Entertainment

Cumberland County Sheriff's Office supports Special Olympics

Details

Tuesday, 02 July 2024

Written by Lena Simmons

“I am constantly reminded to be brave in the attempt and face my fears and overcome the odds. My family and coach helped me to get over trauma by reminding me of the Special Olympics Athlete oath- Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in my attempt,”
— Stephanie Handojo, Special Olympics Athlete
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is sponsoring Motorcycle Rides for the Special Olympics, July 13, at the Fuller Center, 314 Jasper St. The rain date is July 20. The check-in time is 8 a.m. and motorcycle rides begin at 9:30 a.m. Rides cost $20 per rider/ passenger. Breakfast and Lunch will be provided for the participants. The proceeds for the event will support the North Carolina Special Olympics. The contact person is Lieutenant M. Dedeaux at 910-824-4220.
“Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968. The program provides people experiencing intellectual and physical challenges continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop their physical fullness, and experience joy and friendship. We unleash the power of the human spirit through the transformative power of sports every day around the world,” according to Special Olympics.org
Senior Sgt. Mickey Locklear, Public Information Officer, Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, shares, “We raise funds for the Special Olympics throughout the year in many ways. These include hosting motorcycle rides, selling T-Shirts, patches, participating in events such as Over-the-Edge, Plane Pull and Tip a Cop. One of the annual events is the Motorcycle Ride to benefit the Special Olympics. “
Community involvement is a vital aspect of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
“The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to community involvement and aims to give back to the community by providing assistance whenever needed. The Sheriff’s office, along with law enforcement agencies, nationwide, raises funds for Special Olympics,” states Locklear.
It is important to understand the relationship of Public Safety and Community Service.
“The Cumberland County Sheriff’s office relies on the public for support and cooperation. In case of any problem, citizens should promptly call 911 to enable deputies to respond before the situation escalates. While our deputies cannot be everywhere at once, citizen vigilant and active participation. Let us stay informed about situations that may not be visible during patrol. The strength of our community is essential for us to carry out our responsibilities effectively. Together we can secure a safe and thriving community for everyone,” said Locklear.
Be a part of the Motorcycle Rides for Special Olympics with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s office., July 13.

(Photo: The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office is going to be holding Motorcycle Rides for Special Olympics, July 13. Photo courtesy of Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.)

Rowan Skate Park Summer Camp youth conquer goals

Details

Tuesday, 25 June 2024

Written by Katrina Wilson

Rowan Skate Park Summer Camp is a weekly opportunity for the youth to enhance their skills in action sports like skateboarding, scooter riding, inline skating and BMX starting July 29.
Terry Grimble, owner of Daville Skate Shop and instructor for Rowan Skate Camp, said the camp is for kids who want to learn how to skateboard, scooter ride, inline skate or BMX ride. Participants must be between the ages of 5 and 15.
Grimble said campers must bring their own skateboards, scooters, skates or bikes and safety gear.
Scooters specially made for skate parks will be for purchase. Grimble said this is important because not all store-bought ones are safe for a skate park.
The camp dates are: July 29 through August 2, August 5 through 9, August 12 through 16 and August 19 through 23. The cost is $149 for the week. Campers can do one week or all four weeks.
Payment for camp can be done in person via cash, check or card at Rowan Skate Park or online at https://www.rowanskatepark.com/.
Grimble discussed the purpose of the skate camp.
“Riding skate parks can be intimidating and this camp will help overcome those fears, and get those basics down for their sport,” he said.
For the more advanced students, he wants campers to advance to their next personal skill level.
Grimble said campers will learn how to ride the skateboard, scooter, inline skates or bikes correctly. He said he and his instructor, Mavrick Pitman, will work with individuals on their personal level.
“We both have a passion for action sports,” he said.
On rainy days, video learning will be applied. Campers will watch videos on top professionals in the industry, instructional videos and competition videos.
For the teenagers who are interested in a career in this, Grimble will teach about starting a business, how to host skate events and gain sponsorships.
Rowan Skate Park is a part of Rowan Park in Haymount in Fayetteville. The Daville Skate Shop, located next to the park, has a lounge and snack bar where campers start their day.
Campers will not be traveling for this camp.
Grimble said this skate camp is important because it gets kids started in action sports the right way. He said this allows them to advance their experience.
“Skateboarding is hard, but the rewards are great,” he said. “A lot of students will get on a skateboard and think they’re not meant to be on a skateboard. But once they master a kickflip . . ., it makes you feel like you can accomplish anything after being consistent. It helps them set goals and earn those goals.”
Not New To This, But True to This
Grimble grew up in Fayetteville and has been integral in the skate community over the last 30+ years. He started his first skate park project in 1989, which officially opened in 1993. He’s been a skate instructor since 1993 in Fayetteville. He opened his first store in the area in 1995. Grimble even had a privately owned skate park from 1999 to 2007.
He opened Daville Skate Shop in 2009 and it has expanded into South Carolina as well.
Friends of the Skateparks Foundation is a nonprofit he started in 2013 to help cities establish a skate park for their communities in the Carolinas.
The skate park at Rowan Park opened in 2020, and has seen heavy use since its opening. For more information about the Rowan Skate Park Summer Camp or Daville Skate Shop, visit https://davilleskateshop.com/, www.rowanskatepark.com, or call 910-491-3502.

