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Tuesday, 10 June 2025
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Written by Jessie Bellflowers
Are you unsure about your major but considering a career in business? If so, Fayetteville Technical Community College is the perfect place for you! Business administration is one of the most popular and in-demand degrees today, and for good reason. Nearly every industry needs professionals with strong business and management skills, making it a top choice for students who want to thrive in the business world. Plus, the rewards are substantial—entry-level positions in business often start at $50,000 or more!
Whether you're looking to enter the workforce immediately or plan to continue your education at a four-year university, FTCC has you covered. With numerous articulation agreements with top universities, our programs allow you to seamlessly transfer and complete upper-level courses, all while benefiting from FTCC’s affordable tuition.
Our business administration degree is designed to equip students with the essential skills needed in today’s competitive, diverse, and global marketplace. The curriculum will provide you with a solid foundation in business functions and processes. You’ll learn how business organizations thrive in today’s dynamic economy, positioning you as a valuable contributor and an asset to any company.
The coursework at FTCC covers a broad range of business concepts, including accounting, law, economics, human resources, entrepreneurship, management, supervision, and marketing. You will also develop key skills in communication, critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, data analytics, decision-making, and computer applications. These skills will provide you with the foundation you need for lifelong learning and career growth. Graduates of our business programs are well-prepared for opportunities in entrepreneurship, management, marketing, retail, sales, and finance, whether in large corporations or
small businesses.
What sets FTCC apart is our faculty. Our faculty members have owned and operated their own businesses, worked in and managed businesses in a variety of industries in functional areas of finance, operations, and personnel management. At FTCC, you won’t just learn from textbooks—you’ll gain insights from proven business professionals who are eager to share their experiences with you.
FTCC graduate Keithy McNeill began the journey at FTCC by enrolling in only a few courses, but soon decided to pursue an associate degree in Operations Management and Leadership Studies. “I am forever thankful for the opportunity to learn and further my career. I graduated from FTCC in May, and I recently started a new career. I truly credit FTCC for making this opportunity possible.”
Are you ready to take the next step? Visit www.faytechcc.edu to apply today. Many of our classes and programs are available online, making it easier than ever to get started. For more information or if you have questions about our business administration programs, please email me at bellfloj@faytechcc.edu.
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Tuesday, 10 June 2025
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Written by Lena Simmons
The Liberty Swing recently opened in Reid’s Journey, an inclusive playground in Hope Mills, on May 6. The Reid’s Journey playground is located at 5766 Rockfish Road. Reid’s Journey is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Wednesdays, noon to 7 p.m. For more information, contact Lamarco Morrison, director of Hope Mills Parks and Recreation, at 910-426-4109.
Play is a critical component in a child’s learning and development, according to the National Association of Young Children. Play is a vital process that supports cognitive, language, social-emotional and physical development. Play is essential for all children from birth through age eight. Play develops critical thinking skills and creativity.
Play is essential for children experiencing disabilities. The additional benefits are the development of fine and gross motor skills, language, cognitive abilities and self-regulation of emotions. Inclusive playgrounds and play allow social integration. Children experiencing disabilities and children without disabilities can interact and create friendships. Children experiencing disabilities can experience the options of choice, independence, being in control, critical thinking skills and sensory development.
The Liberty Swing is a feature of Reid’s Journey. The Liberty Swing is a specialized swing designed for individuals experiencing mobility impairments and children who use wheelchairs. Wayne Devine designed the Liberty Swing in 1988, after he noticed children experiencing disabilities were excluded from traditional swings. The key features of the Liberty Swing are a ramp for wheelchair access, a locking mechanism for the wheelchair wheels, a fold-down seat, and a safety harness. Liberty Swings are designed and manufactured in Sidney, Australia. The Liberty Swing is designed to be accessible for the child who uses a wheelchair to experience the joy of play, according to the Liberty Swing website.
Inclusive playgrounds such as Reid’s Journey have the impact of fostering social inclusion and promoting physical activity. Seeing children of different abilities play together reduces the stigma associated with being differently abled, creates an inclusive community and promotes acceptance.
“The inspiration for Reid’s Journey came from parents Mike and Dena Seals to honor their son. Reid Seals was born on August 14, 2013. Reid lived for eleven days after his birth, passing peacefully at home on August 25, 2013. His parents made a promise that they would not let him be forgotten. They registered Reid’s Journey as a charity and began to help others,” said Morrison. “Their goal was to find a permanent way to remember Reid. Their thoughts turned to building a playground for children like Reid, who were differently abled, to play alongside other children. The Seals presented the idea to the Board of Commissioners and received unanimous support with seed money of $16,000 from the Cumberland County Foundation and $340,000 in appropriations from the State of North Carolina. The funding was available for the inclusive playground at the Municipal Park, known as Reid’s Journey. The vision of Hope Mills Park and Recreation was to provide a place where children with all levels of mobility and capabilities could all play together in lieu of being separated and labeled special needs.”
The steps from a visionary concept to a built environment followed the industry standard for planning and development, Morrison said, and the town entered into a contract with the engineering firm McAdams and went through a design process that involved the whole community.
