chooses only colors to create mood and rhythm in his design.

    It's noteworthy that country singer Johnny Cash, like Jimi Hendrix, also abstractly uses patterns of color. Unlike Hendrix, whose design does not reference an object or person, the color mosaic patterns of Cash result in the image of a bird in movement. Centered on the page, Cash's bird seems to be ascending upward.

    The imaginative, whimsical and minimal watercolor by John Lennon hangs on the gallery wall in contrast to a large painting by a cultural icon, the actor Tony Curtis. An American film actor, well known for six decades, he was the most popular in the 1950s and 60s. Of the 100 movies Curtis made and always performed with award-winning academy actors, the pop culture generation may know him for his role as a supporting actor in “Spartacus” or by his daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis.

    Curtis had a passion and talent for painting in the post-impressionist style. His choice of subjects were colorful still lifes, landscapes and portraits. His painting titled “Red Table” is in the collection of the media wing in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

    Seeing another of his works, the sizeable figurative painting at Gallery 208, visitors will easily recognize the influences of Van Gogh and Henri Matisse. Whereas some of the works in the exhibit reflect a relaxing hobby, Curtis created a large body of work during his lifetime and was very clear on his intent. Artnet quoted Curtis saying, “When I paint, I don't paint shapes; I paint colors.”

    If you attend the Oct. 11 opening, you will not only be fascinated by the exhibit but also by the collector. Alex Munroe will briefly discuss the art of collecting at the opening reception. Gallery 208 only exhibits 18 of an extensive body of work — over 200 pieces in his collection.

    What someone chooses to collect tells us a lot about the individual. All collectors like the works by the artist(s), but they also assume the work could appreciate. For many investors, their collection symbolizes success within social circles.

    Attending the exhibit, you will not assume Munroe's eclectic collection is a way to affirm himself as a social success. Instead, it is easy to sense the collection represents the collector as having an entrepreneurial passion for the unexpected and a highly creative way of seeing the world and culture around him. Upon meeting Munroe, you will readily see the collection as a self-expression of a fun-loving personality with various interests and a positive outlook.

    Munroe stated, “I buy art for the sheer enjoyment of sharing it with people. Research has shown that when people view art, the brain releases chemicals that make them feel secure and happy. My art takes this concept to an even higher level as a celebrity has the added benefit. To see a piece by Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney or Richard Petty adds an element of awe.”

    So, how do you share over 200 works by celebrities with the public? Create the ambiance for a restaurant by hanging your framed original art collection stacked up on the walls and even hanging the work in the bathroom and bathroom stalls. That's easy to build and own a restaurant with good food but also has the restaurant's décor that exudes your outgoing and engaging personality.

    This gallery and eatery exists in Elizabethtown, off Interstate 87, and is a combination restaurant, bar and ballroom. The stacked artworks filling the walls are in an 1850 Salon exposition style. The list is unexpectedly endless, while dining at the Cape Fear Winery, and includes works by Picasso, Salvador Dali, Matisse, Ron Wood, Ringo Starr, Dr. Suess, Jonathan Winters, Eric Clapton and more.

    As noted earlier, the collector is just as curious as the collection is. Graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in Advertising, Munroe started his first company in Wilmington, in 2000, producing and selling detectable warning systems. Munroe then returned home to expand his company at the Elizabethtown Industrial Park.

    Munroe states it best: “The abandoned winery was across the street from my office. It was a beautiful property, so that I would walk my dog there every day. I discovered it was in foreclosure, so I leased it the day I found out. Worst case, it was a beautiful property, so it was a valuable real estate to me. I asked around and decided the area needed an event venue, restaurant and lodging.”

    The Cape Fear Winery expanded to include a restaurant, a distillery, a venue for weddings or special occasions, and a new gift shop and spa. With the collection always hanging, the restaurant is always the place to venture to when you are ready for good food and an eclectic dining experience!

    Eventually, visitors to the restaurant will be able to see his most recent works, six more "Peanuts" pieces by Tom Everhart and an original by famous guitarist, Slash.
    One would assume Munroe had lived in Los Angeles for many years and was directly influenced by celebrities to collect celebrity art. To my surprise, Munroe's brothers unknowingly influenced him to become a collector.

    Munroe tells his story about going to New York City with his family as a young boy. He stated, “Coach Dean Smith was on the plane, and my brothers dared me to go get his autograph. I did, and my brothers thought I was so cool. So, to keep impressing them, I bought more stuff and suddenly had a nice collection. I have a broker in San Francisco who helps me acquire rare pieces when they come available, usually about a year after the celebrity passes away.”

    What began as a “way to impress his brothers” became a sincere passion, enriching the area where he was raised as a child. Munroe believes “great art will be around forever, and long after I'm gone. I think of myself more as the current proprietor of the art instead of the owner. You usually have to go to a big city to see the caliber of some of the art I have, so I'm happy to be able to share it locally. Before I opened the winery, most of my art was in cylinders in my attic. I originally thought I'd display select pieces, but as people started coming and asking if I had more, I happily hung more pieces on the walls.”

    The public is invited to attend the opening reception of The Alex Munroe Collection: Artwork by Celebrities on Oct. 11 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Gallery 208 on Rowan Street in Fayetteville.

    Gallery hours are Monday thru Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For anyone who cannot attend the opening, the exhibit will remain at Gallery 208 until Dec. 15. For information, call Up & Coming Weekly at 910-484-6200.

  • 26The International Downtown Association recognized Cool Spring Downtown District with the Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence for its resourceful approaches related to their inaugural event, Night Circus, a New Year’s Eve Spectacular.

    A jury of peer professionals reviewed, deliberated and evaluated all entries in the 2022 Downtown Achievement Awards.
    The Award of Excellence acknowledges an excellent response to an urban place management challenge, demonstrating application of industry knowledge and exceeds the jury criteria.

    Night Circus was among 23 qualified entries in the category of Marketing, Communications and Events which IDA identifies as one of the seven professional urban place management practice areas. This category features unique organizational approaches and projects in the areas of branding, public relations, marketing strategies and communications plans.

