Local News

Collegiate Recovery Program provides recovery pathways

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Tuesday, 11 February 2025

Written by Catherine Pritchard

The Collegiate Recovery Program at Fayetteville Technical Community College provides a supportive space and programs for students and others on campus who are in recovery from substance abuse and other challenges such as behavioral, emotional and mental health issues.
“This program is important for our college campus because it helps individuals find community and promotes the importance of wellness to achieve a better overall quality of life, while practicing safe healthy and holistic habits,” said Dujuan Watson, one of two Fayetteville Tech students working as peer support aides in the program.
The CRP seeks to empower students and others in recovery by providing comprehensive support services, fostering personal growth, and building a supportive community that promotes social connections and relationship building. Through various tailored recovery pathways, such as open mic events, snack and paint activities, poetry workshops, yoga, and meditation sessions, the CRP provides a variety of programs that aim to meet student’s individual needs.
“We are dedicated to promoting excellence in collegiate recovery and supporting holistic well-being for a successful and fulfilling experience,” said Richard McDonald, FTCC’s Senior Director of Support Services.
The program’s Collegiate Recovery Lounge, located in Room 630 of the Horace Sisk Building, is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There, students can socialize and engage in fun activities or relax on their own. Private group rooms are available for recovery support services and support groups.
Each weekday has a themed program focused on supporting healthy recovery:
• Mindful Mondays - Mental Health Focus: Encourage students to engage in mindfulness, and self-leadership practices and prioritize mental well-being.
• Talk-it-Out Tuesdays - Group Therapy: Group therapy sessions that promote open communication and provide a safe space for students to share their experiences.
• Recovery Wednesdays - Outreach: Connect students with campus organizations and resources to expand their support networks and foster community engagement.
• Thriving Thursdays - Creative Expression: Opportunities for students to explore their emotions and experiences through various creative outlets, such as art and writing.
• Fun Fridays - Stress Management Games: Entertaining and engaging activities that help students manage stress and build connections within the recovery community.
Watson, a first-year college student who wants to become a lawyer, said she is committed to fostering “a safe and inclusive environment for those who may be struggling or need a little extra support to push forward to stay or get on the right track.”
Nigel Vincent, the other peer support aide in the CRP, is a second-year student-athlete who will graduate in May with an associate degree in Science. He then plans to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology.
“I desired to begin my career in the recovery field because I love the process of seeing growth,” he said of his decision to work with CRP. “To know that I played a part in helping someone improve their well-being is heartwarming.”
As a basketball player, Vincent said, he is familiar with the process of working with a team to accomplish a common goal. “In this program, I am seeking to help students and staff members with their recovery process by engaging in positive healing activities, productive talking sessions, workshops, conferences and more,” he said. “I would love to connect with any students and staff on campus!”

