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Fayetteville Technical Community College's Physical Therapist Assistant Program helps fill growing demand

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Tuesday, 14 January 2025
Written by Dr. Annette Webster

19Physical Therapist Assistants work alongside a Physical Therapist to provide rehabilitative care and treatment to patients recovering from injuries, surgeries, or illnesses. PTAs help patients improve mobility, reduce pain, and prevent or manage physical disabilities through prescribed exercises, therapeutic techniques, and other interventions. Our duties include implementing treatment plans, monitoring patient progress, educating patients about exercises and proper body mechanics, and assisting with physical therapy equipment.
Outlook for the Next Ten Years. The demand for PTAs is expected to grow significantly over the next decade. This growth is driven by an aging population, increased awareness of the benefits of physical therapy, and a rise in chronic conditions such as arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity. Additionally, as more people seek non-invasive treatments, physical therapy becomes a preferred option over surgery or medication. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for PTAs will grow by about 19% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for other occupations.
Specialties within Physical Therapy. As PTAs, we are integral rehabilitation team members. We have diverse opportunities in a variety of specialty treatment areas and a strong employment outlook in the coming years.
Physical therapy encompasses various specialties, and PTAs can work in any of these fields, including:
1. Orthopedic Physical Therapy: Focuses on musculoskeletal injuries, such as fractures, strains, and post-surgical rehabilitation.
2. Neurological Physical Therapy: This type of therapy works with patients who have neurological disorders, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease, Traumatic Brain Injury.
3. Pediatric Physical Therapy: Deals with developmental and physical conditions in children, such as cerebral palsy or scoliosis.
4. Geriatric Physical Therapy: This field focuses on age-related issues such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and balance disorders in elderly patients.
5. Sports Physical Therapy: Specializes in sports-related injuries, including sprains, strains, and rehabilitation for athletes.
6. Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy: This therapy assists patients with heart and lung conditions, helping them regain strength and endurance after cardiac events or surgery.
7. Women’s Health Physical Therapy: Focuses on issues such as pregnancy-related pain, pelvic floor disorders, and post-partum rehabilitation.
The American Physical Therapy Association emphasizes the following core values that PTAs uphold in their work and actions:
1. Optimization of Human Movement: PTAs help patients achieve their fullest potential by enhancing mobility and overall function. This reflects the commitment to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their limitations, have the opportunity to live life to its fullest.
2. Innovation in Healthcare: PTAs are key in adopting new technologies, treatment approaches, and evidence-based practices to improve patient care and outcomes. Their involvement helps drive forward-thinking methods to improve healthcare delivery.
3. Advancement in Education: Through their involvement in educational opportunities, PTAs contribute to the ongoing growth of their knowledge base. Whether through formal advanced proficiencies, continuing education, or mentorship, they participate in elevating the standards of practice for the profession.
4. Advocacy for Equal Access to Services: PTAs help ensure that physical therapy services are accessible to everyone, no matter their age or background. This includes advocating for equitable healthcare policies, reducing barriers to treatment, and working toward eliminating health disparities.
5. Vigilance in Protecting Patient Rights: PTAs work tirelessly to protect the rights of their patients and clients. This includes ensuring patient privacy, consent, and the ethical treatment of all individuals, regardless of their background.
6. Responsiveness to Patient, Client, and Member Needs: PTAs are responsive to the dynamic and evolving needs of the people they serve. Whether adjusting treatment plans, adapting to new healthcare requirements, or meeting patient concerns, they maintain flexibility and responsiveness to ensure optimal care.
7. Respect for Diversity: PTAs embrace and respect the diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences of patients, clients, and fellow healthcare professionals. They recognize the importance of cultural competence in delivering effective, individualized care.
By aligning with these values, PTAs play a critical role in advancing the physical therapy profession, advocating for patients, and making a meaningful impact in the communities they serve. Their efforts help shape the future of healthcare by ensuring that the profession remains inclusive, innovative, and patient-centered. We invite you to learn more about FTCC and the Physical Therapist Assistant program at faytechcc.edu or contact Dr. Annette Webster at webstera@faytechcc.edu.