    “Being recognized on an international scale for our efforts is truly an honor. We love to bring positive recognition to our deserving city,” said Bianca Shoneman of the Cool Spring Downtown District.
    The event, in partnership with the city of Fayetteville, was Fayetteville’s first self-curated New Year’s Eve production in over a decade. Headliners included four national touring acts — All-4-One, Rob Base, C + C Music Factory and Coolio.

    Inspired by a novel of the same name, the circus showcased an array of acrobats, aerialists, fire dancers, live art demos and more, with a variety of delicious food to tempt the senses.

    To transition from 2021 to 2022, the team hired a local production company, Blashfield Signs, to fabricate an eighteen-foot, multi-colored star dotted with over 150 LED lights. At the stroke of midnight, the star was lifted into the sky, accompanied by a spectacular burst of fireworks, ringing in the New Year.

    “Coming out of the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we knew we wanted something vibrant and exciting for our community as we celebrated surviving a tumultuous year and moving towards thriving in the next”, shared Director of Special Projects, Ashanti Bennett.

    Cool Spring Downtown District has demonstrated skillful application of urban place management principles with their project Night Circus, said David Downey, IDA President and CEO. “The Night Circus should serve as a framework to all member communities within IDA.”

    Sponsors for the event included: Piedmont Natural Gas, presenting sponsor and ABC11 as the title media sponsor. Healy Wholesale, the Public Works Commission, the Dogwood Festival, Cumulus Broadcasting, the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Beasley Media, City View Magazine and Fayetteville-Cumberland County Arts Council were also corporate donors. Various city departments, especially the Parks and Recreation Department, assisted with event management.

    Washington, DC-based IDA is the premier organization for urban place professionals who are shaping and activating dynamic city center districts. The Cool Spring Downtown District is the urban place management organization representing the interests of property owners in Fayetteville.

  • 52The Fayetteville Chapter of WoodmenLife will continue its community fellowship events in October and November. The events include something for everyone.

    Saturday Night Family Life is open every other weekend, from 5 to 9 p.m. Come enjoy live music and local vendors selling food and crafts. There will also be bounce houses, a water play area and movies.
    Most know WoodmenLife as an insurance broker, but the company itself encourages involvement within the areas that it serves.

    “Woodmen of the World was initially started to care for those who worked in forestry and also to take care of their families if the need arose,” said Amanda Crew, who helps organize the Family Life events.

    WoodmenLife continues to promote a commitment to care across all of its communities with various volunteer or socialization opportunities.
    For the Fayetteville chapter, this means offering aid to those in need and constantly striving to improve the future of our local neighbors.

    In today’s world of hustle and bustle, the local WoodmenLife chapter recognized a need for an event that would gather its neighbors to socialize in a relaxed and safe atmosphere.

    The site is located on nearly three acres with plenty of room for children to play while parents and friends relax.
    The event also offers local vendors a place to showcase their culinary expertise or artisan wares.

    Admission to Saturday Night Family Life is free to the public. Invited vendors appreciate your patronage of their arts.
    WoodmenLife has already had a busy start to the fall season as it makes way for a new Family Life Community Orchard. The orchard is being built by volunteers in the spot that used to house the swimming pool, a feature that was removed two years ago.

    Volunteerism is a tenet of WoodmenLife and the group welcomes any and all who would love to lend a hand to this project.

    “We had to close the pool during the pandemic and then it was too costly to re-open, so we are designing and building a community orchard in its place,” Crew said.

    The Crew family already owns an orchard in the area, so leading this project at WoodmenLife was a natural fit for Amanda and her husband.
    Saturday Night Family Life at Woodmen is located at 414 E. Mountain Drive in Fayetteville, and runs from 5 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 8 and 22, and on Nov. 5.

    If your fall calendar is already booked, check back in the spring as Saturday Night Family Life returns with each new season. For more information, call 910-364-6168.

  • 47Heart Breaker, a Heart and Led Zeppelin tribute band, will play at Gates Four Golf and Country Club Pavilion on Oct. 7. The concert was originally scheduled in May, but postponed due to inclement weather.
    Last summer, they were part of a concert series held at Rock’n On the River on Person Street.

    “These two girls look and sound like Heart; they are unbelievable. This crowd is going to be set back by this great band,” said Greg Adair, one of the organizers for the Gates Four Concert Series.

    The Concert Series has grown in popularity as the music scene around Fayetteville has developed. This year, organizers added a sixth concert to the schedule. With multiple weather delays, the series has extended into the month of October.

    “The whole concept of the concert series is to create a quality entertainment venue on that side of the county, the Hope Mills area,” said Bill Bowman, publisher, Up & Coming Weekly. Bowman is also a sponsor of the event.

    “These bands coming up will knock your socks off,” said Adair. “You’ll think, ‘oh wow, I’m sitting here listening to Heart, or Lynard Skynard,’ or ‘I’m sitting here listening to AC/DC’.”

    “There are so many really good bands going out there this year; it’s just phenomenal,” he said.

    “To be able to have a quality concert in a classy environment like Gates Four is wonderful,” he added. “The bands appreciate the atmosphere as well.”

    Heart Breaker won’t be the only musical act to take the stage. The concert will open with a local, up-and-coming singer/songwriter chosen every month before the show.

    “The acts are chosen from a singer/songwriter event held every month at the Fayetteville Bakery and Cafe,” said Bowman. “It’s to give these young singer/songwriters an opportunity to perform in front of a good audience in association with a great band.”

    The concert will conclude with an after-party at the Sand Trap, a bar on Purdue Street in Fayetteville. The opening act from the concert will perform at the after-party as well.

    “The whole evening is centered around fun, good music, contributing to the community and giving young artists a chance to be seen,” said Bowman.

    The concert will be free to attend for lawn seating. VIP tickets can be purchased for table seating within the pavilion itself. A single-seat VIP ticket is $38. An all-inclusive VIP ticket is $68 and includes food and beverage.

    Part of the event proceeds go to the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation, which provides education and reading resources to elementary-aged school children in Cumberland County.

    “One of the reasons we are able to keep the concert series free is because of our sponsors who are helping fund all these quality bands,” said Bowman.