CSi's Cindy Stroupe bids farewell after 37 years

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Tuesday, 11 February 2025

Written by Erin C. Healy

Prior to 1988, best friends Ann Marie Swilley and Cindy Stroupe worked at Spa Fitness & Wellness Center here in town. Then Swilley asked Stroupe to come answer phones for the new promotional items business she was starting. One day, Swilley handed Stroupe a box with a notebook, a pen and an order for a local company and told her to go deliver the order and ask if there was anything else Carolina Specialties could do for them. Cindy said that when she returned, “[Swilley] said, Congratulations, you just made your first sales call.”
The two have been working together ever since; that’s over 40 years of friendship and 37 years of working together. Now, the company is known as Carolina Specialties International (https://www.carolinaspecialties.com/) to reflect its current reality, thanks to online sales, and Stroupe will soon be retiring.
This crew has literally survived fire, flood and pestilence to be here.
Promotional items are goods branded with an organization’s name, logo, tagline, contact information or whatever else is appropriate for the target audience. The item can be anything from a pen, pencil or refrigerator magnets to high-quality wearables and specialty products selected because they’re a precise match for the company.
Promotional goals can include everything from advertising, increased sales and brand awareness to employee recognition, gift-giving and more. A beauty spa, for example, could opt for an eye mask embroidered with its logo for clients who purchase a bundled service package. Or a school might give out T-shirts to its honor roll students.
Military leaders repeatedly use CSi for plaques to commemorate someone’s service with a unit or a run of challenge coins. Distinguished unit insignia have made appearances on couch covers, too.
Whether the customer is a business, a government entity, charity or family reunion, branded items make a difference. How much of a difference? Well, a staggering 85 percent of people will do business with a company from which they receive a promotional item. In addition, 83 percent of people like to receive branded items. A business, whether a startup or well-established, must guard its advertising budget. Finding the balance between spending to generate new business and overspending is an art, and a company like CSi can help marketers purchase wisely. This is why—although room exists in the industry for companies such as VistaPrint, Swilley said—most established companies want to work with someone local, someone who knows the industry, the client and the intended audience.
Swilley explained that if you hand out 5,000 pens, for example, you won’t get 100 percent return, not even 50. But if you got 5 percent, that could provide a significant influx of new business to a company. That makes the expenditure well worth it.
Wearables last a long time, receive looks, or “imprints,” every time they’re worn and hold their value as a repeat means of advertising. Decision-makers need to look at promotional items as an investment rather than an expense. Branded items, such as insulated travel mugs with a company’s logo could also be resold by the client for additional income.
CSi now offers in-house embroidery, screen printing and heat seal sublimation. Because everything is done in-house, turnaround times are shortened. Another reason to go with a local promotional items company is for its expert guidance with artwork. What goes well on a mug, won’t work on a pencil. Part of what CSi does is ensure that your company’s name or logo works with your selected item. Often, if not received as a vectoring image, someone at CSi will need to ensure the artwork can be rendered into a form that is sizeable in proportion to its original dimensions.
T-shirts and sweatshirts are both a uniform for employees and an evergreen form of advertising. During the holiday season, business owners might want to deliver gifts to their vendors and employees.
These could be food items with the company’s logo on the packaging. Schools recognize their teachers for outstanding performance with a school mug, a planner or a desk accessory. A cooking school could give screen-printed aprons to their students. Or what about an automotive dealer with customized license plate frames?
Swilley insisted that her son, Stephen Haire, go to work at another company before he came to work for her. Now he owns the business and specializes in working with colleges and contractors.
Stroupe holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in performance dance and did pointe, jazz and modern dance up until her first child was born. She was an aerobics instructor at the spa when Swilley said her talents were being wasted and she needed to come work for her. Stroupe said that the 10 years she has spent working closely with grade schools have been some of the most rewarding for her.
She loves spending time with the kids. In fact, she plans on spending more time with her grandchildren when they move to the area. In addition. Stroupe’s 82 year old mother is looking forward to more time with her daughter as well. It’s simply time for Stroupe to have some “Cindy time.” She will continue to see her best friend at the exercise class they both attend.
Stroupe wasn’t kidding when she said that the company survived many ups and downs, including fire, flood and pestilence. Approximately 35 years ago, the company suffered a fire that destroyed everything.
They started over again in a building on Gillespie Street that enjoyed a 100-year-flood estimate rating. The ladies suffered through five years straight of flooding in that locale. The elevated waters brought rodents and snakes out into the open.
That would need to be addressed, Stroupe said with a chuckle. They moved to higher ground. And through it all, business fluctuations, raising children and now retirement, the two women have maintained their friendship.

(Photo: Cindy Stroupe is retiring after 37 years at Carolina Specialities International. She plans to spend time with her grandchildren and mother. Photo courtesy of Cindy Stroupe)