“We feel the achievement of this vision by the feature of the Liberty Swing. The Liberty Swing is an added bonus because children using wheelchairs can have the same experience of a swing. This play apparatus was intentionally designed adjacent to the other swings so that all children can swing together,” said Morrison.
“The park impacts the quality of life of the families and children of Hope Mills by providing a local amenity not offered in Cumberland County. As a result, we tracked people who use the playground from all over Cumberland, Hoke, and Robeson counties. It has improved life because it allows families to enjoy leisure together in an enclosed and safe environment. The next level of services is not just limiting amenities to Reid’s Journey Inclusive Play Complex; there are current plans to build other inclusive playgrounds in other parts of Hope Mills. Our goal is to make all our park facilities inclusive and ADA compliant, including our programs and athletics.”
“The economic impact has been positive; concession sales at the adjacent concession stands have more than doubled,” Morrison said. “Families have reserved the playground area and shelters for birthdays and other celebratory occasions, which increases Parks and Recreation revenues. We have had patrons visit the department to find out what other amenities Hope Mills offers, and have registered for reservations, programs, and athletics.”
All children should be afforded opportunities to play regardless of their racial group, socioeconomic class, and disability, if diagnosed and experiencing a disability. Although play has been positioned as a privilege, it must be repositioned as a right, as outlined by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, Article 31, 785.
(Photo: The Liberty Swing at the Reid's Journey playground in Hope Mills gives those in wheelchairs the ability to enjoy swinging at the park. Photo courtesy of Hope Mills Parks and Recreation)
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Tuesday, 10 June 2025
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Written by Jami McLaughlin
Cumberland County
On June 4, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 to discontinue the downtown Crown Event Center and terminate all contracts associated with the project. The board moved to have staff draft a Request for Quotation to renovate and modernize the existing Crown Arena and Theater at 1960 Coliseum Drive.
“This decision was not made lightly,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Kirk deViere. “But it reflects our commitment to fiscal responsibility, transparent governance, and practical solutions that serve the long-term interests of our residents.”
The proposed 3000-seat Crown Event Center had been approved by the board to be built downtown in 2022. Construction started shortly after a groundbreaking ceremony was held in October 2024. It was budgeted at $144.5 million and scheduled to open Spring 2027.
However, in March, the board voted to suspend all work on the facility for 30 days to review and investigate the scope, schedule, and budget for the project. The status assessment of the project included an “additional architect’s fee” of $1.9 million from EwingCole, which had been flagged for concern, according to the board.
In the last few weeks, the board worked through hours of meetings to go over research including a 1000 page investigative report from attorney J. Scott Flowers of Hutchens Law Firm in Fayetteville who had served as neutral counsel and other reports including a Crown Theater Modernization and New Facility Comparison, a Multi-Purpose Event Center Parking Assessment, an Evaluation to Modernize the Crown Arena and more. These reports can be found on the Cumberland County website.
At the meeting on June 4, County Manager Clarence Grier said that the new price for the Crown Event Center would be $152 million, which was an increase of $7.7 million from its original estimated cost of $144 million. The timeline had also changed its opening from April 2027 to February 2028.
Grier also presented the board with Guaranteed Maximum Price3, the third and final cost estimate provided by the contractor, which the board ultimately rejected.
The board ultimately determined that the estimated cost of the Crown Event Center was too high and that looking at the renovation of the current 4,500-seat Crown Arena at $71.9 million and the 2,400-seat Crown Theater, which varied from $24.7 million (just for renovation) to $118 million depending on modernization and expansion would be more prudent for the community. The total costs for both facilities ranged from $96.5 million to $192.2 million.
Commissioners voting to discontinue the downtown Crown Event Center Project and terminate all contracts, reject the GMP3 amendment and direct the County Manager to develop an RFQ for development framework for the renovation of the Crown Arena and Theater within 30 days and bring it back to the board, included Chair Kirk deViere and Commissioners Jeannette Council, Pavan Patel, Henry Tyson and Marshall Faircloth. Voting to continue the project with the increased price tag were Commissioner Glenn Adams and Vice Chair Veronica Jones.
Adams, deViere and Tyson have businesses in downtown Fayetteville and the entire board voiced continued support for the downtown revitalization.
City of Fayetteville
Roberto E. Bryan, Jr., has been named the next chief of the Fayetteville Police Department. Bryan, a 30-year law-enforcement veteran and current Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Police at Fayetteville State University, will assume command on July 7. Bryan succeeds Chief Kemberle Braden, who retired after nearly three decades of service to the City of Fayetteville.
Residents are invited to attend a community conversation for site development at Blount and Gillespie Streets on Wednesday, June 11 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the J.S. Spivey Recreation Center at 500 Fisher Street. This effort is part of a broader initiative to ensure that land development strategies align with community needs, economic opportunity, and long-term impact. During the meeting, attendees will receive background on the ongoing site study, learn about the planning process, and can weigh in on what they would like to see developed.
