Local News

Publisher's Pen: The Breece Brothers: Preserving Fayetteville's benevolent dynasty

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Tuesday, 27 August 2024

Written by Bill Bowman

Last week, we celebrated two of Fayetteville and Cumberland County's most dedicated and beloved siblings of the Breece family.
Robert and Corey Breece were honored by being initiated into North Carolina's most prestigious organization, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society. Surrounded by friends, family, and elected government officials, State House Representative Diane Wheatley presented Robert and Corey this distinguished state honor on behalf of Governor Roy Cooper at their family business, Rogers & Breece Funeral Home on Ramsey St..
Since 1964, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine has been the most prestigious award a North Carolina Governor has presented to citizens. Robert and Corey now join thousands of outstanding NC residents with documented records of extraordinary, dedicated, and enthusiastic service to the state, their communities, and humanity.
Undoubtedly, these two lifelong Fayettevillians had no trouble fulfilling those qualifications.
Robert and Corey are carrying on the business of their forefathers, a business and calling steeped in 126 years of tradition, love, and compassion. Both brothers cannot hide their pride in operating the family business with their sons and the knowledge and confidence that the Breece legacy is guaranteed.
I have known these gentlemen for over four decades. It was heartwarming to witness such a well-deserved honor being bestowed on two people who first and foremost credit their success and good fortunes in life unequivocally to God and the patriotic freedoms they enjoy daily as Americans.
State Representatives Garland Pearce, Charles Smith, and Diane Wheatley represented Gov. Roy Cooper as Wheatley read the proclamation:
For dedication and service beyond expectation and excellence to the Great State of North Carolina, on behalf of the citizens of this state, I bestow upon:
Robert Breece and Corey Breece
The Old North State Award
'Working together, we can make North Carolina the place of unlimited opportunity — a place where anyone who studies hard, works hard, and lives a life with high values can fulfill and even exceed their potential.'
Roy Cooper
Governor of North Carolina
This was followed by the tradition of reciting the official toast of North Carolina:
Here's to the land of the long-leaf pine,
The summer land where the sun doth shine,
Where the weak grow strong, and the strong grow great,
Here's to "Down Home," the Old North State!
Again, congratulations to Corey and Robert on this lifetime achievement.
And, to our followers, thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

(Photo: Robert (Left) and Corey Breece are initiated in the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society, Aug. 21. The brothers are continuing their family's legacy at the Rogers & Breece Funeral Home on Ramsey St. Photos by Bill Bowman)

Six tips to help calm first day of school jitters

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Tuesday, 20 August 2024

Written by Staff Report

Starting school for the first time or simply returning to campus after another summer break can lead to mixed feelings. Kids may be excited to see their friends every day, but that comes at the price of the end of lazy summer days.
The first day of school is on the horizon, and parents may discover their children seem a bit despondent that vacation is coming to a close. Such feelings may stem from more than the end of summer vacation. Some students may be nervous about going to school. New faces, new experiences and new teachers can lead to a little anxiety. Here are some ways to tame the nerves.
• Do a trial run. Before school starts, do a test run to the drop-off location, bus stop or pick up whomever will be carpooling together. Getting into that routine can help reduce nervousness.
• Participate in meet-and-greets. Some schools offer certain events designed to introduce students even before classes begin. Schools may host ice cream socials or picnic lunches on school grounds, particularly for younger grades. These events give children an opportunity to get to know their classmates before the first school bell rings.
• Take a school tour. If a student is about to start in a new school or will be attending school for the first time, families will want to see if they can get tours of the school and facilities. Just one glance inside can be enough to familiarize students with the lay of the land, which might make things less scary on the first day.
• Check the class list. Some schools do not provide a list of all students in particular classes, but increasingly those that rely on programs like Google Classroom or Canvas may enable students to see who will be in their class. Children also can use social apps like Instagram and Snapchat to locate school-associated groups to find other students. Parents and their children can brainstorm how to deal with other students who may have been difficult in the past, while also perusing lists for friendly faces.
• Practice conversation skills. Many modern kids have their eyes locked on devices. They may be a little rusty with ice breakers and initiating conversation. Role playing at home can give kids some ideas of how to forge new relationships in the classroom.
• Recognize and take concerns seriously. Parents and other caregivers can be receptive to conversation with children regarding their concerns about starting school. Talking about feelings can help kids tame their nervousness, especially when adults take them seriously.
Children may be nervous about starting school. Parents, caregivers and teachers can work together to help students overcome these jitters quickly.