    Gates will open at 5 p.m. and the local musical guest will perform at 6 p.m. Heart Breaker will take the stage from 7:30 to 10 p.m. The after party at the Sand Trap begins at 10 p.m.
    For more information and tickets to the event, visit https://www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.

  • 62JML Piano has been in Fayetteville since 1987, located in the Bordeaux Shopping Center, where the Donald family has been selling musical equipment for the better part of 40 years. “JML” is made up of owners Jim (dad), Mike (son) and Linda (mother).

    “We focus on being a family-owned and operated business, and a lot of people like that,” Mike Donald said.

    JML Piano offers quality pre-owned grand and upright pianos from manufacturers such as Yamaha, Kawai, Steinway & Sons, Baldwin, Boston, and Wurlitzer that have been cleaned, adjusted, tuned and professionally prepared.

    “We’re big on service after sale, and you don’t get that level of service with either an online company [or big chain store],” Donald said.

    JML Piano specializes in Roland and Casio digital pianos. It is a “top tier” supplier for both, as well as a Roland “service provider.”

    “[For instance], not long ago I had a customer that had a digital piano [for] about six months,” Donald said. “It was an $8,000 digital piano, top-of-the-line product, and, rather than fix it and put a bad taste in his mouth, I decided to replace it for him.”

    Bear in mind JML Piano “only services what [it] sells” because digital piano circuitry is redesigned every seven years. This means manufacturers like Baldwin Pianovelle, GEM, Suzuki, Technics, Kurzweil, Samick, Williams, (some) Yamaha and a few others cannot be serviced because parts are discontinued seven years after the date of manufacture.

    If you have a digital piano made by one of these manufacturers, turn that frown upside down. JML Piano offers “large discounts” to owners of unserviceable digital pianos. Roland and Casio are considered to be reliable and make replacement parts.

    Roland and Casio just don’t break down, but, if they do, we can easily find the parts to fix them, Donald said.

    JML Piano is also a professional moving company that is prepared to haul your piano locally or long distance. JML Piano owns a temperature-controlled warehouse where it can store your piano for as long as you want. Need a piano for school or church? JML Piano can help.

    Also, JML Piano offers the occasional piano rental and a two-year 100% trade-in policy on items owned by JML Piano.

    In addition to running JML Piano, Mike Donald is the front man for Reflections II, a local variety/party band that includes Mike on keyboard and bass, Paul Tyler on guitar and Vince Groves on drums. Each member delivers lead and backup vocals.

    “[We play] beach music, classic rock, country, party songs, and we get the crowd involved. [We] entertain, not just play, [and] we’ve always been that way,” Donald said.

    Jim and Mike Donald began Reflections in 1980. Reflections has withstood many familial line-up changes, and, so to speak, the band resurrected with its current line-up.

    Mike Donald runs JML Piano alone and by appointment only in the Bordeaux Shopping Center, located at 1800 Owen Drive. Look for the miniature Eiffel Tower in front of the plaza.

    To schedule an appointment to look at a pre-owned grand or upright piano, a brand new or used digital piano, talk about any of the services JML Piano offers or hire Reflections II, please visit JMLpiano.com or call Mike Donald at 910-977-0809.

  • 55On the outskirts of Fayetteville lies a (usually) peaceful and adventurous farm called Sweet Valley Ranch. Here, guests can expect to interact with horses, rabbits, bulls and that’s just to name a few. In addition to the animals, Sweet Valley Ranch is also home to four ponds, 65 acres of agricultural crop fields, and three hay fields amounting to 30 acres. It is an ideal locale for year-round events.

    Springtime Adventures at Sweet Valley Ranch starts in March featuring one of the largest inflatable parks in the state. This event also consists of carnival games and the Go-Kart Nature Trail Ride. The trail will go through the woods and fields. Drivers must be 16 years old to drive.
    In the spring and summer, Sweet Valley Ranch is also home to “Dinosaur World,” where patrons are transported back to prehistoric times. Guests get to explore over 35 life size dinosaurs with the
    majority being animatronic. “Dinosaur World” also includes a prehistoric museum, and children can enjoy a fossil dig to top off this fun expedition.

    There is a reason to visit Sweet Valley Ranch every season, and at this time of the year things turn a bit spooky.
    Legend says that Delray Delamorte and his family members were spotted cruising down Hwy 95 South in a hearse with ligaments hanging out the trunk. They left the following note: “Dr. Surgeon, we are heading south and will return next year. We left you some body parts that you can feed your dinosaurs. SIGNED — Delray Delamorte, Slaughterhouse Manager.”

    From Oct. 7 to 31, Sweet Valley Ranch is transformed into “Backwoods Terror Ranch, ” — a frightening adventure sure to produce some shrieks! “Backwoods Terror Ranch” is one of the biggest outdoor haunted events in the county. It will take patrons over an hour to get through six spooky mazes including a ¼ acre cemetery.

    On the night of Oct. 15, Sweet Valley Ranch will be hosting their “Music at the Farm Concert Series,” which will feature the opening band Hell is Here and the headliner Mostley Crue, a Motley Crue tribute band.

    These two rock bands will set the stage on fire throughout the night so if you and your family decide to attend “Backwoods Terror Ranch” the night of the 15th, expect to hear some rocking jams, too.

    At the end of the year, Sweet Valley Ranch throws a “Festival of Lights,” and is transformed into a magical Christmas Wonderland consisting of over 1 million lights with over 350 animals as the main attraction, according to the Sweet Valley Ranch website. The light show is a drive thru event but guests can also park at Tiny’s Winter Wonderland, which is across the street from the “Festival of Lights,” to enjoy a visit with Santa, vendors, a gift shop, amusement rides, food and more.

    For information or tickets for all of these events, visit https://www.sweetvalleyranchnc.com/ or call 844-622-3276.
    Sweet Valley Ranch is located at 2990 Sunnyside School Road in Fayetteville.

  • 30a Community leaders are remembering the late Wilson Lacy for his longtime county and city service, including time with Cumberland County Schools and his three terms as chairman of the Fayetteville Public Works Commission.

    Mr. Lacy died Sept. 22. He was 74.