Carter Wrenn’s new book: "Trail of the Serpent"

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Tuesday, 14 January 2025
Written by D.G. Martin

18At last Carter Wrenn, the well-known conservative consultant, has written his book about his life in politics: “The Trail of the Serpent: From the Smoke-Filled Rooms of Politics.”
Wrenn first worked for Tom Ellis, a conservative North Carolina lawyer and early supporter of Jesse Helms.
Wrenn writes, “The year I turned twenty-two, in 1974, not meaning to, I landed in politics; a year later Ronald Reagan ran for president and a man I barely knew—Tom Ellis, Reagan’s North Carolina Chairman—told me, ‘Build the campaign.’ Politics is a vicious world. Proud, certain they hold power in their men in campaigns tell themselves, “I’m winning this election.”
“But as Gary Pearce, a Democrat I battled for years, told me after our hair turned gray: ‘When you’re in a campaign you’re really like a frog on a log floating down a river watching the banks roll by telling yourself, ‘I’ve really got this log rolling’—but it’s not you, it’s the river.’”
Wrenn’s first assignment was driving Helms to a campaign supper at a Christian school.
Arriving at the school, “Jesse ambled out of the car—a covey of old women wearing faded gingham dresses, faces wrinkled by the sun, bosoms heaving, hovered around him, becoming the soul of Southerncourtliness, half-bowing to the ladies, he fawned over the children, stood joking with the men.”
More than four decades later, Wrenn can still hear and experience the speech Helms gave that night “Rising, walking to the podium, he tapped the microphone, puffed his cheeks, frowned, shuffled papers, stared up at the ceiling, pursed his lips, made a popping sound with his mouth, told a joke about Ted Kennedy then got down to raw bare-knuckled politics talking about the night Ted Kennedy drove off the bridge at Chappaquiddick, about staring at Kennedy’s red face across the Senate, saying Kennedy didn’t get his rosy cheeks lying on the beach and, if he did, it was because the bottle lying on the sand beside him wasn’t suntan lotion.
“Mispronouncing Nelson Rockefeller’s name Jesse said he had no beef with ‘Rock-y-fella’ personally--he said Rock-y-fella’s problem was his womanizing; he said he knew a lot of people didn’t care about that kind of thing anymore but he was old fashioned. He’d been the only senator who voted against making Rock-y-fella vice president because his conscience wouldn’t let him vote for a man who’d stolen another man’s wife.
“The last time Jesse said Rockefeller’s name his eyebrows popped upwards into the center of his forehead, looking like an enraged owl.”
“His voice changed, becoming lower, richer, throbbing with emotion, talking about religion, telling a story about an eight-year-old boy, Jackie, dying of leukemia, who every morning at sunrise rolled his wheelchair down to the lake by his home to watch the wild swans rise into the sky—Jesse’s voice broke. You could have heard a pin drop.
Heaving a long sigh he told how one morning just after dawn his phone rang, and a friend said, ‘Senator, I thought you’d want to know Jackie passed on this morning.’”
Stopping, leaning down, hand shaking, Jesse fumbled with the water pitcher, poured himself a glass of water, drank, calmed himself, told how just before he died sitting by the lake at dawn in his wheelchair watching the wild swans rise into the sky the dying boy said, “Someday, I’m going to fly high in the sky like those swans.” The woman sitting across the table from me had a broad wrinkled face, matted gray hair, and tears streaming down her cheeks--you could have cut the emotion in the room with a knife.”
Wrenn remembers, “I looked at Jesse stunned, staring into a world I never knew existed. The moment he finished his speech Jesse made a beeline for the exit; striding through the shadows across the parking lot in the darkness he chuckled softly, nodded toward the gymnasium behind him.
‘I really had them with me tonight.’”
“The tears running down a woman’s cheeks were real, the world I stared into was real--but the man on the stage was an actor. I should have seen it as a warning...but didn’t.”
Wrenn tells how Helms used his power hold on his supporters to develop a fundraising organization that transformed North Carolina and American politics.
In later chapters that will be the subject of a future column, Wrenn tells more about how Helms, as an actor and politician gained and used real power.