Shahbain Farms and Event Center comes to Raeford

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Tuesday, 20 August 2024

Written by Amber Little

From the ornate crystal chandlers to the marble flooring, every inch of Shahbain Farms and Event Center has been meticulously selected to create an extraordinary venue, ready to be the backdrop of events from weddings to birthdays. Located at 469 Posey Farm Road, Raeford, this 30,000-square-foot space is the epitome of luxury starting from the palm-lined drive into the parking space, to the grand staircase that greets guests as they enter through the door. The grounds around the event center feature a pond, gazebos and a fountain. Shahbain was built for luxury, boasting 3 Grand Ballrooms, all with a capacity of 1200 people and a 4th “Smoke Lounge” Ballroom, that provides guest with a more unique and niche experience during their event. Twenty-five-foot doors separate the ballrooms and add to the sophistication of the space. The event center features a range of amenities including:
• 10 Hour Rentals
• Venue Manager on Duty
• Crème and gold trim chairs
• 60-inch plastic round tables and 8-foot plastic rectangular tables
• Cake table, sweetheart table, cocktail tables, and 72-inch glass with gold trim tables
• Luxurious restrooms
• VIP parking spaces
• LED lighting system in the fourth ballroom
• Sound system, TVs, and free WiFi
• Indoor smoking ballroom
• Outdoor fountain
• Live horses and a commercial kitchen
• Onsite rentals, a kids’ facility, and a bridal suite
• 2 Indoor prep kitchens
• Commercial Kitchen
• Prayer Room
They also offer a range of services including preferred vendor options and bar packages. Shahbain has partnered with the premier carters, decorators, photographers, videographers and event planners, ensuring clients have the best experience every time they come.
Owner Jamal Shahbain has taken great care in creating an event venue that provides luxury, sophistication and elegance to Raeford and surrounding areas. Settling in Raeford over 25 years ago with his family, Shahbain has always envisioned having a venue in the area that would create the perfect setting for proms, galas, socials and corporate events. The venue’s Director and Operational Manager DeNice Green, has been in the event planning and design industry for over a decade, making her the perfect fit for executing the vision of clients.
Newly opened Shahbain Farms and Event Center has already hosted several events, including a grand wedding, officially marking the opening of the venue. They have also hosted a back-to-school giveaway, supporting local families with school supplies as the beginning of the school year draws closer and a soft opening for vendors. The soft opening gave local vendors and opportunity to tour the venue, and discuss opportunities to be a listed preferred vendor. Coming up on Nov. 3rd, the venue will host The Majority Greek Awards, also known as the Pearly Awards, an event that highlights the community service and involvement of members of black fraternities and sororities in the area. To purchase tickets to this upcoming event, visit the website at https://www.majoritygreek.com/event-details/pearly-awards-fay-2024.
For more information visit the Shahbain Farms and Event Center website at https://shahbaineventcenter.com/. For booking visit https://shahbainfarmseventcenter.hbportal.co/public/66a1c2eeb0236b001fbfc4bf/1-Schedule_your_session.