    “Former PWC Commissioner Wilson Lacy was the epitome of a community person who cared about the quality of life for Cumberland County residents,” said Evelyn Shaw, chairwoman of the Fayetteville PWC board. “He considered himself every person's neighbor. Moreover, he welcomed the opportunity to champion small, local businesses. His caring ways and people skills were evident in each interaction. It is my hope that legacy-makers, like him, will be well remembered.”

    Board members took time for a moment of silence before the Sept. 28 PWC board meeting.
    Mr. Lacy served three terms as a board member of the city-owned utility from 2001 to 2013 and was elected chairman in 2003-2005, 2008-2009 and 2012-2013. The utility and its customers always remained close to Mr. Lacy’s heart.

    “My last conversation with Mr. Lacy was just a few weeks ago when we had a water emergency on Labor Day weekend,” said Carolyn Justice-Hinson, a spokeswoman for the utility. “He had received an inquiry from an upset customer that was impacted and he reached out to me for information so he could share an update with them. He could have easily told them he hadn't been on the board in almost 10 years and referred them somewhere else, but he took the time to help them.”

    Mr. Lacy retired from Cumberland County Schools as executive director of operations in charge of building and grounds.

    “I had the opportunity to work with Mr. Lacy in his role with the school system as well as a PWC commissioner,” said Mick Noland, the interim chief executive officer and general manager of the utility. “He was always a gentleman, knew what was going on in the community and was committed to collaboratively working out solutions to the many challenges that arose in the course of conducting business. He always had in mind serving the best interests of the students and PWC customers.”

    Mr. Lacy was an employee with the school system from Jan. 1, 1994, until his retirement on Oct. 1, 2018.

    “We are saddened by the passing of Dr. Wilson Lacy,” Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr. and Greg West, chairman of the school board, said in a joint statement. Dr. Lacy’s notable contributions to the school system helped provide students with an exceptional learning environment to achieve success in school and in life.

    “In addition to his contributions to the school system, Dr. Lacy invested much of his time and resources for the betterment of our community. He will certainly be missed. Heartfelt condolences are extended to his family and loved ones on behalf of the Cumberland County Board of Education and Cumberland County Schools.”

    Born in Bladen County, Mr. Lacy served in the Army National Guard and graduated from his beloved Shaw University in Raleigh, where he remained an ardent supporter of the Shaw University Alumni Association and fundraising for student scholarships.

    ‘Giant of a man’

    Mr. Lacy’s death has resonated throughout the city.

    “Dr. Wilson Lacy was a true servant leader who worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for his family and this community,” Mayor Mitch Colvin said. “This is a tremendous loss and he will indeed be missed by all who knew this giant of a man.”

    Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Dawkins said Mr. Lacy was a friend to his mayoral father, and later to him. And if Mr. Lacy made a promise, he kept it.

    “Dr. Lacy was a man of his word,” Dawkins said. “His wit and wisdom will be missed.”

    Glenn Adams said Mr. Lacy leaves a lasting legacy.

    “Wilson Lacy will truly be missed by this community,” said Adams, chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners. “His advocacy for the Martin Luther King Park goes beyond imagination. He truly kept the dream alive, and it’s important that we fulfill his desire to make sure that that park comes to fruition. Wilson was also strong on education as he was a staunch supporter of Shaw University. He never forgot his alma mater, and that is what we should all desire to have to make sure our alma mater is strong. It goes without saying about his time on PWC. He was a strong advocate for the city and for this community. Wilson Lacy’s legacy is one that we should all aspire to follow.”

    An evening of honor

    Former mayor Tony Chavonne developed a close relationship with Mr. Lacy and recalled being honored to speak about him at an MLK Committee banquet several years ago.

    “To really speak about a person, we have to look deeper than what a person calls himself or what he wears,” Chavonne said at the banquet honoring Mr. Lacy. “We have to see where he comes from. We have to look at how he was raised. We have to look into his heart. That is where you find the true test of a man.”

    Chavonne, now publisher of CityView Media, told the audience about Mr. Lacy’s willingness to work with all as one in the community, and how Mr. Lacy agreed to serve as co-chairman of the Greater Fayetteville Futures that “helped make that effort successful and helped result in significant improvements in this community over the past six years.”
    Services

    A Celebration of Life was scheduled for Sept. 29 at the Cape Fear Conference B Headquarters in Raeford. A homecoming service was scheduled for Sept. 30 at First Baptist Church in Bladenboro.

    Mr. Lacy will be buried at Brooklyn Memorial Gardens. He is survived by his wife, Claretha Lewis Lacy; daughters, Deana McQuitty of Greensboro, Cleopatrice Robinson of Raleigh and Felicia Evans Long of Rockville, Maryland; a brother, the Rev. Cleopatrick Lacy of Griffin, Georgia; and three grandchildren.

  • 40Historic flooding, power outages, a hurricane and even a pandemic have tried to halt the Indigo Moon Film Festival in recent years. But, as the saying goes, the show must go on.

    Organizers Jan Johnson and Pat Wright seem to have a knack for weathering what storms may come and manage to deliver a film festival Fayetteville can be proud to host.
    Scheduled for Oct. 7 to 9 this year, the festival begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 at the Cameo Art House Theatre in historic downtown Fayetteville.

    “Pat and I founded the film festival seven years ago,” said Jan Johnson, one of the festival creators. “And [international submissions] just kind of happened. We called for entries, and we accepted entries from all over the world.”

    Johnson and Pat Wright created the Indigo Moon Film Festival to bring the “cultural art of film to this region” and celebrate the art of storytelling before a diverse audience.

    “Our opening night film is ‘Mission Joy, Finding Happiness in Troubled Times,’ which is a conversation between the Dalai Lama and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu. It’s just a wonderful film” that will make you smile, Wright said.

    After “Mission Joy” ends around 9, ticketed guests are welcomed to reconvene a few doors down from the Cameo at the Skyview on Hay event center for the “opening night reception,” till 11 p.m.

    “[Fayetteville happens] to be an open enough minded community to appreciate foreign films, [and] some of the finest films come from foreign countries,” Johnson said.

    “All the people and filmmakers who are in town [will be gathered at the Skyview]. It’s a nice little soiree” with live music and food, Wright said.

