Entertainment

Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. in Fayetteville

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Tuesday, 13 January 2026

Written by Staff Report

Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most influential Americans of the twentieth century. A scholar and minister who played a leading role in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, King was tragically assassinated on April 4, 1968, less than three months after he turned 39.
Though King's life was far too short, he left behind a host of notable works. These works can provide significant insight into who King was and the legacy he left behind.
• Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story. Published in 1958, this is King's account of the Montgomery bus boycott that began in 1955 and ended in 1956. The book includes information about the planning of the boycott as well as King's thoughts about it after it ended.
• The Measure of a Man. A short book, The Measure of a Man is actually two sermons King delivered in August 1958. The sermons are titled "What is Man?" and "The Dimensions of a Complete Life." The Cornell University Library credits The Measure of a Man for offering insight into the theological roots of King's philosophy of nonviolence.
• Strength to Love. A more extensive version of King's sermons, Strength to Love focuses largely on racial segregation in the United States. King wrote the sermons in Strength to Love during the struggle for civil rights, even composing some of them while in jail.
• Why We Can't Wait. Published in 1964, Why We Can't Wait focuses on the nonviolent fight against racial segregation in 1963 in Birmingham. The book includes King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail," which remains one of his most famous writings.
• Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? This was King's last book before he was assassinated. King wrote the book from a rented house in Jamaica in 1967 after isolating himself from the civil rights movement. In the book, King contemplates where things stand for the civil rights movement and what must be done to ensure equality for all Americans in the future.
The collective works of Martin Luther King, Jr. provide unrivaled insight into the mind of one of the most influential figures in American history.
In Fayetteville, Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy will be honored with the 33rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Worship Service and Brunch.
The worship service will be held Sunday, Jan. 18 at Tabernacle of Miracles church, located at 2574 Hope Mills Rd. in Fayetteville. The service is open to all, and will take place at 5 p.m.
The MLK Jr. Prayer Brunch will be held Monday, Jan. 19 at the Crown Expo Center at 1960 Coliseum Dr. at 10 a.m. Tickets for the brunch are $35 per person and must be purchased in advanced. The keynote speaker will be Bishop Brian R. Thompson Sr., and he'll be speaking on the theme "Where Do We Go From Here?"
Ticket information can be found at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefsEuhPQ5LrV37PjmfMRik9-kk3MlkJz4VnPV5LVcoBLTtSw/viewform
For more information about the worship service or brunch, contact Apostle Georgia Walker at 910-624-0929; Pastor Gil Wise at 910-322-0100; or Dr. Yvonne Hodges at 910-797-5879.

Heavy metal meets heart at “Mosh Out Cancer”

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Tuesday, 13 January 2026

Written by Michael Smith, Treasurer, Karen Chandler Trust

A surge of heavy riffs, pounding drums, and community spirit will fill the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 670 in Fayetteville on Jan. 17 as local and regional metal bands unite for a cause at Mosh Out Cancer, a benefit concert supporting the Karen Chandler Trust.
The all-ages show begins at 6:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m., at the VFW Post 670 located at 3928 Doc Bennett Road. Tickets are $10 and available at the door or online through the Karen Chandler Trust, with an estimated crowd of 300 expected. One hundred percent of the show’s profits will go directly to the trust’s mission of supporting local cancer patients and their families.
Headlining the night is Crooked Cult, an established metal band known for its intense performances and devoted fanbase. The Fayetteville-based group regularly plays throughout North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and South Carolina, with upcoming shows scheduled as far north as New York and Massachusetts. They will be joined by Fear State, 11:59, Ethris, and Morior—bands from the Fayetteville area featuring seasoned local musicians, each bringing their own sound and following to the stage.
“We bring a high energy and an attitude that you don’t get from most heavy acts you’ll see in this area,” said Luke Farris, guitarist for Crooked Cult. “Our music provides an aggressive release from the tension of daily life.”
Crooked Cult vocalist Dylan Cathey said the band didn’t hesitate to participate. “All of us have had friends or family fight cancer; we want to help in any way we can and motivate our fans to do so as well,” he said.
The concert is part of a new outreach effort by the Karen Chandler Trust, which has long relied on music-centered events to raise funds. Vice President Wendell LeSueur said Mosh Out Cancer represents a fresh direction for the organization.
“This concert is the first in a new wave of events that the Karen Chandler Trust is using to bring more youthful energy to service,” LeSueur said. “Yes, it is a concert, but more than anything it is a way for the youth of the greater Fayetteville area to give back to the community they thrive in.”
Bernie Mangiboyat, president of the trust, said the idea grew from his own experience as a young musician. “I wanted to create an all-ages show for younger and older bands to play,” he said. “As a kid and young musician, I had a local promoter who did that, and it was incredible to be able to play for family and friends. I thought it would be a perfect match for it to benefit such a great local cause.”
In addition to live music and an expected mosh pit, the event will feature a full bar, food, and raffles, including an autographed guitar donated by Edwards Music Company and signed concert posters. Each band will host a merch table alongside local vendors, reinforcing the event’s grassroots, community-driven focus. The night will be hosted by Shawn Adkins of Back Around Records and is sponsored by Eaton, DaVille Skate Shop, Edwards Music Company, Backaround Records, Ascension Music Group, The Dragons Lair, Pet Nerd In-Home Pet Sitting, and Burchfield Design.
Founded in memory of Karen Chandler, a beloved Fayetteville musician and single mother who battled cancer, the Karen Chandler Trust is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to easing the financial burden of cancer treatment. Operating entirely through volunteers, the trust provides assistance with non-medical expenses such as rent, utilities, transportation, groceries, and other daily necessities that often become overwhelming during treatment.
Organizers hope Mosh Out Cancer will become the first of many events that harness the power of Fayetteville’s music scene for community good—proving that even the heaviest music can carry a message of hope.