First Green Beret class of the year graduates

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Tuesday, 11 February 2025

Written by Erin C. Healy

In a Regimental First Formation ceremony held on Jan. 23 at the Crown Complex, a total of 167 men donned their Green Berets for the first time.
The event was hosted by Col. David M. Lucas, commander of 4th Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne). The graduates made their entrance to bagpipe and drum tattoo. Following the singing of the national anthem, Chaplain Capt. Benjamin R. Frank delivered the invocation. Col. Lucas introduced the other members of the official party: Maj. Gen. Lawrence Gilbert “Gil” Ferguson, Commanding General of 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne); Chief Warrant Officer 5 (Retired) Jamie Korenoski, distinguished member of the regiment; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Williams and Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Williams, both, along with Chaplain Capt. Frank, of 4th Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne).
Maj. Gen. Ferguson is a career Special Forces officer, originally from Mississippi. As Commanding General of 1st Special Forces, he’s responsible for the Green Berets, masters of unconventional warfare, and Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations soldiers. Civil Affairs soldiers receive additional training in negotiation, diplomacy and governance to assess the needs of an allied indigenous population and to help improve the quality of life for civilians.
Psychological Operations soldiers learn to use persuasion, cultural awareness and social psychology to influence how a targeted group thinks and makes decisions.
Maj. Gen. Ferguson’s remarks to the class and audience of approximately 1,400 were poignant in light of current global circumstances. They were worthwhile for everyday civilians to hear and apply to their lives, as well:
“You are joining our formation at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. In a world replete with risk, but also, opportunity. With that in mind, today, I will ask four things of you:
“First, we need you to be creative. Your ability to be creative is one of the reasons we already hired you. I would ask you to remain so. In an increasingly complex world, our challenges will require new solutions, or perhaps, old solutions applied in a new way. Creativity does not have to be complicated, but it will remain a vital component of how we fight and win.
“Second, run to the sound of the guns. We need you to be audacious. The history of warfare has proven time and again, audacity is the most vital attribute in warfighting. Whether in conventional or special operations, fortune truly does favor the bold. But do not misunderstand; I do not mean recklessness. There is a difference. Recklessness is plunging headlong into a fight regardless of the risks, audacity is understanding and mitigating risk and then taking decisive action. Weigh your options, then choose the bold one.
“Third, we need you to be lethal. Ultimately, your task as a special forces officer or NCO is, alongside and through your partners, to fight and win our nation’s wars. Every piece of technology, whether new or old, every tactic or technique, every trick of the trade that you envision or that you find in some old forgotten manual, every partner relationship advantage and capability should all be focused on one end…the defeat of our nation’s adversaries.
“Fourth, remember your roots. How can you know who you really are and where you’re going, if you don’t know where you came from? As you live and work on Fort Liberty, and wherever your future assignments take you, you’ll be surrounded by clear and constant reminders of the people and places that shape our collective destiny. Names like Rock Merritt, Zabitosky, Womack, Ardennes, Bastogne, Normandy, Sicily, La Fiere, Son Tay, Tora Bora, Yarborough, Miller, Stiner, Shachnow…these names are all part of our Army’s collective role of honor. They are the legacy you’re responsible for honoring and continuing. A legacy of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. Never forget that legacy and the debt that you owe those who came before who forged that legacy. You owe it to them, and to yourselves, to learn about them and the places they fought, and daily honor our shared legacy through your actions.”
Top graduates in each of four Military Occupational Specialties — weapons, communication, engineering and medical — received special recognition prior to each class member receiving his Green Beret.
Maj. Gen. Ferguson handed each man his headgear affixed with the flash of the man’s assigned Group. Each of the 157 U.S. servicemen and 10 graduates from allied nations returned to their seats with beret in hand. On word from their commander, they donned their Green Beret in unison. The Special Forces Creed was recited en mass, followed by the singing of “The Ballad of the Green Beret” and “The Army Song.” A dozen or more Green Berets welcomed the new graduates with a toast.
Throughout the covered walkway into the building and in the entrance area were poster-sized pictures and histories on some of those names that Maj. Gen. Ferguson mentioned the graduates should learn about and remember. Hopefully, some members of the public also took the time to read the stories of the men who went before and created the legacy of the Green Berets. God speed to Special Forces Qualification Course Class 338.