(Photo:The Shahbain Farms and Event Center is the newest venue in Raeford. The events center has 3 grand ballrooms, a "smoke lounge" ballroom, and outdoor features such as a pond, gazebo and fountain. Photo courtesy of Shahbain Farms and Event Center Facebook page)

Local Jen Britt opens Pink Petunia in Haymount

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Tuesday, 20 August 2024

Written by Anna White

After spending six years operating The Pink Petunia, Jen Britt knew it was time for a change when the business finally took over almost four rooms in her house. She scouted a retail location in Fayetteville's Haymount neighborhood and signed the lease on Christmas day for 1325 Hay St.
“I said, ‘this will be the best or worst Christmas present I have given myself.’ And it truly has been the best,” she recounted. They’ve been operating out of their new storefront since April of this year.
The Pink Petunia is a specialty shop featuring gifts, monogramming services, custom art, home decorating services, children’s clothes, and more. Britt’s multi-faceted small business is built on decades of experience. She spent 22 years as a national sales manager for five major gift companies. During that time, she traveled to China for product development, ran sales forces nationwide, and designed major show rings in Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, and New York.
Art was always a part of her life too. Though she graduated as a communications major and didn’t pursue a formal art education, her grandmother’s influence early in life pushed her to develop her artistic gifts.
"I was very close with my mom's mom growing up and watched her paint. That's where I really picked it up. So, I dabbled in it early in my 20s. On the side of my real job, I would do hand-painted pillows, indoor-outdoor pillows, and custom-painted orders.”
She continued to expand outside of her day job, decorating homes for Christmas and eventually having a home featured in the downtown loft tour. Hints of her future business venture started to emerge, even influencing her eventual choice of business name.
“Pink is one of my favorite colors, and Petunia was one of my grandmother’s (my Mimi’s) favorite flowers. She loved to garden and the name pays homage to her,” Britt said.
As Britt’s career in the gift industry progressed, she faced decisions that would ultimately open doors for the birth of her small business and her daughter, Walker. Britt and her husband were facing fertility issues, so she quit her corporate job and began the IVF process, which she described as a “round-the-clock” job. While home, she continued to paint custom pillows and pursue home decorating opportunities.
“That's really when Pink Petunia began, and I created a business at my home.”
Then came Walker.
“She is our miracle baby.” Britt gushed. Walker is now 4 and Britt says she’s completely comfortable at the Pink Petunia.
“Now that we're in the storefront, Walker loves to go up to Mommy's store. She calls it the Pink “Tetunia” with a “t”. She loves to come in and make herself at home, speak to the customers and play in mommy’s store. I hope one day that she will take it over. She definitely loves painting and art like I do. I hope that as she grows older, she'll come in here and work alongside me,” Britt said.
Over time, Britt knew hand-painted pillows weren’t sufficient, so she purchased an industrial monogram machine and added it to the list of services.
“Today I’ve expanded to interior decorating and seasonal decoration, especially around Christmas. My interior decorating clients I work with in a multitude of ways — from rebuilds to a refresh of rooms in their homes. I do rebuilds from the ground up, decorate single rooms, and decorate seasonally for fall and Christmas,” said Britt. “There's also the gift shop, custom monogramming, and custom art - where I have commissioned pieces I paint, and you can find a lot in my store. I take commissioned art pieces for homes and businesses. And I just added children's clothing, so that portion is called Little Petunias.”
With something for everyone, Britt is delighted that their new location means more traffic and relationships. Since moving into the Fayetteville community, her customer base has quadrupled.
“Many people that were not aware of my business have come in and shopped with us for the first time. On a day-to-day basis, I’m meeting tons of people who have learned about the Pink Petunia for the first time, and I love that. It's very exciting.”
She’s even seen the development of friendships through The Pink Petunia.
"Many of my clients that come to me as strangers become very good friends.” She loves that these relationships are ongoing, and considers her customers part of “The Pink Petunia family.”
Moving forward, Britt says they’re planning to incorporate fun events into the shopping experience and encourages the community to keep track of The Pink Petunia's Facebook and Instagram pages for updates.

(Photo: Above: The store front of the Pink Petunia is decked out in bright pinks. The store, located at 1325 Hay Street in Haymount, is the brain child of Jen Britt.
Bottom: The inside of the Pink Petunia showcases gifts, monogrammed items, and home decor items. Photos courtesy of Jen Britt)