(Photo: Justin Fox on the scooter at Rowan Skate Park. Fox is a scooter instructor at Rowan. Photo courtesy of Terry Grimble)

Workout for a cause: 12th Annual St. Jude Zumbathon

Details

Tuesday, 25 June 2024

Written by Amber Little

Calling all Zumba enthusiasts and those who are just curious, it’s the 12th Annual St. Jude Zumbathon. There has been no better excuse to pull out those old leotards than for a good cause with LOTS of dancing. Join local Zumba instructors for 2.5 hours of non-stop DANCING. Although dancing is fun, it is not required, nor is any previous dance training. The fun starts on July 6 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Hope Mills Recreation Center, located at 5766 Rockfish Road, Hope Mills. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $15. The day of the event they will be $20 at the door and VIP (which gets you prime Zumba floor space on the first 2-3 rows AND a special gift from St. Jude) are $30. All of the proceeds go directly to St. Jude Children’s Research.
Zumbathon is the passion project of local fitness and personal instructor, mother of 3, military wife, and veteran, Natalie Haskell.
“Although I love supporting many charities, my favorite charity is St. Jude. I was honored and blessed to visit the hospital with some of my Zumba friends in 2013. It was an amazing experience. I also host this annual event in Severna Park, Maryland. When the Army moved us there in 2015, I continued the annual event traveling to Fayetteville; and now I travel also to Maryland since moving back in July 2022,” she said. “I decided to do an annual charity event for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in mid-April 2013. I volunteered to do a Relay for Life Flash Mob along with a midnight 1-hr Zumba class, outside of Jack Britt High School. I was honored to lead and be part of such a great cause; It was an AMAZING experience to volunteer and give back to the community.
“It was a mind-blowing experience to also have so much support from my Zumba friends, and the community! While performing a routine, I spotted a little girl between the age of 7-10, in the front row, with no hair and a wrapped purple scarf around her head. She was as happy as can be and smiling from ear to ear while dancing. At that time I thought and promised myself to do a charity event every year in honor of all the children battling cancer, with 100% proceeds for St. Jude's, as a way to give back with something that I truly enjoy doing, dancing! With less than 30 days of planning, I hosted the first annual St. Jude Zumbathon on May 31, 2013. We raised $1,100 for St. Jude. To date, we have raised over $140,000 for the hospital,” Haskell said.
Attendees can look forward to raffles, door prizes and a variety of vendors to shop with or get resources from such as Fit4Life Hope Mills, Isagenix International, Scentsy and Mary Kay. Instructors include some familiar faces such as Raisa Sanabria, Arturo Saldana, Jolecia Purcell, Judy Stephens, Teia Tyler, Jenya E Nguyen, Morgan Jones, Nina Batton, Amy McLeod Brewer, Fanny Loving Zumba®, Devins Nickens, and Sarah Brennan. This year’s event is sponsored by and wouldn’t be possible without, Fit4Life in Hope Mills, Hope Mills Recreation Center, Luigi’s Italian Restaurant (raffle prizes), and Corbin Flash Photography and Videography.
Haskell is looking forward to this year’s Zumbathon and the many people and organizations that made it possible.
“A special shout out to the Fayetteville Zumba community for all of their support, Hope Mills Recreation Center for allowing us to use their space to host this most noble cause; also to Corbin Flash for donating his time and great talents for our photos and videos. My dear and sweet friends who have supported this cause and event since our first Zumbathon in 2013, Lynn Cline, Terry Knight, Adilah Khalil-Ullah, and Linda Higgins from Luigi’s Italian Restaurant, and my Maryland friends, Jennie Gaviola, Gwen Coleman and Genny PJ.”