Editor's note: D.G. Martin, a retired lawyer, served as UNC-System’s vice president for public affairs and hosted PBS-NC’s North Carolina Bookwatch. (Photo: Carter Wren's new book, "The Trail of the Serpent: Stories from the Smoke Filled Rooms of Politics," talks of his time working for Jesse Helms. The book is available now. Photo courtesy of D.G. Martin)

Discover Fayetteville's new flower shop: Floral Oasis

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Tuesday, 14 January 2025
Written by Sheila D. Barker

17Downtown Fayetteville welcomed a new and vibrant addition with the opening of Floral Oasis at 312 Hay Street in November 2024. This new flower shop aims to be more than just a place to purchase flowers; it aspires to be a cornerstone of community engagement and creative expression.
Floral Oasis introduces a unique concept born from the need for more community spaces and activity-oriented socialization in Fayetteville. This shop offers a fresh and exciting experience for both newcomers and long-time residents, promising a touch of uniqueness in every visit.
Floral Oasis has been thoughtfully designed to serve as a sanctuary where individuals can gather, socialize, and express their creativity. The space is colorful and vibrant, offering a visual feast that complements the creative activities it hosts. It aims to be a welcoming and joyful place for everyone. The shop encourages visitors to build their own arrangements or bouquets by selecting each stem, thereby adding a personal touch to their floral creations.
Floral Oasis distinguishes itself by taking the mundaneness out of grocery store flowers and the isolation out of traditional floristry. Unlike typical floral shops, Floral Oasis offers a variety of floral supplies and stems that allow customers to create their own unique arrangements.
Additionally, the shop's mission is to provide a safe and joyful environment where people can come together, feel a sense of community, and experience the therapeutic benefits of working with fresh flowers. This commitment to community and creativity makes Floral Oasis a standout destination in Fayetteville.
Floral Oasis isn't just a flower shop; it's also a hub for creative events and workshops. The shop offers various workshops like the popular Christmas Centerpiece Workshop held in December. These events provide an opportunity for participants to learn new skills, meet new people, and have fun in a supportive environment.
In addition to workshops, Floral Oasis offers the option to rent the space for your own DIY flower events. Whether you're planning a birthday party, a special event, or just a gathering with friends, you can utilize the in-store floral supplies and choose from a selection of vessels and florals from their suppliers to make your event truly unique. If you are interested in using their space, you can inquire about availability and other details by emailing them at contactus@floraloasisfay.com.
If you're looking to add a personal touch to your next special occasion or simply want to brighten your day, visit Floral Oasis at 312 Hay Street. The shop offers handcrafted bouquets and arrangements that are perfect for any occasion, adding a heartfelt touch to your memorable moments.
Be sure to check their website at https://www.floraloasisfay.com/ regularly to see what the Flowers of the Week are and to stay updated on upcoming workshops and events. Come and discover the art of floral beauty and community at Floral Oasis—where every visit is a unique and joyful experience.

(Floral Oasis is downtown Fayetteville's newest shop. Photo courtesy of Floral Oasis Facebook page)

United Way of Cumberland County embraces fresh start

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Tuesday, 14 January 2025
Written by Anna White

9United Way of Cumberland County recently moved into a downtown facility that will better equip them to implement their vision of enhancing all citizens’ quality of life. On Dec. 3rd, 2024 they held a grand opening and ribbon cutting along with the Greater Fayetteville Chamber that attracted 100 visitors to their new 321 Dick Street location.
“It's not extravagant,” said Scott Embry, Executive Director of United Way of Cumberland County, “but it's a nice office building that meets all the needs of the United Way and allows us to stay focused on our mission.”
Embry said United Way serves as a central location for raising and distributing funds for nonprofit programs.
“What we do is allow these nonprofits to just focus on the work, and they don't have to spend as much of their time planning galas and fundraisers and 5ks,” he explained.
He said the need to downsize instigated the move. Maintenance in their previous location was too expensive, so they sold the building and moved into a temporary location. From there, they moved to 321 Dick Street.
“We really want to be the center of this community, we were really just needing a smaller, more efficient space,” he said. “Where we ended up is perfect for that.”
Ashlee Pearson, Director of Development at United Way of Cumberland County agreed.
“We’re able to do a lot more,” she shared. “It's just honestly amazing.”
Pearson explained that UWCC wants to “improve lives across Cumberland County by strategically raising and investing resources that successfully impact and prioritize human services and needs while working in effective and innovative partnerships with direct provider agencies each year.”
According to UWCC’s website, their 2023/2024 impact included 171,013 people helped, 4,601 volunteer hours, $1,019,474 funds granted, and 789 volunteers.
Commenting on the collaboration and volunteer efforts within the community, Embry said, “I love that Fayetteville is such a compassionate, giving community. You know that slogan that you see with Fayetteville, the 'Can-Do City'? I think it's true. I don't think it's just a slogan.”
He hopes their move downtown will free them up to focus on their work instead of maintaining a building and allow them to offer their new facility as a meeting space for agency partners, “We want people to know where we are and to utilize us.”
Embry shared that they’ve intentionally brought elements of the old into the new. They’ve repurposed exterior signs from the old building in the interior of the new building, even bringing elements such as an iconic bell that donors ring after making donations, which has been with UWCC for decades.
Several new staff members have been added to the team in the last couple of years, including Embry himself, who joined as Executive Director in 2024. Embry said many staff members feel the move is a “fresh start” for everyone.
“We don’t want to forget our roots, but we do need to be working on new stuff, and this is a great home to do it in,” he elaborated.
Embry articulated an open invitation to anyone wanting to learn how to get involved with UWCC’s mission.
“If they want to get involved with their time, talent or treasure, we need all of those and we'd love to sit down and have some dialog around it.”
Contact and upcoming event information can be found on the UWCC Facebook page and website at https://www.unitedway-cc.org/