(Photo: Crooked Cult plays a show. The band, a local heavy metal favorite, will be headlining Mosh Out for Cancer. Photo by Michael Smith, Unseen Sights Photography)

Human Trafficking Awareness Month: Child Advocacy Center teaches recognition, prevention

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Tuesday, 13 January 2026

Written by Anna White

Human trafficking has been the subject of many recent movies and documentaries, but confusion persists among the public about what it is and how to recognize it. The Child Advocacy Center of Fayetteville is on a mission to change that in collaboration with several other local organizations.
While the number of trafficked individuals within the United States is difficult to estimate, trafficking has been reported in all 50 states. According to John Webster, executive director of the Child Advocacy Center, Cumberland County is a hotspot for such crimes, in part due to the presence of Interstate 95 and a military installation.
Human trafficking occurs in many forms—both labor and sex trafficking—and exploits men, women, adults, and children. January, known as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, is set aside by many organizations as an opportunity to educate and raise awareness for victims of human trafficking. This month, the Child Advocacy Center has a lineup of events that are open to the public, which will help community members understand what trafficking really looks like, how it impacts victims, and how community members can help.
Having worked in child welfare for over 32 years, Webster has seen the vulnerability of not only many Cumberland County children but also people from all walks of life.
“The people of Cumberland County need to be aware that Human Trafficking does occur right here in our communities and can take on many faces and does not always fall into the stereotypes that many of us may have in our minds. Awareness and education are key to better detection and prevention to keep potential victims safe from this growing problem,” he said.
The Child Advocacy Center’s threefold services include forensic interviews, trauma-focused therapy, and prevention and volunteer management. This month, they’ll lean into the prevention side of their services by co-hosting events and conferences.
The month’s theme is titled “Be Their Voice,” and features a 5k Run/Walk co-hosted with WORTH Court, North Carolina’s only designated human trafficking court; a Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Conference featuring keynote speaker John-Michael Lander who was groomed and trafficked as a 14-year-old Olympic-bound athlete; and a Lunch and Learn with community experts.
Be Their Voice 5k Run/Walk is an annual event that features a scenic course through the Methodist University campus. The race is stroller-friendly, and dogs are allowed on the course. Registration includes a race shirt, and finishers receive medals. The Fayetteville Running Club runs a 3rd-party fundraiser in support of the event. This year, the event will take place Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Attendees at the DMST Conference can expect to gain knowledge about the scope and signs of DMST, learn best practices for prevention and intervention, and connect with local advocates and multidisciplinary partners. According to the Child Advocacy Center, keynote speaker John-Michael Lander has been a pivotal voice in the global fight against child abuse and trafficking. Featured in Time Magazine, USA Today, CBC’s Canada Tonight and the Netflix documentary Athlete A, he is recognized for his advocacy. He has also been noted for his groundbreaking educational programs, Predatory Grooming Trifecta, Predatory Internet Grooming, and Athletes’ Arena. Lander empowers survivors and organizations through the transformative power of Self-Talk. DMST will be held Jan. 15 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Temple Baptist Church. To register, visit https://www.southernregionalahec.org/courses-and-events/76917/dmst-be-their-voice-breaking-the-silence-to-stop-human-trafficking
The Child Advocacy Center’s January Lunch and Learn will feature Speakers Abbie and Michael Arena on the topics of Gate Beautiful & Magnolia Hope—two nonprofits that offer safe places for victims of human trafficking to rehabilitate and heal.
Webster and Child Advocacy Center prevention and volunteer coordinator Faith Boehmer hope the Human Trafficking Awareness month activities could dispel common misconceptions surrounding the crime.
“People think ‘they have [human trafficking] in other areas, but not here’ but that’s not true. Our numbers are just coming out more because we have people working on it and bringing it to light,” Boehmer explained.
“Traffickers are not necessarily the ‘man in the trenchcoat’ that people imagine,” shared Webster. He said they’re people who pay attention to vulnerable adults and children, grooming them both in-person and over the internet.
“Some people are more susceptible to being trafficked,” he explained, “even still, traffickers don’t really discriminate.”
Traffickers can be anyone who has the opportunity to build a trusting connection with a vulnerable individual, eventually exploiting that trust through coercion and force. Webster says community members can learn to recognize unexpected signs of grooming that children around them may be susceptible to—such as kids coming home with expensive gifts they’ve been given by adults, or internet predation that occurs when adults pose as children on gaming apps.
“We as a community must do our best to promote awareness about this issue,” Boehmer said, “It’s not something that happens ‘over there,’ it happens here.” 
Find more information about these and other events at cacfaync.org.