(Photo: Natalie Haskell hosted the 12th Annual Zumbathon in Maryland at the beginning of June. The Fayetteville event will be held July 6. Photo courtesy of Working with Natalie Facebook Page)

No Outsiderz Jeep Club hosts Man22 Suicide Awareness Car, Jeep, Bike Show

Details

Tuesday, 25 June 2024

Written by Amber Little

Summertime in the city means there is plenty to do and see. No Outsiderz Jeep Club is presenting the inaugural Man 22 Suicide Awareness car, jeep, and bike show on June 30 at Mellow Mushroom, 301 N. McPherson Church Rd, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is free to the spectators. For those interested in participating, registration is $30 and can be paid via cash app ($NoOutsiderzJeeps) or by contacting Jill Avila on Facebook or by email at Nooutsiiderz23@gmail.com.
Spectators and participants can look forward to live music and great food. Mellow Mushroom staff will be available inside and outside the show taking orders. Event organizers say there will be a range of trophies presented in various categories for participating cars, jeeps, and bikes.
No Outsiderz Jeep Club is no stranger to putting on a show for a cause. Co-founder Jill Avila is proud of the support they have been able to provide for different organizations near and dear to the club's heart.
“No Outsiderz Jeep Club was founded by three like-minded women Jill Avila, Dr. Stacy Davis, and Teresa Burks. N.O. is a group of talented, strong, women from minority groups who love their jeeps and believe in the importance of community. The combined efforts of our members affords us the opportunity to be a voice for many that feel they do not have a voice while working to improve and support organizations serving within our community. The women within our organization believe it takes a collective to make an impact and we seek to do that by partnering with other organizations to assist them in meeting their goals and
mission,” Avila remarked.
For those unfamiliar, the Man22 Suicide Awareness Run is an annual event hosted by the Through Tragedy Comes Light organization. The run is a combination of a 2.22-mile run and 22 pushups. Proceeds go to nonprofits that focus on suicide prevention and awareness.
The organization's mission is to “bring people together in their time of need to honor the lives of the lost, provide a support network for the survivors, and to reduce the numbers lost because even one a day is too many.” N.O. has been involved with the organization and supported past events.
“N.O. became involved with Through Tragedy Comes Light because they were hosting a Man22 Suicide Awareness Run in which different Jeep Clubs and Car Clubs throughout Fayetteville were tasked with escorting the gold star families to Festival Park. Through Tragedy Comes Light focuses on bringing awareness to fallen veterans, and first responders as well as trying to prevent the rising numbers of suicides amongst veterans. Most of the members of N.O. have either served /or are serving in the military, work for the DOD, or have family members that have served. This movement is near and dear to our hearts, and we will continue to support the cause,” Avila said.
There are only 35 spots available, and the clock is ticking down. Those interested in participating should lock in a spot soon. This event is sure to be a packed one!