About the Greater Fayetteville Chamber
Advocacy is a cornerstone of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. Every week, the Chamber dedicates staff to attend City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County meetings as well as monitoring updates on the state and federal levels. We monitor legislation locally, statewide and federally to protect our community’s business interests. With 91% of U.S. adults recognizing a Chamber of Commerce's impact on growth, membership ensures a strong voice shaping policies, driving economic success, and building a thriving business community—together. To learn more, visit www.faybiz.com or email jmclaughlin@faybiz.com.
(Photo: The Cumberland County Commissioners held a meeting, June 4, to decide the fate of the downtown Crown Event Center. Photo courtesy of Jami McLaughlin)
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Tuesday, 03 June 2025
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Written by Dr. Lindsay Whitely
As summer approaches, many students and families are looking forward to a well-deserved break. While rest and relaxation are important, summer can also be a valuable time for continued learning, ensuring that students retain what they’ve worked hard to master during the school year and enter the new year feeling confident and prepared.
The term “summer slide” is often used to describe the learning loss that can occur when students are away from school for an extended period. Research shows that students, especially in elementary grades, can lose significant progress in reading and math over the summer months. But the good news is that families have the power to make a big difference through simple, everyday activities that make learning part of the summer routine.
Build a Learning-Rich Summer at Home
Families don’t need to recreate the classroom at home to make an impact. Reading together for just 15 to 20 minutes a day can help students maintain and even grow their literacy skills. Trips to the library, reading under the stars, or letting children choose their own books can make reading feel like an adventure rather than an assignment.
Incorporating math into daily life is easier than you might think. Grocery shopping, cooking and even road trips are full of opportunities to practice math. Ask your child to help measure ingredients, calculate change or estimate travel times. These real-life applications help reinforce classroom concepts in meaningful ways.
CCS Is Here to Help
You don’t have to figure it all out on your own - Cumberland County Schools is here to support you every step of the way. Family Engagement On Demand is a powerful resource. This free, online resource offers short, easy-to-follow videos and activities focused on reading, math and other key areas.
Available anytime and from any device, Family Engagement On Demand is designed to help families support learning at home in fun, practical ways. Whether your child needs a quick review or is ready to explore new ideas, there’s something for every grade level.
Topics include:
• Strengthening reading habits at home
• Making math a part of everyday life
• Encouraging a growth mindset
• Helping students prepare for the next grade level
You can find the platform by visiting www.ccs.k12.nc.us/page/cumberland-family-academy. It’s available in multiple languages and supports families with students in Pre-K through 12th grade.
A Shared Commitment
When schools and families work together, student success follows. By dedicating time each week this summer to support your student’s learning, you’re helping to build confidence, reinforce important skills and get a head start on the year ahead.
With a few small steps - and support from resources like Family Engagement On Demand — you can help your child stay sharp, engaged and ready to thrive in the new school year.
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Tuesday, 03 June 2025
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Written by Sheila D. Barker
Sweet Valley Ranch, a 300-acre agritourism destination in Fayetteville, has unveiled a new lodging experience known as Sweet Valley Ranch Farmhouse Retreats. This concept allows guests to stay on a working farm, surrounded by animals, natural beauty, and rich family heritage. The heart of this retreat is the Queen's Landing Log Cabin, constructed from wood milled directly on the property.
“Back in 2017, we had the land thinned out by a logging company. What was left behind was a pile of smaller trees that no one else wanted,” said Fred Surgeon, founder and CEO of Sweet Valley Ranch. “I decided to invest in a sawmill, and we used that very wood to build something meaningful.”
Guests at Sweet Valley Ranch Farmhouse Retreats can look forward to a unique, immersive experience with farm life. Wake up to the sound of roosters crowing and greet Tiny, the farm's beloved 2,500-pound Brahma bull. The farm is also home to exotic animals like Abdul the camel.
Interacting with these animals offers a rare opportunity to connect with nature and experience the daily life of a working farm, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Sweet Valley Ranch offers a variety of activities for guests to enjoy. Golf cart and ATV rentals are available for those who want to explore the property at their own pace. As the ranch prepares for its busy summer season, events like Dinosaur World and Hills & Thrills ATV Adventures promise excitement and adventure for visitors of all ages.
These activities provide a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure, ensuring that every guest finds something to enjoy during their stay.
The Farmhouse Retreats collection features a range of accommodations to suit different preferences. In addition to the Queen's Landing Log Cabin, guests can choose from a cozy Tiny House, a fully furnished luxury RV, and several guest houses originally built for visiting family and close friends.
Each accommodation is nestled within working areas of the farm, offering an immersive, one-of-a-kind stay that combines comfort with rustic charm.
Sweet Valley Ranch Farmhouse Retreats is now accepting bookings, with limited availability for summer weekends. This is more than just a place to sleep; it's a place to connect.
“We want families to experience what it feels like to unplug, slow down, and enjoy the beauty of farm life,” said Surgeon. “Farmhouse Retreats lets you do that in comfort, while still being right in the middle of the action.”
Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to create new memories and experience the magic of farm life. Book your stay today and embark on an unforgettable summer adventure. For more information, visit www.sweetvalleyranchnc.com
(Photo courtesy of Sweet Valley Ranch)
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