    On Saturday, Oct. 8, the Indigo Moon Film Festival will take a deep, sturdy breath before showing more than 50 films at three separate theaters all day long.

    “From 10 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. [on Saturday] we show films . . . at the Cameo, the Loge and the Arts Council,” Wright said. “We’ve got 55 films from around the world, as well as a ‘locals block’ where we’re showing four films from local filmmakers,” Wright said.

    Categories include short and feature documentaries and narratives, student films, the NC connection (for filmmakers connected to the state), horror shorts and features, and animated shorts. Be prepared for “blocks” of short films of the same genre that will play back-to-back.

    “We’ve got several short blocks” at different time slots on Saturday, Wright said.

    The Indigo Moon Film Festival will host films dealing with a diverse range of subject matter, such as a Palestinian man with autism who travels with his disabled sister to the Dead Sea for medical treatment; Black Panther Huey P. Newton’s trial for killing a white policeman during the height of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement; and extraterrestrials are on the schedule.

    In fact, there are too many intriguing films on Saturday’s playlist to name. Best stop what you’re doing right now and check IndigoMoonFilmFest.com/full-schedule-of-films for Saturday’s complete goings on.
    Remember, cinema lovers, parking is free on Saturdays and Sundays in downtown Fayetteville.

    “Park once for free on Saturday and spend your day downtown going to the movies . . . out to eat and meeting filmmakers,” Wright said.

    Downtown restaurants like Antonella’s, Archway Burgers, Dogs and Beer, Blue Moon Café and Coffee Scene at Prince Charles, plus shops like A Bit of Carolina, City Center Gallery and Books, Fabulous Finds boutique and The Downtown Market of Fayetteville are all within walking distance of the festival and a great way to relax cinema weary eyes.

    Then on Sunday, there is the awards barbecue, where jury awards are presented to the filmmakers that have been selected. Everybody that comes to see a film gets to judge it and say whether they liked it or not, Wright said.

    Awards will be given on Sunday at the Skyview on Hay, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

    “After the barbecue is done, we show the opening night film one more time at 1 o’clock, and then we show the jury award winning films for a second time,” Wright said.

    If you would like to spread the art of storytelling through whatever means you can, please visit IndigoMoonFilmFest.com/support.

    “We have a lot of support from the community. We have . . . individual, corporate and grant sponsors,” Wright said.

    There are a lot of ticket options, from four VIP selections, student and day passes and even singles. Prices range from $100 for VIP tickets to $10 singles. Tickets for The Indigo Moon Film Festival can be purchased at IndigoFilmFest.com/buy-tickets. Tickets can be picked up at The Rainbow Room box office, at 223 Hay Street. Note VIP tickets do not reserve seating.
    Fayetteville is made up of an eclectic group of people that appreciate foreign cinema, and the festival appreciates all peoples and nationalities, Johnson said.

    The list of films is set for this year's festival, but planning is already in the works for next year. If you would like to find out how to submit a film for next year's festival, please visit FilmFreeway.com/IndigoMoonFilmFestival.

    In addition to the festival, Pat Wright and Jan Johnson run Groundswell Pictures. Groundswell Pictures’ goal is to make and show films, teach filmmaking and support filmmakers through fiscal responsibility.
    Groundswell Pictures is a not-for-profit organization that makes films that change the way people see the critical issues that shape our world.
    From the recovery efforts in Haiti to the effects of desegregation, child pornography and Hollywood blacklisting, Groundswell Pictures is committed to educating the public and creating a groundswell of social change through film.

    Groundswell Pictures is responsible for this event. Visit GroundswellPictures.com for more information or to contribute.
    The Indigo Moon Film Festival will take place the weekend of Oct. 7,8 and 9 in downtown Fayetteville, around the Hay Street corridor.
    Remember to visit IndigoMoonFilmFest.com/beforehand to find out details about each film. Plan to arrive early to secure your place in line, as each venue is open seating.

  • 4My wife, Rebekah, and I have spent the last few days in Rome, Italy. Everywhere we look there are reminders of ancient human history... a couple thousand years’ worth anyway.

    We’re learning that many of the old structures here — some of the 1200 churches, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Circus Maximus, many of the monuments to yet another egotistical emperor — were built in part by slave labor, often Jewish slaves.

    So, should they all be torn down, demolished, erased from memory, deleted from history? (As though that’s even possible!)

    Or should they — as they are — serve as objects to make history visible and touchable today, as icons of eras past, providing insight into human behavior and trends of earlier times, even serving as instructional elements for those alive today? And, even as revenue producers by those who come from afar and pay to see and experience them … because they are still here.

    Lift your sights, leaders of Fayetteville, when it comes to the fate of the most iconic, historic building in the town that we call home — the Market House. Learn from places in the world that really are old and historic, all of which have checkered chapters in their past.

    While walking through what was once the Jewish Ghetto in Rome, we saw the bronze plaques embedded in the floor near the doors of Jewish residences in the 1940s. Engraved on them were the names of those who lived there, the year of their birth, the date of their arrest and deportation to Auschwitz and the date of their “assassination.”

    It reminded me of an earlier trip I made to Krakow, Poland, and visited the nearby compound of Auschwitz. I actually walked into the oven where Jews were crammed in and gassed to death. The ovens obviously weren’t originally built for that use, but nevertheless they were the site of some of the most horrific acts of human derangement in history.

    So, should the entire complex of Auschwitz be demolished, obliterated, because of what happened there?

    Obviously not, in the opinion of the worldwide Jewish community, many of whom lost family members there, in much more recent history than anything that happened on the steps of Fayetteville’s Market House.

    In fact, while there, I saw busloads of young Jewish students touring the site, learning first-hand some valuable lessons from history — exactly where it all took place just a generation or two ago.

    I’m fully aware of the fact that because I’m not of African American descent, in the minds of some, I’m unqualified (or unworthy) of voicing an opinion on the matter of the Market House’s link to the issue of slavery.

    Furthermore, I’m a relative newcomer to Fayetteville. I moved here in 2010, after marrying a bonafide “Fayette-Villian,” as I jokingly refer to Rebekah. She’s a graduate of Pine Forest High School. She’s, in fact, a 6th-7th generation native of Fayetteville. So, she’s my ticket to entry into the community I proudly now call home.