(Photo: The United Way of Cumberland County held their ribbon cutting ceremony for their new location on Dec. 3, 2024. Photo courtesy United Way of Cumberland County)

Two Fayetteville fencers go undefeated in youth tournament

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Tuesday, 14 January 2025
Written by Staff Report

8The All-American Fencing Academy hosted one of its largest tournaments, with 4 events, and a total of 34 fencers. Saturday, Jan. 4, Fayetteville's Olympic fencing academy hosted the Elementary and Middle School fencing circuit as well as one of the meets for Varsity and Junior Varsity Homeschool fencers.
After coming from back-to-back medals, Olivia McKinney, a 5th grader at Overhills High School in Harnett County, took first place with an undefeated record throughout the day. Previously, Olivia McKinney took 1st in "The Southern," a USA Fencing Regional event in Myrtle Beach. She also took 3rd place in an all-girls intramural tournament during the Christmas Holidays.
Isabella Lee, a 7th grader at Seventy-First Classical Middle School in Cumberland County, has also been competing in several USA Fencing Regional events, also went undefeated in the middle school event. Isabella has had a string of successes, recently missing the medal stand by one loss at "The Southern" and the Junior Olympic Qualifiers. However, in 2024, she had racked up 3 gold medals.
The All-American Homeschool Varsity Team, The Dead Squirrels, fell to Wilmington's Southeastern Cardinals in the homeschool team event. The Cardinals eventually took first place in the weekend's homeschool team event. The Cumberland Musketeers, the area's second homeschool varsity team, took third. This marks the first time the Fayetteville/Cumberland area has fielded 2 homeschool fencing squads!
In the Junior Varsity individual event, Mesha Green was the only competitor to represent the area. Green took 7th. The winner in the individual event was Thomas Knosky from the Wilmington Southeastern Cardinals.
From Feb. 14 to 17, Charlotte, NC, will be host to USA Fencing's Junior Olympics. Isaac Canady is the sole fencer to qualify from the All-American Fencing Academy during the Junior Olympic Qualifying tournament. This will be Canady's second time qualifying for and competing in the Junior Olympics in the Junior Men's Foil event. Last year, Canady placed 315 out of 348 fencers. This year, Canady, will have 343 fencers in his event.
A Growing Sport and a Growing Club
The sport of fencing is growing world-wide. In a historically European dominated sport, US teams have consistently been in the top places on the world stage for several years in World Cups, World Championships, and Olympics.
The All-American Fencing Academy also hosts a Walk-In Class for fencers that want to give it a try without making a full month commitment. The Walk-In Classes occur during Downtown Fayetteville’s Fourth Friday events.
The All-American Fencing Academy is located in Downtown Fayetteville at 207 B Donaldson St. It instructs and trains recreational and competitive fencers starting at age 7, teens, adults, and veterans ages 40+. Its fencers compete regionally and nationally. Their coaches include former World Cup and NCAA fencers.
For more information about the All-American Fencing Academy and its classes, please call 910-644-0137, e-mail info@allamericanfencing.com or visit www.allamericanfencing.com.

(Photo: Fencers participate in a tournament at All-American Fencing Academy, Jan. 4. Photo courtesy of All-American Fencing Academy)

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