(Photo: The team at the Child Advocacy Center wear blue for human trafficking awareness on Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Jan. 11, 2025. Photo courtesy of Child Advocacy Center's Facebook page)

Massey Hill Lions Club holds annual oyster roast

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Tuesday, 06 January 2026

Written by Lena Simmons

The Massey Hill Lions Club presents the 53rd Shuck’n for Sight Oyster Roast, an all you can eat event, held on Jan. 31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The oyster roast will take place at 1613 Camden Road. Tickets are $50 and are available at Massey Hill Drug Store, 1072 Southern Ave., at Classic Coiffure’s Hair and Nail Salon, 3710 Morganton Rd. or by texting Michael McCaskill at 910-551-4662 or by email at masseyhilllionsclub@gmail.com. No tickets will be sold at the door. This is a dine in only event, and no take out containers are allowed.
“The annual event provides the Massey Hill Lions Club the opportunity to bring people together from far and wide for their ‘All You Can Eat Event.’ This is the 53rd Annual Shuck’n for Sight Oyster Roast, where they serve more than two hundred bushels of oysters to more than seven hundred attendees,” said Michael McCaskill, a past president of the Massey Hill Lions Club. “This annual event hosted by the Lions Club is a community wide event for those who love to shuck oysters. This is one of the largest single-day oyster roasts on the East Coast, and most attendees are long-term, and several come from Louisiana, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, and New Jersey. From “Professional Oysters” that bring in their own concoctions of special sauces, lemons, and specialized shucking tools to first-time attendees, no one leaves the event hungry,” McCaskill said. “The Oyster Roast keeps the spirit of Massey Hill alive with this community event and is most like a family reunion with familiar faces. Multiple levels of society come together, such as politicians, business owners, truck drivers, attorneys, multiple generations, workers, laborers; all sharing the love of the oyster roast.
“As one individual stated it …. you can have a Judge on one end of the table shucking an oyster right along with someone they have just fined in a court case,” McCaskill said.
Lions Club members work hard to make sure the roast is successful, giving their time throughout the weekend.
“From the set-up on Friday, the event on Saturday, and clean-up on Sunday, members are worn out after the event is concluded. Lions members understand their efforts are for a great cause,” McCaskill said.
According to McCaskill, funds raised at this annual Oyster Roast go to support many community service projects that the Lions Club conducts throughout the year. Lions Clubs around the world are known for their support of vision care programs. The Massey Hill Lions Club is no exception. Their funds raised go toward assisting those who lack financial resources. The Massey Hill Lions Club assists qualified candidates with visual needs by providing them with eye examinations and the purchase of glasses.
This year, funds raised will also go toward the purchase of the Club’s own visual equipment to provide free eye-tests to students in the local schools, and other young people in day care centers, churches, and other locations. With more than 60,000 students in the Cumberland County School System, this free testing will be available once the equipment is purchased. Additionally, the club will provide free color-blind testing. The club participates in projects such as diabetes awareness activities, health fairs, blood drives, annual support of Boys and Girls Homes, and other community-focused events. It is the belief of Lions’ members that “where there is a need, there is a Lion.”
The Shuck’n for Sight Oyster Roast will be held Jan. 31 at 1613 Camden Rd. from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The $50 tickets for the roast must be purchased in advance by visiting the Massey Hill Drug Store or Classic Coiffure’s Hair and Nail Salon or by reaching out to Mike McCaskill. No tickets will be sold at the door on the day of the event.

(Photo: Participants at the 2024 Massey Hill Lions Club Shuck'n for Sight Oyster Roast get ready for their oyster feast. Photo courtesy of Massey Hill Lions Club)