    We are fortunate we can choose to live anywhere. Our global business is portable and not tied to any one locale. We have friends and family in many places. All we need is an airport and the internet.

    We are in Fayetteville by choice and love living downtown. As a kid who grew up in church and loves baseball, our daily view of downtown churches and baseball stadiums is about as good as it gets. While we’re here, we want to be good citizens and do all we can to make Fayetteville a great place to live for everyone.

    A Minority Perspective

    I grew up a missionary kid, so a different kind of “military brat” — the Lord’s Army. As such, I had a taste of minority life in my youth. My family was one of only five white families in a SE Alaskan fishing village in the 1950s.

    As a teen in South America, I was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed gringo in a brown-skinned, black-haired world. I never viewed my racial difference as a disadvantage.
    As a child, I was adopted into the Eagle Tribe of the Tlingit Nation and still maintain contact with my Alaskan “family.” Though decades removed from my high school years in Peru, I can still hold my own in Spanish.

    Here's a more current concern of mine as it relates to racial disharmony here in Fayetteville. Rebekah and I have four mixed grandchildren. They are all well-traveled. They’ve lived in Hawaii and blended with Pacific Islanders. They spent time in the Philippines and worked alongside their missionary mother in an orphanage in Cameroon, West Africa. They now live in Idaho, a relatively “white” part of the country. They don’t see color, a virtue I’m proud to have had a part in passing on to them.

    You know what I don’t want to expose them to? It’s some blatant, racially prejudicial behavior I see plainly displayed on the streets of Fayetteville on a regular basis. There are often some “street preachers” loudly proclaiming their message and reading from their religious texts on the streets downtown, often wearing garments compatible with their particular persuasion. I certainly respect their rights of free speech but do question their motives or their effectiveness.

    As one who spent 20 years in full-time ministry, I’m always eager to acknowledge the zeal and enthusiasm of those who are bold in their faith. So, on one occasion, I stopped to have a friendly visit with them. It wasn’t long before I was informed that their version of the gospel was black-centered only.

    I was boldly and emphatically informed that I, as a white person, had “NO HOPE.” Now, on more than one occasion, when simply walking by them on our way to dinner or one of the many downtown shops we like to patronize, I hear them say (in my direction) — “Damn you white people!”

    If I were the leaders of Fayetteville, I would be concerned about such expressions of racial hatred and such example of “hate speech” — happening on the streets of my town in 2022 — just outside of buildings that serve as places of business by respectable members of the community. I wouldn’t be trying to destroy a building that was erected as a place of business, even though it was used by some to conduct business that was most certainly deplorable in every sense of the word.

  • 48Often overlooked objects such as bottle caps, jars and marbles step into the spotlight thanks to artist Donna Slade’s new exhibit The Color Of Ordinary featured at Cape Fear Art Studios until Oct. 23. The exhibit honors the colors and textures of these everyday items.

    “I try to bring those objects — that maybe in an antique store that somebody walks by — to life in a pencil drawing,” Slade said.

    The Wake Forest based artist said many pieces in the exhibit draw inspiration from objects found in antique shops. Many of these items now receive less attention due to modern technology, according to Slade.

    “Those things are disappearing or folks are not as interested in them anymore, and you just don’t think about those things as much anymore, so it’s just important to keep them out there and remember those things,” Slade said.

    Steve Opet, board president of Cape Fear Studios, said he hopes events such as this exhibit help to expose those in the area to art, further elating those already interested in art, and encouraging others to get more involved in viewing and practicing art.

    “It’s an important way to express to the community and bring art to the community that they otherwise normally wouldn’t have a chance to be exposed to,” Opet said.

    Describing the exhibit as “light and airy,” Slade said she hopes this collection of her work brings viewers enjoyment and some respite from the stresses of life.
    Most of the works have been created with colored pencils.

    Slade’s process for approaching this exhibit’s pieces begins with a reference photo. After making a sketch, Slade begins incorporating colors, moving from dark to light. Her pieces have as many as 25 to 30 layers.

    Though the process can take up to hundreds of hours, Slade says she doesn’t bother keeping track of time.

    “I would spend more time keeping track of the hours than working on them, and I’m not sure I want to know,” she joked.

    Slade originally spent time as a graphic designer for around 30 years and always was involved in art. Originally composing pieces with pen and ink, Slade turned to colored pencil for more detail. Slade says she has been creating with colored pencils for about 25 to 30 years.

    Opet highlighted that anyone could come to enjoy the art featured in the studio, saying the studio seeks to expose those in Fayetteville and the surrounding areas to various forms of art and expression.

    The Color of Ordinary is not Slade's only active exhibit. Her collection of works entitled Faces of Colombia: The Invisible Communities will be displayed at the Cumberland County Arts Council until Oct. 29.

    Slade said she hopes the significance of physical art is not lost due to technology, and she emphasized the importance of continuing to appreciate it.

    “The world needs art,” Slade said. “And I have a feeling that the technologies are taking that part away from everybody and I hope that the computers and the computer programs and the drawing programs never take away original art. And I think it's something that everybody needs to appreciate and hopefully that continues.”

    Cape Fear Studios is located at 148 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville. For more information call 910-433-2986.

  • 10Remember when you were in 4th Grade? Sure, you do. Both of the readers of this column completed 4th grade. One even got all the way through 6th grade. Back then you had to write an essay on “What I Did on My Summer Vacation.”

    My 4th grade class with Ms. Delgrande was many moons ago. But here’s to you, Mrs. Delgrande, my annual vacation report. This year we went back to New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment and home of Walter White’s meth labs of “Breaking Bad fame.”

    The most important thing about travel is to remain flexible. Expect bumps. Roll with the punches. At the Albuquerque Sun Port we had a “Seinfeld” moment at the Thrifty Rental car desk. I had reserved a medium sized car several months ago. They had my reservation. Unfortunately, they did not have my car.

    As Seinfeld said in a similar situation, “It’s not enough to take the reservation, the important part is to keep the reservation.” All they had left was a giant GMC Acadia Wagon Queen Family Truckster. We are talking a vehicle big as all west Texas. It was as wide and long as an aircraft carrier with half the maneuverability. The Beast was Yuge.

