- Details
- Monday, 08 July 2019
- Written by JEFF THOMPSON
The next Fayetteville Citizens Academy class is set for Wednesday, Aug. 14, at Kiwanis Recreation Center, 352 Devers St. Class begins at 8:30 a.m. and features officials of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation and the Development Services Department.
Applicants must be city of Fayetteville residents or work in Fayetteville. The class size is limited to 25 residents. This session will conclude at or before 5 p.m. To apply, log onto www.fayettevillenc.gov/citizensacademy, scroll to the bottom of the page and download the application.
Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by close of business Friday, Aug. 9.
“The Citizens Academy gives residents an opportunity to see city of Fayetteville employees at work, up close and personal,” said Corporate Communications Director Kevin V. Arata. Lunch will be provided, and residents are asked to dress appropriately for the weather in business casual attire and closedtoe shoes. There will be some walking involved during tours of city facilities.
Splash pads are popping up all over the county
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and town of Linden leaders have cut the ribbon on the fifth splash pad opened in rural areas of Cumberland County this year. The water feature is at the Linden Little River Park, located at 5010 Loop Rd. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (3-7 p.m. when school is in session) and Sundays from 2-7 p.m.
Eastover and Wade splash pads opened May 22, Godwin on May 31 and Gray’s Creek on June 7. Each of the splash pads cost between $230,000 and $250,000, according to Fayetteville/Cumberland Recreation and Parks Director Michael Gibson.
The Linden water feature is 1,000 square feet and was funded by Cumberland County recreation dollars as were the other four. The pad is wheelchair accessible and features a Super Splash and Aqua Dome. Future projects include a shade structure, additional playground equipment and an additional parking lot.
Kids may have the summer off, but parents don’t
Even though school is out for the summer, parents might like to know what their children will need for the upcoming school year this fall. Cumberland County Schools has a one-stop resource that will answer all your questions. It’s called the 2019-2020 Back-To-School Guide. It contains 26 pages of information about the school calendar, needed school supplies, open house schedules, lunch prices, bell schedules and more. This parent resource can be found on the Cumberland County Schools website, http://ccs.k12.nc.us, or at btsg.ccs.k12.nc.us.
Cornhole a popular recreational sport
The Fayetteville Woodpeckers have announced the inaugural edition of its Cornhole Tournament to take place at Segra Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17. At 3 p.m. that day, teams and spectators can begin entering for registration. Beginning at 4 p.m., registered teams of two are invited to compete for a $250 cash prize for first place and a $100 cash prize for second place. With 50 team slots available for the tournament, fans and competitors are asked to register for the event no later than Friday, August 2.
Each two-person team will feature one captain and one partner. Both competitors will receive complimentary Fayetteville Woodpeckers T-shirts and drink Koozies. Registration is $50 per each twoperson team. Registered teams can also save up to $9 on tickets when purchasing at least two general admission tickets to any upcoming Woodpeckers home game.
Gilbert Theater loses an artist
The board of directors of the Gilbert Theater has reluctantly accepted the resignation of Matthew Overturf as artistic director, effective Jan. 31, 2020.
“All of us are very grateful for Matthew’s enthusiasm, vision and excellent contributions to the Gilbert Theater over the past three years,” said a news release from the theater. “The demands of his full-time faculty position will make it impossible for him to continue as the Gilbert’s Artistic Director,” the statement continued.
The Gilbert Theater board of directors has begun a search for a new artistic director. For more information, including the job description, visit www.gilberttheater.com.
Fayetteville gets one of the first new generation Dunkin’ Donuts
Fayetteville has a new Dunkin’ Donuts on Bragg Boulevard. “The launch of our next generation concept store marks one of the most important moments in Dunkin’s growth as an on-the-go, beverage-led brand,” said Dave Hoffmann, president of Dunkin’ Donuts North American business, in a statement. “Our new look represents both our heritage and our evolution as the brand that fuels optimism and keeps America running with great coffee, donuts and more,” said Tony Weisman, chief marketing officer, Dunkin’ U.S.
- Details
- Monday, 01 July 2019
- Written by JEFF THOMPSON
When Gander Outdoors, formerly known locally as Gander Mountain, got in the business of selling recreation vehicles and motorhomes, the company found it needed more space than its parking lot provided. Its location at Marketfair Mall on Skibo Road wasn’t designed to display a couple-dozen large recreational vehicles. It also needed room to display additional units that it couldn’t park in front of the store. So, Gander Outdoors worked out a lease with WSB Retail Partners of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, which provides property management services for Marketfair. Under new owners, the venue has become an upscale retail, dining and theater facility.
Last fall, some of the small-business owners in the courtyard near the AMC Cinema 15 complex became concerned when they discovered RVs were being placed in an overflow parking lot adjacent to the businesses. Ann Sims, co-owner of Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop, said her customers complained that the lot was filling up because the RVs took up so much space. She told Up & Coming Weekly that in February she was rebuffed by Gander management when she inquired. A month or so later, Sims said WSB management got involved, but nothing developed.
By this time, the parking issue had become a cause for Sims. “We work hard to have a successful business,” she said. In mid-June, she arrived at work to find that a chain link fence had been erected in the middle of the overflow parking lot. RVs were being parked inside the fence. Marketfair customers had to park in the smaller section, which Sims said was poorly planned and awkward for motorists.
Sims fired off a lengthy email to WSB Managing Partner Dusty Weiderhold. “While we want what is best for our business, we also want to aid our fellow tenants and ensure an environment that helps make the center a better shopping experience for all our customers and prospective tenants, not just Gander Outdoors,” she wrote.
Weiderhold conceded things have been happening that he was unaware of, and he shared that with Sims. He told her he was concerned that the fence had been installed in the adjacent parking lot. He declined to comment regarding large unattended parking areas to the rear of the AMC theaters and next to the Rooms to Go furniture store.
“We will try to get together with them,” he said of the business owners.
“Rocket Fizz has tried hard to promote Marketfair Mall since we first moved in in 2015, as we have helped promote and organize events such as Christmas Tree Lightings, Easter Egg Hunts and Trunk or Treats and (have) brought a lot of attention from the press to highlight this center,” Sims said.
Weiderhold told Sims he hopes to arrange a meeting with Marketfair business owners sometime during the week after the July Fourth holiday. Sims said she was happy to hear what she hopes is Marketfair’s genuine interest in solving the parking problem.