(Photo:  Soldier assigned to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School renders a hand salute to Major Gen. Lawrence G. Ferguson, Commanding General, 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), after receiving a green beret during a graduation ceremony and Regimental First Formation at the Crown Theater in Fayetteville, Jan. 23. The ceremony marked the completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course where Soldiers earned the honor of wearing the green beret, the official headgear of Special Forces. U.S. Army photos by K. Kassens)

Cumberland County strategic planning update

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Tuesday, 11 February 2025

Written by Jami McLaughlin

Publisher's Note: U&CW has had a close relationship with the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce for over three decades. Like our newspaper, advocacy is the cornerstone of their organization.
Government Watch is a new bi-weekly report on what's happening in local government that affects our residents. Unbiased and straightforward, seasoned reporter Jami McLaughlin is covering governmental affairs for the Fayetteville Chamber. Every week, she will attend and report on Fayetteville and Cumberland County meetings and monitor updates on the local level, state, and federal legislation to protect our community's interests.
A strong local government and active engagement of the Chamber of Commerce ensures us a strong voice in shaping policies, driving economic success, and building a thriving community. To learn more, visit www.faybiz.com.
Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.
— Bill Bowman
On Thursday, Jan. 30, and Friday, Jan. 31, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, county department heads, and various community members gathered to discuss the strategic plan for 2025. The retreat was led by Rebecca Jackson of True North Performance Group and Chris Rey with RC Strategy Group.
Both Jackson and Rey have ties to Cumberland County. Jackson was the former Chief of Staff and Chief Performance Officer for the City of Fayetteville, and Rey was the former mayor of Spring Lake.
Workshops were held during the retreat to identify unfinished strategic initiatives and emerging community needs.
The seven strategic priority areas identified over the two days focused on fostering Economic Prosperity, encouraging Quality, Smart Development, championing Responsive, Transparent Government, supporting a High-Performing Education System, providing increased Culture & Recreation opportunities, enhancing Health and Wellness and ensuring a Safe Community for all residents.
Federal lobbyist Ron Hamm of The Hamm Consulting Group also updated at the retreat on key issues in Congress that could affect Cumberland County. Those issues included water infrastructure, social services, public health, childcare assistance, and economic development. An entire federal advocacy strategic plan can be developed after the county's priorities and objectives are identified through the overall Strategic Plan.
In addition to the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, State Sen. Val Applewhite, State Rep. Diane Wheatley, Hope Mills Mayor Jessie Bellflowers, and Cumberland County Register of Deeds Andra Brewington attended the retreat.
The seven SPAs created at the retreat were broken down into goals, objectives, and key strategic actions and initiatives, which will be developed into the overall strategic plan. The draft of the Strategic Plan will be presented to the board for approval at an upcoming commission meeting and will be used as a tool to drive decision-making and initiatives, according to county officials.
Joint City of Fayetteville — Cumberland County Liaison Committee
On Jan. 27, the Board of Commissioners also met with the Fayetteville City Council in a Joint City of Fayetteville - Cumberland County Liaison Committee meeting. Their theme for 2025 will be "Enhancing Quality of Life for a Healthy City, County, and Community." The committee spoke about health and wellness at the meeting and will discuss public safety and economic development at future meetings.
The city and county meet jointly to discuss ways they can further collaborate and communicate effectively. The next meeting will be held on Feb. 17 in the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse.
City of Fayetteville Update
The Fayetteville City Council met on Monday, Feb. 3, for a work session and discussed a new standards guide for Fayetteville's historic districts and local landmarks. The proposed Historic District Design Standards guide would replace the design guidelines manual adopted in 2000, updating various text amendments to further comply with state law. It would also create a less restrictive district for property owners downtown.
The new standards guide encompasses the Downtown Local Historic District, the original commercial center of Fayetteville, and the Haymount Local Historic District, one of Fayetteville's oldest neighborhoods. Fayetteville has over 30 locally designated historic landmark properties.
The council also provided consensus to approve solutions from the Beaver Creek 2 Watershed Master Plan for the staff to identify and pursue grant opportunities.

(Photo: Cumberland County Commissioner Henry Tyson speaks during the Cumberland County strategic planning retreat, Jan. 30. Photo courtesy of Cumberland County Public Information Office)