    Given the choice of walking across New Mexico or driving the Beast, we took the Beast. Having driven a school bus in high school gave me some confidence, but that was long ago and far away.
    Our motel in Santa Fe had two small parking lots, each of which could fit six normal sized vehicles. Squeezing the Beast in and out of the lot provided excitement beyond compare.
    The motel had an interesting sign: Zombies Stay Free. Luckily, all the Zombies were out of town at a Brotherhood of Christian Zombies tennis tournament in Albuquerque. We left town with less money but with our brains intact.

    Santa Fe was having a festival which meant parking was at a premium. Olde Santa Fe has narrow streets which are not conducive to Beastly driving. Upon finally locating a skinny parking space in a public lot I learned to my dismay that one had to pay for parking using a local parking app on an iPhone.

    Oh Boy. I got to stand in the lot while downloading the parking app. The app had at least 60 individual unwanted web sites. While enjoying a baking New Mexican sun, I never located the parking app despite prolonged scrolling. Somehow, I did manage to provide my credit card information to an evil app.

    About 10 minutes after leaving the parking lot, Lord MasterCard’s Fraud Alert robot sent me a text asking if I had charged $1.95 to Cosmic Rip Off, Inc. No, I replied. The cancellation dance of my card loomed as inevitable. In full tourist mode, my credit card was compromised in the first 10 minutes of sightseeing. Pretty smooth move.

    Fortunately, my wife Lani has her own separate card which meant she got to pay for all the meals. So, it wasn’t a total loss for me. I had cash, but not enough to have survived a week without a credit card. I reminded myself to remain flexible.

    We stayed in Santa Fe and then Taos. Apparently, we really like both places as we have been there three or four times and keep going back.
    Santa Fe has more art galleries than you can shake a stick at. Downtown Santa Fe has a central Plaza which is always jumping with activity.
    Taos, which also has a lot of arty stuff, is a much smaller version of Santa Fe. Taos goes to sleep when the sun goes down. I purchased multiple “Breaking Bad” souvenirs there in honor of Walter White, the Albuquerque chemistry teacher gone bad.

    New Mexico is justly proud of their chilies. They have both kinds, red and green. Their license plates proclaim them to be the Chili Capital of the World. They put chilies in everything: Enchiladas, rice, eggs, coffee, ice cream, toothpaste and chewing gum. It’s a chili cult.

    Your restaurant wait person will ask you if you want red, green or Christmas chilies. If you order Christmas, you get red and green chilies. I always ordered Christmas.
    The Beast was very comfortable out on the lone highway. Beasts are designed to roam free, not to be cooped up in the city. New Mexico is big. Big Skies. Big mountains. Big prairies. Big red, tan and white rocks.
    Big elevations — Santa Fe is at 6,000 feet and Taos is 7,000 feet. Just north of Taos lies the Rio Grande Gorge River bridge. You are riding along through essentially flat prairie land. Suddenly the ground falls away into a 650 foot drop off into the Rio Grande valley where the river winds its way to the Gulf of Mexico.

    The Bridge has pedestrian walkways which shake when big construction trucks whiz by. It’s a pretty dramatic walk which I recommend if you enjoy vertigo tinged with fear and quaking. Pretty nifty. There are souvenir tents at the edge of the Bridge where you can buy all manner of silver and turquoise jewelry.

    They accept American money in New Mexico. Have a chili and a smile.

  • It is officially Autumn, meaning it's pumpkin spice latte season. Pumpkin isn’t the only fall flavor our local coffee shops are brewing this year. Each shop is offering their own twist on seasonal coffees. Some are sure to become new favorites.

    34aThe Coffee Scene

    This coffee shop, which has three locations around Cumberland County, is offering six special drinks this season. The first is a Pumpkin Cream Pie with pumpkin spice syrup and white chocolate sauce. Next is the Cream Brulea, which has white chocolate and caramel sauce. Then you have to try the Jack-O-Lantern, which has pumpkin spice and hazelnut, perfect for a coffee lover. The fourth drink they offer is the Toasted S’mores which has chocolate sauce and toasted marshmallow syrup. Next is the Salted Caramel, which has salted caramel syrup. Their last exceptional coffee of the season is Autumn in Canada. This drink has caramel sauce and maple-flavored syrup.
    For more information visit https://thecoffeesceneinc.com/.

    34bVagabond Cafe
    This store has been in downtown Fayetteville for almost a year but has been creating quite a buzz locally. They are hosting three special drinks for the season. The first is a Pear Chai, which is made with their house chai and a hint of Pear syrup. The drink is spicy and aromatic. Next is their Churro Latte. This latte is made with their house syrups, oat milk and it’s paired with their Mexican single origin— La Chilana. Their last drink is the Autumn Harvest Latte. This drink has pumpkin, apple and caramel and it’s all paired with their specialty blend espresso.
    For more information visit https://www.vagabondcafe910.com/.

    34cRude Awakening
    This downtown Fayetteville staple is offering several specialty drinks and a flight of four ‘fall’ themed coffees. Their September flight has a Pumpkin Patch Mocha (pumpkin pie & white chocolate), a Maple Cinnamon Latte, a Spiced Brown Sugar Chai and a Toasted Marshmallow Cold Brew topped with sweet cream. These drinks can also be served as stand-alone drinks. They are also offering a caramel apple latte and of course, pumpkin spice. All of these drinks can be hot, iced or blended.
    For more information visit https://www.rudeawakening.net/.

    34dMorning Jump Coffee Company
    This drive-thru Spring Lake coffee shop is a great stop on the way to work, especially for those heading towards Fort Bragg. Their Pumpkin Pie latte is made with real pumpkin and is only offered during this season. They are also offering a Pumpkin Chai, Apple Cider, a Caramel Chestnut Latte, and a Bernstein Berry. The Bernstein Berry is a huckleberry cobbler latte.
    For more information visit https://themorningjump.com/.

  • 23Special Forces Qualification Course students from the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School will participate in Robin Sage from Oct. 7 to Nov. 5.

    Robin Sage is the final two-week cumulative training exercise for students graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course on Fort Bragg.
    The training exercise is conducted within various counties across North Carolina and South Carolina.

    This regularly held, unconventional warfare exercise encompasses the counties of Alamance, Anson, Bladen, Brunswick, Cabarrus, Chatham, Columbus, Cumberland, Davidson, Guilford, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, New Hanover, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rowan, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Union and Wake counties in North Carolina and Chesterfield, Dillon and Marlboro counties in South Carolina.

    Throughout the exercise military and civilian personnel, as well as community volunteers who serve as auxiliary actors will participate in and provide support as role-playing elements. This realistic training is critical to the successful completion of the students final assessment of skills and knowledge gained in the course.

    All Robin Sage movements and events have been coordinated with public safety officials throughout the various towns and counties hosting the training.
    Residents are advised to steer clear of the student elements and role-players, and may be expected to hear non-lethal ammunition sounds and see occasional non-lethal flares.

    Controls are in place to ensure there is no risk to the general public or property. Residents with concerns should contact local law enforcement officials, who will immediately contact exercise control officials.

    Safety of students, role-players and the public is the USAJFKSWCS command’s top priority during all training events. The following measures have been implemented:

    • Formal written notifications have been released to local law enforcement agencies in the affected counties, and will be followed-up with visits from unit representatives.

    • All civilian and non-student military participants are briefed on procedures to follow if there is contact with external public and law enforcement.

    • Students will only wear civilian clothes based on the scenario, as determined by the instructors, and will have distinctive brown armbands during these instances.

    • Training areas and vehicles used during exercises will be clearly marked.

    In a media release the command expressed appreciation for the support and consideration the public extends to the soldiers and role-players participating in the exercise.
    In the event of an emergency, civilians should contact their local law enforcement agency.

    All questions concerning Robin Sage should be directed to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School Public Affairs Office at 910-396-9394.

  • 28aThrockmorton Library celebrated 25 years of serving the Fort Bragg community on Sept. 28.

    The celebration included activities, games, music and storytime.

    The library, located on Randolph Street, was built in 1997, replacing an earlier library on Macomb Street. It is named after Gen. John L. Throckmorton, a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, Fort Bragg officials said in a release.

    The library has a computer lab and children’s room, which see a number of visitors each day, the release said.

    “Our manga and graphic novel section has also been increasingly popular, having grown from barely a few hundred circulations three years ago up to 1,939 circulations last month,” Geniece Baer, supervisory librarian, said.

    “Of course in terms of pure foot traffic, the computer lab is easily the winner, with hundreds of soldiers utilizing the lab daily to complete trainings, access email and print documents.”

    With over 75 Common Access Card, or CAC-enabled computers, the computer lab at Throckmorton is a convenient location to complete online training and courses.
    The library also has a salt-water fish tank that is surrounded by the more than 15,000 books, magazines and other items the library offers.

    28b“Our salt-water fish tank is a huge draw among kids and adults alike,” Baer said. “Kids often run in the door, excitedly announcing that they just saw ‘Dory’ (a character in the Disney movie, ‘Finding Nemo’) in the fish tank! It also includes other creatures, such as shrimp, urchins, snails and even tiny starfish. We have a guidebook near the tank which people can read to learn more about each of the inhabitants.”

    The library has in-person storytimes at 10 a.m. Monday through Wednesday. Virtual storytime is also available and airs on the Fort Bragg Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Facebook page every week, the release said.

    Monthly programs are available for all ages, both in person and virtually. Topics span a wide range of interests from sewing and painting to music.
    Throckmorton Library is available to all DoD ID cardholders. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday; and noon to 4 p.m., Saturday. The library is closed on Sundays and federal holidays. The computer lab closes 20 minutes prior to closing.

  • 61Several Fayetteville fencers competed at the Season Opener at the Cape Fear Fencing Association in Wilmington recently. This was the first sanctioned event for many All-American Fencing Academy Competitors.
    Several Fayetteville fencers earned or renewed their national rating.

    Andrew Iford (a 2nd Lt. with the 82nd Airborne Division) competed in two events. Iford only had two wins in his pool in the foil event, but defeated fellow teammate, Gabriel Guevarra, 15-12 in the second elimination round. Iford lost in the 3rd elimination round to secure an 8th place finish.

    Iford also competed in the epee event, going undefeated in his pool, losing in the semi-finals in the elimination rounds. Iford finished 3rd in the epee event and earned a national rating in both the foil and epee events.

    Isabelle Guevarra finished in the highest place for the All-American Fencing Academy at 5th place. She took only one loss in the pools, but defeated the high seed in the tournament in her pool. Guevarra was defeated in the semi-finals by the eventual second place winner from Durham.

    Two Fayetteville fencers have slowly been rising in their placements, competing in more sanctioned tournaments within North Carolina. Seth Hopel and Colton Culliton tied for 10th place. Both fencers completed the pools with two wins but were both defeated in the second elimination round.

    Club to host Home School Fencing League Tournament

    North Carolina fencers will be convening in Fayetteville at the All-American Fencing Academy on Oct. 8 for a series of events. The first event for the North Carolina Homeschool Fencing League will be contested in Fayetteville, featuring both team and individual events. A youth circuit will feature elementary and middle school events and a mixed open foil event for teen and adult fencers.

    In November, the All-American Fencing Academy will host a USA Fencing sanctioned event that will give competitors another opportunity to earn a national rating.
    Growing Sport and a Growing Club

    The sport of fencing is growing world-wide. In a historically European dominated sport, U.S. teams have consistently been in the top places on the world stage for years in World Cups, World Championships and Olympics.

    The All-American Fencing Academy also hosts a Walk-In Class for fencers that want to give it a try without making a full month commitment. The Walk-In Classes occur during Downtown Fayetteville’s Fourth Friday events.

    The All-American Fencing Academy is located in downtown Fayetteville at 207 B Donaldson Street. It instructs and trains recreational and competitive fencers starting at age 7, teens, adults and veterans ages 40+. Its fencers compete regionally and nationally. Their coaches include former World Cup and NCAA fencers.
    For more information about the All-American Fencing Academy and its classes, please call 910-644-0137, e-mail info@allamericanfencing.com or visit www.allamericanfencing.com.

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